It Has Begun

Every year at this time the adult in me takes a leave of absence and the kid comes out to play!! For those who have never experienced an Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, I challenge you to do so at least once in your lifetime...it is an experience you will never forget. This is the first year I have been at home for the first day of the fiesta, and what a treat!! I was feeding D in the kitchen and all of a sudden we heard it...the unmistakable whoosh of a hotair balloon right outside our backdoor. And there it was, just across the street landing in the high school field, being serenaded by the marching band. All across Albuquerque, balloons were courting schools and decorating the sky with beauty. We got to see a few balloons land at the high school and then take back off for more high-in-the-sky adventures. Ok, I admit it, I am a hotair balloon junkie. What better way to spend a morning than watching all these vibrant colorful balloons floating high in the air with a backdrop of mountains and cool, crisp air to breathe?! I grew up in Fort Collins, CO, and there were occasional hotair balloons that graced the air around town. But never in my life, until Albuquerque, have I ever been surrounded by literally hundreds of balloons filling up and taking off. It is an indescribable feeling to be down on the field walking by the balloon teams as they prepare for take off. This year, we won't be on the field watching because I think the crowds, crowd noise and balloon noise would be a bit overwhelming for D. But, we will be watching from a spot within walking distance from the house. So, stay tuned for some fun balloon pictures over the next few days as I introduce D to hotair balloons and try to infect him with the contagious excitement drummed up by balloons floating high in the Albuquerque sky. Here is one of the balloons from this morning:














And here is a picture from last year once most of the balloons had taken off from the field: