Chili and Frijoles Festival

This weekend was the Chili and Frijoles Festival in Pueblo. After the snow and cold weather we had at the start of the week, we were very pleased to have some gorgeous weather today!

Mac overlooking the river

Steve could not pass up the chance to try on the mascot head for one of the radio stations.

Too funny!

Mom, Grandpa Ray, Jessica and Dad trying to decide what to have for lunch

Mariah eating

Mac while eating Dippin' Dots

Avs Game

Steve's brother Mike had an extra ticket for the Avs game and he took invited Steve to go...in a luxury box!

Outside the Pepsi Center

Warming up on the ice

Check out the action

And some more...

What hockey game would be complete without a fight!

Start of the 3rd period

Steve...looks like he is having a great time!

So was Mike!

Avs score!

Fall Colors

So this weekend we went for a drive to see the colorful leaves. I missed seeing the fall colors!

Pikes Peak ... look it already has snow on it!

Another shot of Pikes Peak --
This is how real mountains should look!

We stopped along the highway to get a few shots.

Lots of yellow leaves mixed in with the green but no red yet.

OK .. for so long everyone wondered where I was, since I was never in the pictures. For so long I was the only one taking them. Steve has become a part of the picture-taking process so here I am!

Mike's Paparazzi Moment!

Another shot over the mountain side

I have no idea!

We pulled off the side of the road so Steve and Sandy could check out the water well.

Very exciting stuff!

Another mountain view... Sorry I never get tired of seeing the mountains!

More snow!

September BBQ

September in Colorado! You have to love the weather... One day it is in the 80s and the next we are asking who turned off the heater! Yesterday was one of those days. It makes it interesting when you make plans a week in advance to have a BBQ. It was cold and rainy but we still enjoyed ribs and stuff. We took time to go over to the park for a few minutes.

Mariah

Mariah really wanted to go down the slide...

...but she did not check to see how wet it was before going down...

She looked so funny walking in her wet pants, but she did not want to go home despite that.

"Oh, bother!", is what she kept saying.

Winnie the Pooh has been one of her favorite movies lately - I thought it was so cute...

Dominic was having fun on the swings

I am not sure who had more fun at the playground...the little kids or Mac and his friend Zach

Mariah couldn't quite reach...

...but she sure was confused when she heard someone's voice through the tubes!

Mariah kept wanting to go up and down the stairs.

She decided to pretend to take a nap on them.

Each time Mariah comes over she gets more use to Tots.

He loves to give her kisses.

Mariah found the lamp shades and thought they made a great hat...

And Jessica was quick to follow.

Balloon Classic

The Colorado Balloon Classic... We haven't got in years! Now that we are back I really wanted to go. We got up early Sunday morning -- Jacob was too tired to get up so it was Steve, Mac and me. We made it to the park around 6, got a good parking spot, no traffic... The balloons were suppose to start taking off around 7 but we were a bit disappointed when the fog and weather conditions delayed that.

Mac was getting a bit bored waiting to see if we would even see the balloons go up... It was nearly 8 before anything could go up.

Steve and Nicole waiting...

Since we had so much time on our hands, we walked around to all the vendors, signed up for drawings, got free junk.... And we found the Geigo gecko. Mac was a good sport and got his picture taken with him for me. We also found the Pink Panther but he was kinda rude, kept walking away everything Mac tried to get a picture!

Nicole -- with some of the balloons starting to go up

Steve -- ready to go home!

The balloons weren't getting very far at first.

Some even kept running into each other in the air.

Check out the inside of the balloon as it was getting filled up...

Balloons over Prospect Lake with Pikes Peak in the background

We didn't think any were gonna make it over the lake at all with the wind but we were happy when they did.