Indianola Balloon Classic

Last night, the two oldest boys and Ed & I went to the Indianola Balloon Classic Nite glow.  It was absolutely beautiful.  This balloon fest last for 9 days with flights at 630 AM and 630 PM then last night was the nite glow.  We have never been but it is definitely something I want to see again next year!

This one flew right over our head when we parked.  

The boys obviously loved the Pirate Parrot and the Coco Monkey.

The Mom and two of her favorite boys!

Over 50 balloons, mostly from around Iowa but also as far away as Texas.  

Ed & I, it made us want to go back up in a balloon very soon.  

Just before dusk, they open up the gates and let anyone who wants to go in and upclose go.  IT. WAS. AWESOME.  The balloon teams also hand out trading cards so the boys ran from basket to basket collecting the cards.  It was really amazing to see so many up close.  

 At dusk, when the balloons are ready and announcer yells "1, 2, 3, PULL" and all the balloons pull the fire and make their balloons light up.  It was so beautiful to see over 50 balloons lit up.  

New park

We checked out a new park yesterday,  the slides were really cool, a bit bumpy but worth the drive.

Cousins

Current Schmitz grandchildren all in their 4-H shirts.

Little Fish

This fish came to our house via garage sale.  All the kids enjoy it but Jo just figured out its amusement.  She is extra cute because she has a fish shirt on also.

Good Dads

These three are going to awesome Dads some day.  

Little Workers

These two are 6 months apart and have the best time together (when Toby isn't bulling him).   So at 4-H Fair when Solomon brought two dump trucks these boys turned into construction workers.  They were so cute loading and unloading each other's truck and just playing in the dirt.  

Pixie Garden

After seeing a few pixie gardens at the Polk County fair the boys wanted to make one of our own.  After a few trips to a few stores we had some supplies to make a little garden.  Ed & I prepped a box and the next day we filled it with our supplies.  

 Putting in the dirt.  

Adding our little plants, moss and accessories.  The boys wanted a bench and a path.  They loved it and I think it is something we will do again soon.  

We ordered a house that has a solar light in it!  I think it is very cute, now we will just have to wait for our pixies.  

Zoo

We finally made it to the zoo this morning.  The boys enjoyed it and after missing a whole year at the zoo we all had fun.  

 The new rhino exhibit.  

 The enclosed penguin display.  We then made the sea lion show.  

 Inside the prairie dog enclosure, there were so many today.  

 Another thing off my bucket list, riding a camel.  

 All the parakeets.  

Max the tortoise.  

Camp Dodge

Monday we went to Camp Dodge.  Stopping at the PX and then on tot he Gold Star Museum.  It was really cool, full of all things military.  The boys loved looking around at the guns, helicopters, miniature army vehicles and climbing on all the outside artillery.  

 Our sweet children.  

 They loved climbing on all the equipment.  

 On top of a tank.

 Inside a tank!

 Filling my bucket list of looking through a real periscope.  

Toby by a BIG gun.  

Obstacle Course

We made an obstacle course this afternoon.  You start on the deck run over the cot, onto the trampoline where you jump 7 times, hop over the walker, through the fish, jump on the carpet squares, crawl through the sensory table, weave through the garbage cans and back to the deck.  Of course you can reverse it for added fun.