Studio C Grade School Photos

This could happen to you.


Like it did to me. :)

Balloon Fiesta

So, apparently Balloon Fiesta is a big deal. We have been here two years, and we still haven't been to a morning ascension. (People in Albuquerque gasp in horror when they find out this fun fact about us) Well, Grandma and Grandpa came down this year, so we finally made it to a morning event. And it was pretty cool, I have to admit. The fact that our children are STILL recovering from being awakened at 4:30 that morning means that this may not be a super frequent occurrence, but I am still so glad we went. The pictures don't do it justice.

I love these pictures of us staring in awe at the sky.

Here is an awesome picture of my parents. I am so glad they came down! We had such a fun time.

A complete stranger came and gave Bradley this book of balloon fiesta. This boy would not let this book go for anything, or anyone. It was so nice! Thank you random stranger!!

And then just the rest of our fun time!

I know these pictures look almost the same, but my dad took one of all of us, and then someone asked if they could take a picture of all of us, but they cut out Rinna. :) So we still don't have one of all of us. Nice of them to offer anyway. :)

She is the only one that really did not think it was worth getting up before dawn to go see balloons. She was a bit of a cranky pants. But still so cute!

Kit Carson Hike

So what do you say when someone asks you to drive for four hours to carry 35 pounds across 5 miles and up 3,000 feet to eat food suitable for cats to get restless sleep for a few hours to wake up long before dawn to climb 2,500 feet in the dark with a helmet in case rocks fall on you to descend several hundred feet on steep ledges just so you can climb back up a few hundred more feet...and then climb down without dying?

...Well, YES, obviously!!

And this is why:

coming up on the mountain

trailhead with peak in the distance

the "...why am I doing this again..." moment

good to celebrate early on in case you don't have energy at the top

the campsite

Willow Lake

trailhead for day 2 (don't be fooled, this started about 3 am)

the brutal climb (it's worse than it looks, especially since this part was done in the dark)

early crack of dawn, partway up the brutal climb

about dawn, we reached the ridge, Challenger and Kit Carson peaks in the distance

ready for what's ahead

and finally the sun comes up

the climbing pose

the proof for Challenger

the proof the previous picture isn't a fake or stolen from someone else

the climb ahead-yes, after reaching 14,000 you now have to go back down just to go back up again

the perilous ledge to cross (it's actually not that bad, but this picture makes it look perilous for more effect)

the further descent-why am I going down just to go back up again...

the final ascent

THE TOP! - 14,171 ft

Enjoy the panorama...

the proof of Kit Carson (you'll just have to trust me on this one)

you can't really appreciate this view until you've been to the top and back again 

More Rinna Walking

It's fun to see the progression. I was doing dishes tonight, and I see her walking over to her toys like it's no big deal. I just love how she laughs through the whole thing! She's getting so big!

Rinna Walking

She's getting there!

Bradley's Birthday Interview

Bradley and Gymnastics

Here is just a quick video of Bradley at gymnastics. After that is an even quicker video of Noah and Bradley at swimming lessons respectively. They are growing too fast.

Noah and Rinna

So, Rinna has decided that tormenting Noah is a pretty good time. (I'd be lying if I said she was wrong...but that's beside the point) So, today in the car, she keeps kicking his shoulder. When he gets mad, she giggles. And the madder he gets, the more she giggles. He finally wised up and stopped getting mad. And that made HER mad. I was laughing my guts out.

Rinna Dancing

I know this will come as a surprise to some, but I did not teach her these awesome dance moves. This is a Rinna original.

Noah's 3 Year Old Interview