Santa Ana Zoo: Margay

Today it was raining and cool. Since it is a holiday then Gwen had not planned on us going to Disneyland due to the crowds plus the rain and winds made it not so inviting.

So we drove over to the nearby Santa Ana Zoo. It is a very small zoo but very nice. With weather they let us in free and the animals were all inside with warm heaters.

But one of the more interesting varmints we saw was the Margay cat. It looked like an exotic house cat and its ankles turn 180 degrees. Way cool. I wonder if they can go up and down trees forward and backwards.

If It Is Such A Small World Then...

Why is it the longest dang ride at Disneyland? Think about it.

We had the chance to ride It's A Small World twice last night. It is amazing all the different things there are to look at on the ride. Not to mention the never getting the song our of your head afterwards. The only redeeming thing about the length of the ride is the fact it was warm and no wind. :)

Bob and Gale said they rode this ride back in 1964 during the World's Fair in NY.

It is an incredible ride with some cool stuff to see. Elizabeth and Emily loved it.

Speaking of cool stuff...the Disney fireworks at the Sleeping Beauty Castle is awesome. I have never seen such cool fireworks before.

Full Of Hot Air! ABQ Balloon Festival

The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta



Mass Ascension.

This is a small view of what was literally 100s if not thousands of balloons trying to lift off. We heard the number of balloons were near 7,000 that participated this year. Wow.







We got to the festival park and walked right up to this red balloon and watched as they prepared the balloon.







Then we watched it lift off and move into the mass of balloons heading south with the wind. With chase cars going to meet them when they land usually in ABQ itself.









The Little Bees

Joey and Lilly (l-r)






Their lift off brought cheers throughout the crowd. You could not miss their ascension if you can hear. :)

Later we realized it is not a given that you could get your balloon to lift off.





This is Darth Vader, from Belgium, who is making its USA debut right in front of us. Surprisingly depending on when you are allowed to start putting your balloon out then you may not get it to liftoff. Lord Vader was ready to go but the wind had picked up and the cool morning had warmed just a bit and they had to pack it back up literally right after this picture was taken. Too bad we were ready to go over and watch it ascend.




The Haunted Mansion too almost was ready to ascend but the wind and the amount of time and fuel it took to heat up the air in this huge balloon caused them to abort the liftoff. It too had to pack it in right after we took this picture.







Having to get up early and having a rough night at the hotel, More on the hotel later, we were a bit tried. It is about 9am but ALB was sleepy, cold, and congested. She was watching the Haunted Mansion while resting.










Stagecoach who also had trouble and did not ascend.










Not sure what this one is called. I call it Chickie. :)











Liftoff!










Let's watch a balloon get ready.

























As we stood and watch them ready this balloon the Classic Car Show started coming by on the way to the parking area so that folks would have a chance to visit them after the mass ascension. Gwen got a lot of pictures with some real classics in them.





























Liftoff !!!!!!!






It looks like he made it into the Ascension.











After all the balloons got up that could then we went back to the car and headed to the Aquarium for breakfast and a bit of fish watching. On the way there down in the southern part of town on Central Ave we watched as several balloons landed in parking lots and fields and so forth. Also there were a lot of chase cars driving around looking for their balloons. :)

We think Aunt TK, Marcia, and Rado Grandpa would really enjoy going to the Festival. Not that both Grandma's would not enjoy it but it is early, windy, and very cool. Not their usual cup of tea. If you are interested then you should start planning a trip here for next year. It is really cool.

More about breakfast and the hotel on the next post.

Colorado Pictures

What a bunch of Crock(s)!

Here is Elizabeth's new little crocks. She loves them and wears them all the time. What I like about them is that they are like sandals but have closed toes on them.



Emily doing her all climbing in Estes Park. Isn't Cool.













Elizabeth and her new friend Ellie (Carmen's daughter)












Adamses and Schmidts in Colorado












Sisters







Tell me again Grandpa how much you love me. :)








Grandma is silly








It all goes hand in hand.











Gotta Love Me!