Balloon Rally

We were all out of the house before 5:30am!  If you know our family, you know that is quite the acheivement.  We headed down the road to a small community festival and balloon rally.  Hopeful anticipation coupled with lots of yawns.  We arrived shortly before 6:00am, found our parking spot and ate our picnic breakfast in the car.  Armed with coffee, bug spray and smiles we all walked down the short grassy path that led into the open field where the balloons were to take off.  Then we waited.  And waited.  There was cloud cover and a slight chance of rain.  Would we be disappointed yet again?  We've tried to view many balloon ascensions over the years only to have our hopes dashed by inclement weather.

Much to our delight the sky started to open up and the sun began to peek through the clouds.  The field became a flurry of activity as all balloon crews began to set up.

I had no idea that it took so many people to get a balloon in the air.  There were at least 4-5 people with every balloon.

The first balloon is in the air. 

Followed by another.

We forgot to count, but we're pretty sure there were at least a dozen balloons that ascended. 

If you look closely in the above picture you can see the pilot is already in the basket. 

Up, up and away.

Hot air balloons have long been something special to us. We decorated the nursery with them for our first and fourth born boys and we frequently see them sailing over our home. 

 

M is enjoying the view.

On our ride back home we 'chased' a few of the balloons for a short time.  We also discussed which were our favorites and decided it would be easier to name the one that was our least favorite.  Then, it began to rain.