Halloween 2009

In the beginning we had...

a skeleton, Batman, witch, and ballerina.

Five minutes later we had...

Superman, a skeleton, witch, and ballerina.

(Poor kid is torn between his super hero's)

We also had...

Ed McMahon's prize patrol and the million dollar winner (at home)

and...

Ed McMahon's prize patrol and the million dollar winner (at church)

(Yes, I actually went out in public like that)

This year the girls prepared the pumpkin, chose a picture....

then Daddy did this!

We also now believe that Halloween may very well be Haley J's favorite holiday.

I'm A Big Girl Look What I Can Do!

Haley J is thirteen months and suddenly on the go.

She has taken us by surprise because her brother and sisters were

practically running circles at ten months.

We are assuming with the high number of individuals that are constantly

sitting, playing, and talking with her,

she must have decided there was no good reason to move!

Secretly, I have loved every minute of it.

They grow way to fast already.

At this point she is still sitting on my hip in "monkey" position and with her constant snuggles

I feel as though time has stood still - or at least slowed down a bit.

Boo Zoo II

We gave "Boo Zoo" a second try this year. Our first experience was in Colorado, and while we had a good time, Steven and I had decided that for $10 a head it was highly overrated. With another wonderful zoo at our fingertips however we decided to give it one more try. The verdict? We probably should have gone with our original feelings of "highly overrated". Having said that, the kids absolutely loved it and had a wonderful evening filled with new activities and excitement. Just to be in the zoo after their normal closing hours of 5pm was a wonderful adventure in their eyes.

You know, as parents, how there are some activities that you just do? You put a smile on your face and a bounce in your step because, even though you are freezing and not all that excited about the particular activity, the kids are loving every minute of it. Well, this was one of those evenings for the Ballard parents. In the end, the smile on their little faces was enough to make it all worth it, almost.

Fall Break Fun

With summer temperatures fading we made a final trip to the drive in and enjoyed watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". We really enjoyed this film. There is one part where a giant pancake lands on top of a school and as all the children run for safety they stop to look back and in unison reply, "no school". For some reason our children found this part exceptionally funny so more than anything we have enjoyed hearing the kids repeat various lines over the past few days.

Ballard children: (all at once and in very excited, loud voices) "And then they run from the school, and then they like turn, and then their faces are like this, and then they say, "no school".

We also faired the rainy weather in hopes of getting our first look at the new "Teton Trek" exhibit at our zoo. It includes grizzly bears, grey wolves, elk, sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans. Let's just say the girls were in heaven. They even added a lodge that replicates the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone and outside of it placed "Old Faithful".

Headin' for the Drive In.

The wolves were probably the girls favorite new animal - and the bears - it's a toss up.

Happy Halloween!

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Haley J's First Birthday

As promised here is a pic and video of Haley J's birthday.

(Sorry. Our camera is on the fritz so pictures are currently sparse.)

Haley J is growing so quickly and has been nothing short of an angel baby.

Her quick smile and kisses bring great joy to every moment of our lives.

Happy Birthday Haley Julianna.

We love you princess.

(The video will mostly interest grandparents who enjoy watching their grandchild discover cake for the very first time.)

Disney '09

The past two weeks of our lives have been spent under the spell of Walt Disney's magic (and as Steven would point out- merchandising). Four days at different theme parks left us with amped up children and aching feet which we subsequently soothed on a Caribbean Cruise. In case you are wondering, it was AWESOME!!!

FYI- Disney has a six week "slow" window where their parks are less busy than any other time during the year. May I say it was well worth pulling the kids out of school to enjoy our vacation without lines or crowds. We waited no more than ten minutes for almost every single ride and in most cases could jump off and ride again almost immediately.

The kids loved most everything in the park: Favorites for Ryley- Splash Mountain and anything that went fast, Kadyn- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Toontown, and anything that went fast. Thatcher loved The Haunted Mansion, the Buzz Lightyear ride, and anything that was "spooky" (but NOT fast). Steven and I just loved watching their faces and excitement as we ran from attraction to attraction. (Side note- Steven chickened out of the Tower of Terror, but redeemed himself by taking on the horrors of Pooh's playful spot). ;)

The cruise was absolutely amazing. We had two days at sea to enjoy the boat and countless activities they offered. Separating those days were two in the Bahamas, first at Nassau and then on Disney's private island Castaway Cay. The activities, food, beach, and relaxation were better than anything we imagined. We highly recommend it and hope to make it a "Ballard biennial" activity.

If anyone is wondering, there is a good reason why Haley J is not present in any Disney pictures. Sweet Mom Darden flew out to spend some one on one time with her. With the older kiddos being 7, 5, and 3, we felt the ages were perfect to attempt this fun adventure. No worries though. We returned home to find Haley pulling up to furniture, and ready to celebrate her first birthday. (photos pending)