Monday, November 2, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Halloween this year was so much fun! Last year, Levi, was scared of putting on his costume and whenever he was given a piece of candy he had to give a piece of candy from his pail back. Not this year! Levi was so excited to be Buzz Lightyear, and he seemed to get the idea of tick-or-treating too. Although, he wouldn't say "trick-or-treat" until after he was given the candy and had turned away and was walking back down the path!


Levi loves pumpkins!!! Here he is giving the pumpkin Nana and Grandpa Charlie grew for him a big hug!


At first Levi was pretty excited to help gut the pumpkin, but, after touching that cold, slimy stuff he changed his mind real fast! He did help me pick out the seeds so I could toast us some pumpkin seeds! Yummm!!!


Our finished pumpkin and the extent of my Halloween decorations!



Buzz Lightyear getting ready to go to the ward Halloween party. He is missing his boots, which Levi points out every time he sees this picture.




On his way to go trick-or-treating Saturday night! We had so much fun!!!






Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Rancho San Rafael Part 2

We went back to Rancho San Rafael last month. This park really is very pretty, and I am going to miss it when we move next spring. Here are just a few of the gorgeous pictures we took while there!







I love the cool vines behind Levi! He thought they were pretty cool too!








It seems we can't have an outing anymore without Levi falling and bumping or scraping something. Here he fell on the walking path and barely skinned his knee. He cried for a sec, then sat down on this rock and asked me to take a picture of it! I love the posing of the terribly sad face!




















I love this picture! It's so sweet!








Friday, September 25, 2009

The Great Reno Balloon Race

Every September Reno hosts the Great Reno Balloon Race. It's a four day event that in years past has hosted 150 balloons. This year, because of economic strain, had around 100 balloons. It was a very early morning, Dan and I were up at a quarter to 4 and we got Levi up at about a quarter to 5 and we were off! We wanted to make it in time for the "dawn patrol" which they do at 5:30am. The dawn patrol is 4 balloons that you watch blow-up and begin their assent. Because it is still dark, they glow! It's quite the site to see! Levi refused to look at the camera or heaven forbid smile for any photo. There was just too much to see!



The dawn patrol!! We weren't expecting the tens of thousands of people that were there, to be there, as early as it was, which made us late so we ended up just catching the end of the show.


Laying out one of the balloons.




The beautiful sunrise! It was a perfect morning. No wind and it wasn't nearly as cold as in years past.



It's hard to see, but, there is an American Flag hanging off this balloon. This was the first balloon up and while it rose someone sang the National Anthem. It was really wonderful!




The planes that flew threw at the end of the Anthem.





Inside the Stagecoach balloon. This was Levi's favorite!




Balloons were going up so fast around us, you didn't know where to look!







The stagecoach blown up. Levi kept calling it a train!









Daddy and Levi




It literally went from nothing to what you see here in about 15 minutes. It was amazing!!



Dan likes this picture because of the Curves balloon in the background. Sigh!








Tony the Tiger!!





Levi watching the balloons. He would yell, "no picture!" every time we'd try to snap a shot!




At one point I counted 81 balloons in the air!





The Energizer Bunny balloon being blown up. It's huge! This is his face!




His ears.



Almost done!




Done! This balloon is 166 feet tall, and has a size 98 shoe!!!





We had so much fun!!




Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Labor Day in Lake Tahoe!


For Labor Day this year, we decided to take a day trip up to Lake Tahoe. We hadn't been up there yet this summer and with the warm weather quickly fleeing.. well, we wanted to take advantage of the day off. So we contacted Dan's Mom and Step-father and asked if they would like to join us, which they gladly accepted. It takes about an hour for us to get to Tahoe City, which is on the north-west side of the Lake on the California side, and that is where we met up with Nana and Grandpa Charlie. Tahoe City is very pretty and has a fun little bridge, nick-named Fanny bridge, because back in the day the girls would come up in their short skirts and lean over the side of the bridge to see the fish swimming up into the lake and ended up showing off their "fanny's"!



Levi looking over the side of the bridge at the fish and ducks.


The view from the other side, of Levi looking over the side of the bridge!


The fish trying to swim up-stream into the lake.




The Truckee river, which runs right through Reno, begins at Lake Tahoe. We walked down to the river to let Levi throw some rocks!



There are ducks all over the lake and river and they know when little splashes from people come chances are it means yummy food. So, when Levi started throwing little rocks these ducks came a runnin'! At one point we had 5 or 6 ducks circling around us. Boy, were they disappointed when they realized he was only throwing pebbles not bread!


Playing in the river! Lake Tahoe is very cold, but, here in Tahoe City the water is very shallow and was warm enough for us to play in it a bit. This is where the Truckee begins. Another hundred-feet and we would be in Lake Tahoe.



Taking a short walk in the Lake with Mom!



The view of Emerald Bay. It's very pretty and a big tourist attraction.



All of us at Emerald Bay!!




After visiting Emerald Bay we had a yummy picnic lunch and then hit one of the trails down to what they call the "stream profile". Levi and Grandpa Charlie led the way for us!



The pretty trail!




The stream profile is a cross-section of the river that is behind glass and underground a bit. Supposedly this is a really cool place in the fall when the salmon come up-stream to spawn. We are hoping to come back then!



After visiting the fish we took Levi miniature golfing. Levi loves to watch golf on TV (don't ask me why, Dan and I both think it is terribly boring), so we figured he would really love this! And he certainly did!




Levi had us all trained very well, he would make Dan and I hit our balls into the hole and then we would take his turn, once he (finally) got his ball in the hole he would pick Dad's ball up, then my ball, then his. Always in the order! Levi had so much fun, and he even got a hole-in-one (with Dad's help of course)!



Outside the golf place there were a few different rides. Levi loved this 4-wheeler (although, you wouldn't know from the look on his face, we had to pry him away from it!).


By the end of the day we ended up driving all the way around the lake! We had such a wonderful day and were so happy to have Nana and Grandpa Charlie be there with us!!