Balloon Festival

The 20th Annual Mid-Hudson Valley Balloon Festival took place this weekend.  Two balloons launched from the Poughkeepsie Galleria parking lot (and a bunch of other location throughout Dutchess County) on Friday.  It was a good excuse to go window shopping and enjoy the air conditioning at the mall.

 The kids scored Poughkeepsie Galleria tote bags, stampers, and a tire gauge for daddy.  Josie has an assortment of green and orange stamps on her hands and creeping up her wrists.

Saturday and Sunday mornings there were mass balloon launches from the Hudson River Boathouse at 6am.  This morning, we headed out in search of balloons with eight kids and a dog.  We wound up watching the launch from the Poughkeepsie train station.

 By looking at Josie, can you tell it is 6am?

One balloon was even close enough that the kids were able to wave and say "Hi!"

Afterward, we drove over to the Walkway Over The Hudson for a morning walk with Mattie.  She gets very excited when she sees other dogs, and there were plenty of friends for her to meet.

We were back home by 8am.  It was a good morning.

March For Babies

Today, we participated in the March For Babies.  Our family team, Linus' Lemmings raised $541 for the March of Dimes.

Even the Red Robin joined us on the walk.

This is very similar to the view I had while on bed rest.  I waved to the hospital, knowing there must have been another high risk mom watching out her window this morning.  I was walking for her and her baby too.

We were happy to see three of Linus' NICU nurses at the walkway today.  My sleepy boy woke up and gave them the biggest smiles.  He knows how special these women are and how grateful I am that they were there to take care of my baby when I couldn't.

We walked from Poughkeepsie to Highland and then back again.

A firetruck for the kids to explore was waiting on the Highland side of the walkway.

When we reached Poughkeepsie, there was a party, complete with burgers, cotton candy, and sno cones.