Annual Labor Day Hot Air Balloon Post

The very first year we moved to Colorado Springs,

Jeremy and Mandy took us to the

CS Balloon Festival.

We were hooked!

We cheat and go to the opposite side of the lake than
most of the crowds.  We feel like locals and not
tourists because we know this is the
"place to be".

Seeing the balloons right over your head is awesome.

This was a new balloon this year!
The opposite side says
"defy gravity".

When it started coming up over the trees on the opposite
side of the lake, I knew what it was going to be!

We met Jeremy and the boys there
early in the morning
to enjoy the balloons.

Mud and water was more fun than watching balloons
for little guys.

Every once in a while, one would get their attention.

I wish I had caught this sun balloon
against a blue sky.

Aren't these clouds amazing?
God puts on a better show than the balloon people.

We love leaving the park and driving around
the town "chasing" the balloons.

They land everywhere--in fields,

in parks,

by playgrounds,

even in the middle of streets. 

This woman who was part of the balloon chase team
almost got trapped beneath the falling balloon.

Another street landing 

Patriotic balloon
landing in a parking lot

I always know it's about time for the
Balloon Festival because these beautiful
wild flowers start blooming.

Can you imagine what those mountains look like
from the air? 

These two precious children were saying
(loud enough to be heard)
"We want to help pull the balloon down."
Two kind members of the balloon landing team
called them over and allowed them to help.

The loops at the bottom of the stripes
on this balloon are loose.
Very unusual and pretty design.

Another view of the loops.

One of my favorite views of the day!
I'm not sure if it was this balloon or not,
but one balloon dipped its basket
in the lake and then flew over our heads
so low that we could see the huge drops of water
 dripping to the
ground around us as it flew over.
Come and join us next
Labor Day!