Balloon Festival

Click here to see all the pictures: Balloon Picture Album-

This was a pirate balloon

Lina and Lance won a game and guess what Lina picked, a red blow-up sword! This is her swording her Daddy.

We ventured to Claremore, Ok this weekend for the Gatesaway Balloon Festival. Hot air balloons that is. It sounded fun and was worth seeing at least once. There were kids bouncers and a pony ride. It took Lina some courage to get on the bouncers because there were lots of big kids being very active. Finally, a sweet volunteer let 4 little girls, including my 2 on by themselves for a few minutes. Cassidy LOVED it. She just giggled and bounced, makes me want to get her one. Anyway, Lina also didn't want to ride the ponys at first because they smelled bad, but once we got up wind of them she decided it was ok. Then finally the balloons started flying in from a far-off field and landing wherever they could. A man who must be an avid follower told us all about it. They have to have an FAA pilots lic. to fly these things, and if the wind is over 10 mph they really shouldn't fly, but today it was 15mph. Most of them flew anyway, but they couldn't land exactly where they wanted too, so the crews just have to follow them until they hit the ground. Crazy if you ask me.
Anyway, towards dark they all set up on the field and you can walk up to them. They also had a tethered ride, but the line was so long we didn't try.
I got the pictures, but they aren't too great. I really needed to be more high tech and bring a tripod so I could get a long exposure. There were many photogs there. Every couple of minutes they would sound a horn and all of the balloons would fire up and create a glow. It was really pretty. Carolina was so excited as we were watching them blow one up, right up at it, she said "Momma! Tell God thank you for the balloons!" She always wants me to pray for her, and every night we tell Him things we are thankful for, so we told Him thank you.