Last week Scott and I were able to spend some time celebrating our anniversary. I found an Italian restaurant in Berthoud in a dining guide and was excited to try something new. With reservations made, we dropped the kids off for the night and drove into Berthoud. It was a pretty night so we sat in the patio. They had a water feature I remembered seeing online, three horses "running" with water coming out of their mouths. It was really pretty. We looked at our menus and then our server came up.
He looked a little wobbly and said, "15 years?" Hmm... Oh, he is trying to guess the year we're celebrating. It took a few more words and I thought,
The dude is drunk. He takes our drink order, clearly disappointed we weren't getting shnonkered along with him, and heads to the fountain. He starts cramming his grimy little fingers into the horses mouths, when I notice spaghetti sauce up his arm. Eww. Scott and I look at each other confused and say nothing. I stood up and said to Scott, "I need to use the restroom." All the while I was thinking,
I gotta come up with an escape plan. On my way back through I'm mouthing and pointing,
Let's go! He tells me to head through the adjacent parking lot when our server walks out. Busted. "Um, we're just going to head out. Thanks!" I wave and pick up my speed walking pace. We found a new restaurant and the night was rescued.
The next morning we drove to Boulder to for a beautiful view over breakfast at Chautauqua Park. I tell ya, the views are breathtaking and it is well worth the drive to sit outside on the patio in my hometown. Afterwards we went downtown to the Farmer's Market. I took my camera and here is what we saw...
The timing couldn't have been more perfect. This dude just screams Boulder.
Oh my, the colors.
I grew up close to this farm.
The crazy thing was I had just told Scott about getting the best corn off a truck at
a family farm as a kid... no butter needed. Then we walk up to their stand, too cool.
Bins full of amazing pastas. We bought sweet potato pasta and was it divine!
A little hard to see, but notice the tiny cupcakes nestled in
the half dozen egg carton above. So cute.
I think I'll keep him!!
Here is to another 19 Kissel!!
I can't wait for our 20th celebration next summer.
and 3rd grade....
Good-bye!
... and then the next day, she goes to high school. How did this happen? I mean, how is it that she could even leave me? Doesn't she want to home school and be near me all day? No? I don't want that either. Don't get me wrong, I love her and I'll miss her while she is in that big ol' high school, but this is the best for her. It is her next big chance to spread her wings even further. We know the next step is even further from me. I mean at this rate it will be tomorrow that she goes to college. 
We need a pitcher, not a belly itcher!
Same plant, different highlight.
Dreams came true for us this summer! I have always wanted to go to a balloon festival and got my chance. The Larimer County Fair had two mornings of balloon launches, I was in heaven. The kids weren't overly thrilled with the time we had to get up and go, but we all decided in the end it was worth it. There were about 15 balloons that made the launch so special.
A great day was had by all! 
The next morning we drove to Boulder to for a beautiful view over breakfast at Chautauqua Park. I tell ya, the views are breathtaking and it is well worth the drive to sit outside on the patio in my hometown. Afterwards we went downtown to the Farmer's Market. I took my camera and here is what we saw...
I grew up close to this farm. 
