Balloons & Boats

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.

 

Reagan used our other camera and highlighted the reds only, too cool.

Off to do some boating after balloons and bagels! This has been a Reagan wish-list-item for some time! Thanks to our good friends Jon & Nicole we were able to do it.

The kids took up the entire front of the boat.

I'd love a repeat picture of this in about 10 years!!

A great day was had by all!

"A good mom must be an explorer. When we take on the explorer mindset we start seeing the world, and our children, in a new way. We take the time to look beyond the surface, to what could lie underneath." I've learned that the time I take to make their summer days extra special really pays off. The thank yous (authentic or prompted) are so appreciated. I have one week left to cram in the fun we have all looked forward to this summer. I hope your summer comes to an end making even more memories!

Celebrating 19 Years

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.

Happy Birthday to Me, By the Tree, After the DMV

Yep, it is true, another year has gone and passed. I really can't believe it. I've made a lot of new memories and have learned a lot, with more learning to come.

The morning started with an amazing breakfast, just Scott & I, on the patio at the Rainbow. Beautiful setting, yummy food and then... off to the DMV. If my like-aged friend Vicky hadn't told me she had to renew hers, I would have spaced renewing mine. I was stuck in purgatory, I mean the DMV, at the worst time of day. If it wasn't for Scott needing his too, I may have lost my mind. We saw some interesting birds in there, so many thoughts going on in my head about the people we live in this world with. An hour and a half later we were done and off to take my July tree picture (late).

The flowers (aka weeds) were so pretty!!!

I had to put one in my hair!!

And then I had to put my birthday crown and glasses on! I even got a honk.

My adoring fans were awaiting our arrival to wish me a happy "forty-oneth" 

when the garage door went up, so sweet!

Ten took a turn with the shades, too cute!

It was a great day! As my Dad keeps telling me,

"41 feels better than 40!"

I'm already starting to believe him!!

Like A Bat Outta...

Well, let it be known, I'm not a fan of bunnies (in my yard), morning doves (who wake me up), mice (who potentially live in my yard), and fo' sho'... BATS!!

Thursday morning I was drinking coffee, eating breakfast, and reading a book at my patio table. As I sat down I noticed some little poop on my table. It wasn't bird poop, the kind from a fly by that has decorated my back patio. Nope, this was definitely looking like a mouse.

 I left the poop on the table and forgot about it. That night I went out to clean off the table for company. I thought, Sweet mother, what if there is a mouse in the umbrella when I open it? I'll die, just die. I decided to figure out who left that poop before going further. I pulled at the umbrella, shook it a bit, no mouse. I thought, What if that little rascal is hangin' out and drops on me when I open it all the way? I decided to take the umbrella by the horns so to speak. I took a hold of it, pulled it up at the furthest arm distance I could and slowly pulled it up. Who to my little eyes should appear but a mouse going for a ride up the bar on the umbrella. I FLIPPED with a capital F!!

I took off into the house, yelling I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I had my hands clinched so tight my nails were digging into my hands. The kids of course came scurrying... like mice, eewww! So we stood there inside the house pondering how to get rid of the thing. Nope, it wasn't going to be us who got rid of it. Scott got home (big game hunter) and he wanted no part of a mouse murdering... who would? He then has the nerve to suggest, "It could be a bat." Are you KIDDIN' me? Shoot me now!

Fast forward to our guests arriving. I asked if they were up for a mouse catching, killing, whatever. After dinner Adam (our crazy investigative guest) decides he just has to see what it is. Because you know, it could be a bat! Ugh. "It isn't a mouse", he says. "It's a bat." Again, I ran inside for fear the bat would decide to see sunlight that moment, in my direction.

Adam showed the kids the bat. Marketa, what a pansy, look how scared she is!

Ha, she was puttin' on an act to make me feel better.

Adam was quite the protector!

The kids were in shock and awe... ya, right, just good actors.

Ok, here is the best picture we got of that nasty little thing.

Doesn't look like a bat from this, but it was!!

That night we left the umbrella up after we knew the bat flew like a bat outta the umbrella!! to be with his bat family. We left it up a couple days discouraging another overnighter. I'm telling you right now, if that guy shows up again I'll lose my mind and then I may never get to use my new patio table again... Now who's the pansy?!

I Knew Jack

Last week I wrote a blog, Who Is In A Name? The first photograph included our friends Jack and Winnie. That day, Jack passed away. His wife Winnie had suffered a stroke a few months ago, he was by her side as much as he could be. During that time he became ill, was also in a rehabilitation facility and passed away peacefully.

Today we attended his funeral. His oldest son, John, spoke of how Jack's only daughter was the twinkle in his eye. He was a tough, stubborn, and generous man. He said Jack's own father passed away when he was in junior high, so he wanted to be influential in his kids lives... never missing a sporting event and always there to play catch. John misses his dad offering advice (even when he didn't want it), his Saturday morning football phone calls discussing his USC team, and the chance to call and ask him for advice. He ended tearfully saying, Thank you Dad, for everything.

Scott and I were in the car talking about another man at church who gave some words of wisdom to our kids. I said, "You know, these are the perks of your job. I may never get my gas range, but I knew Jack."

I was told once that everyone should have a friend in every decade. Befriending a child or two (not your own), a 20-something, 30-something, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90-something. What we can learn from all of those ages is endless. I knew a 91 year old who had the smile to light up a room and the love story of a lifetime with the love of his life.

In the words of the officiating pastor, Good-bye Jack, we'll see ya a little later.

His obituary can be seen at: http://www.coloradoan.com/viewart/20120717/OBITUARIES/207170303/John-Jack-Leslie-Shedd-Jr-

Chickened Out

What kind of 40-year old wing nut decides to dress up like a cow with her daughters, son, nieces and parents? Me!! For a free Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwich, fries, and lemonade I would have mooed too!! Here is how it went down!

The crew was getting it together at Nana & Grandpa's house.

The gang with one of the Chick-Fil-A cows.

It was quite the production that day, tons of people.

Our fave costume was a prego woman with part of her belly showing and udders attached.

We each got a coupon for a free meal since we were

"dressed head to hoof".

I added this lovely hat at the store. Kind of creepy!

The cashier said, "You're total? Zero dollars."

Love that!!

I received this lovely letter in my email the next day....

"My pleasure!"

(ha ha)

7-Eleven

On July 11th, or 7-11, 7-Eleven celebrates it's birthday with free 7.11 ounce Slurpee's. Are you dizzy yet? Last year Scott took the kids to 5 stores. This year the cousins were in town for the big day, so we loaded up the car and decided it would be 7 or 11 stops... let me show you how we did.

How many cups did I see that day?

#1... We are well on our way!!

Still smiling.

#2

How many flavors can they try?

#3

#4

 It was hot, bright and a great day for a Slurpee... or 11.

#5

I was the driver and couldn't think where to find 7-Elevens

(they aren't quite on every corner like Starbucks, but close).

 This one was a "stumble upon" that helped us reach our final number.

By this point I was so far North I was on...

Yes, for those who know The Fort, that is about as far away from home as I could be.

#6

Slurpee Casualty!

Ten accidentally got a long ol' straw up the nose & caused a bleed.

#7

That's it... put a fork in it, we're done. That would be SEVEN Baby!!

The cousins told us these tummies are called Food Babies... very scary!

They promise that is real.

That too...

My nieces... I hope their mom will forgive me.

This is what happens when they're on the loose with Aunt Krissy!!

The cousins couldn't let the day go by with Grandpa Skip not getting in on the action! On the way to Ten's baseball game they took a little detour...

 He got one and they got their 8th. Let's see..

* 39 total Slurpees consumed in our crew

*$15 give or take spent on gas for free Slurpees :)

*Memories to last a lifetime



That one Slurpee really wiped out Grandpa Skip.

He needed a little nap at Tennison's baseball

game to recover from all the hoopla!!