Balloons and Breakfast

2 July 2010
As part of the Freedom Festival, each year hot air balloons are launched from Fox Field early in the morning.  It is wonderful to go watch them fill and lift off into the air, their bright colors made more brilliant by the summer sun shining through them.

I knew the children would love to see the balloons, so we woke early Friday morning to go see them.  Kent complained just a bit about the early hour (we got up at 6:15am) until, as we were walking towards the field, Brandt said, "This is so exciting!"  Kent got into the spirit of the whole event a bit more after that.

Kent, Brandt, and Cousin Blake looking up into a balloon.

It was mostly magical.  Because of the wind, the balloons didn't actually launch, but many of the balloonists were accommodating and filled them anyway.  It was fun to wander around underneath them, seeing the fire keep them afloat, and people watching.  The children liked the pig and Smokey the Bear balloons best.

The family photo that might have been nice.

What am I doing with my face?

We were joined by

Grandma Sue, Aunt Sharae and 

Cousins Makenna, Luke, and Blake

Aunt Mikayla too.

And Grandma Dawn and Poppa Scott (not pictured)

Kent began chatting with a paramedic who was standing nearby and asked if Brandt might have a look into the Life Flight helicopter he flew in.  The paramedic agreed.  While we were initially our small party, we actually began a deluge of interested people who followed us over.  Although Brandt was intrigued with the interior, I told him this was a helicopter we didn't ever want to ride in.

A better family picture.  

Following balloon watching, we all went to Grandma Sue and Grandpa De's house for a French toast breakfast.  I bought cinnamon chip bread from Great Harvest which made ooh la la delicious toast, and we topped it with buttermilk syrup for additional ooh la la deliciousness.  The remainder of the morning was spent playing with cousins.

Dawn, Scott, De, Blake, and Mikayla.

Blake and Makenna and lovely fruit.

More ooh la la deliciousness

Luke, Makenna, Ava, Crew, Griffin, and Brandt

They are putting on a performance.

And how is this for funny.  After being outside practically all morning and playing and eating and having a marvelous time, we walked in the house at 10:45am and at 10:48am Brandt said, "Mom, let me out," as if he were a caged animal who never saw the light of day.  What more do I need to do to keep them entertained and content?