The Great Hot Air Balloon Chase of May 2010

Saturday as we were leaving Church, we noticed a few hot air balloons up in the sky. Chloe loves hot air balloons. We usually see one or two every month or so in the spring/summer. But as we drove out of the parking lot, we noticed there was not one, not two, but EIGHT hot air balloons floating along in the sky.

Naturally, we followed them!

We finally found a clearing that we could stop to park the car and enjoy the sight of the balloons.


We couldn't get them all into one frame, but there's a blue one off to the far left and a yellow one to the far right. Promise :)





After most of them passed through, we took off for home. Or so we though. We were trying to figure out where they would all land, if they were part of some race, or something else. So, we turned the car back around and headed toward the fair grounds, thinking that would be an ideal spot for them all to land. Nope, nothing going on at the fair grounds. So, we decided to head back home, we couldn't see them anymore.

Then we spotted the yellow one. It was really low and headed for the Verizon Center. Off we went. We finally spotted it getting ready to land in a subdivision.



We stopped for a bit (along with about 5 other cars) to watch them take the balloon down.



It was quite a sight and Chloe loved every minute of it. Turns out, it was a company that offers balloon rides. And sure enough 8 different balloons went up at the same time. Each balloon landed at a different place because it all depends on the wind where you end up. We were given a brochure and it looks like a lot of fun, but isn't cheap!

So, if anyone would like to donate to our hot air balloon fund, please let me know!

What should we have for dinner?

So, this past Saturday, we finally decided that it was time to go shopping for maternity clothes. Why don't I have any left from Chloe you ask? When we moved into our house 2 years ago, I didn't want to bring a whole lot with. It was time for a closet purge. And a year after having Chloe, I was convinced I was done and had no need for maternity clothes anymore!

Plus, I didn't want to get caught wearing them when I had a "fat" day!

As I'm getting ready to go, I think to myself "I feel like being sassy today! I'll wear my cute denim pencil skirt!" As I pull it on, I realize, "oh crap! this is not going to fit!!" Sure enough, wouldn't even fit over my now expanding backside!

So, I opt for a pair of jeans. Nope, same deal! The only pants that fit were way past funky to wear out in public (have I ever mentioned how much I hate laundry?!). So there I stand in my closet, close to tears over not having anything to wear.

Suddenly, just like in the movies, out of the corner of my eye I spotted my favorite pair of work out capris. I swear, they were illuminated with a choir of angels singing in the back ground! ELASTIC WAIST BAND!!!! Thank you, Jesus!!

Finally feeling much more comfortable, I look for a t shirt. Ha! This was almost as bad as trying to find a pair of jeans that fit. Why do I insist on not super baggy shirts? Why do they have to be on the verge of clingy w/o revealing too much of my fat. Because now at nearly 12 weeks pregnant, they are WAY to clingy and I feel like I need to wear a sign that says "I'm pregnant, not fat, so STOP STARING!!!"

As I settle for a semi loose White Sox tee, I walk into my husbands office and tell him "Dude, do you know how many times I changed my outfit already?! Nothing fits! I feel like a freaking stuffed sausage!!"

His reply: "Hmmm...want to have hot dogs for dinner?"

Thanks hun, you're just the best!

Yay!

Well, I've made the official annoucement on Facebook, but for the few people that read this that aren't on my facebook page,



Say hello to Kessel Baby #2!! As of today, I'm 11 weeks, 3 days! It was just amazing watching that little bean dance around last Wednesday. So tiny, yet already moving and shaking. We're truly blessed and a very happy! Baby is due December 5.

I'll try and keep this updated as things progress. Chloe's very excited, and of course, she has a baby in her tummy too! Right now the baby in her tummy is a boy and the baby in my tummy is a girl. I guess we'll find out in July!

Looking back...

You know when you just have one of those days??? You're just kind of blah? One sure fire way to get me out of my funk is to look at old baby pics of Chloe. They always bring a smile to my face, and so I figured I share some with you. Hope they make you smile as much as they did me!

Enjoy!


You're very first St. Patrick's Day


After your first round of shots, Hippo and Giraffe were lifesavers ;)


The first time you peed on daddy!!


My very first Mother's Day with the sweetest girl on the planet!


You loved that Binky, it was almost as big as your head!!


a Binky in each hand and thumb in the mouth, does life get better?!


Love your smile!


Practicing sitting up!


You always were full of sass!


Ah, the tongue smile!


Standing up!!


this is my favorite of all tongue smiles. You and Sophia crack me up!!

Love you baby girl. Thanks for always knowing how to bring a smile to my face :)

Happy Easter!!

We had a great Easter weekend! I took Friday off so we could head up to spend the day with Mom and Dad. They were leaving Saturday morning with Deb to head down to Florida for a week with Steve, Betsy, Mike and Bridget. We had a great little visit, and I even managed to get a pic of them with Chloe!!



We then headed the 20 minutes up to Lowell to spend the rest of the weekend with the Kessel's. Ron, Julie, Hannah and Sam flew in from NY so it was great to see them again!

Chloe had a last minute birthday present to open


Hannah Montana Lipgloss


Alvin and Chipmunks, the Squeakquel


And Chloe's fav gift, M&M's

Then it was time to get down to business and start coloring some eggs!! We bought this new kit where you can paint the eggs then put sparklies all over them. The kids really seemed to enjoy it. We also did traditional eggs, but thankfully no pics b/c I was the one that was doing them!!








Easter morning was great! All the kids loved seeing what the Easter Bunny brought for them...LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!!! Thankfully Chloe has been nice enough to share some with Mommy and Daddy!! She should, so got a lot!!











After devouring what was probably enough chocolate to fill a candy isle at Target, we got ready for Church. It was a great service. Chloe went to class with Le'Anna and had a really nice time. After we got back to the Kessel's we had a great lunch - ham, turkey, fresh fruit, pasta salad, rolls, it was DELISH! Then we had an egg hunt where the kids got MORE candy and then the played outside until it started raining. I think, no, i know the kids had a blast and they played their little hearts out. On our way home, we weren't even 5 miles down the road before Chloe passed out in her car seat! Thanks to the Kessel's for a great weekend!! Here's a few more pics, us in our Sunday Best, cousin shots, and the egg hunt.

Ready for Spring

We are so ready for spring! We got our first taste of it today and we hope it doesn't end!!

My how time flies!

Believe it or not, my baby girl is 3 now! 2/24/10 we celebrated Chloe's 3rd birthday with a bang! Shawn and I both took the day off to spend with our fabulous little girl!



Opening her present!


She loved the singing SpongeBob card!

We then headed off to get her 3 year pics done!




She was a posing FOOL! America's Next Top Model, WATCH OUT! LOL!

We ate lunch at BD's Mongolian BBQ, a favorite of ours, then headed back out to let Chloe bounce off some energy at Monkey Joe's. Needless to say, she had a blast!















Happy Birthday baby girl! Mommy and Daddy love you so much!!!