Balloons Ablazen!

Tired man!

Last Friday was the first real outing adventure Joel and I have had here in Boise.  We've been in the area since February and yes it's almost September.  With winter, being pregnant, Joel working most weekends, and then just being tired and or lazy we haven't gotten out much.  We've found a lot of cool parks.  We've walked the greenbelt.  Fed the ducks. Found the local YMCA and enjoy working out there, but nothing really social or community wise.  A friend told us about Alive at Five.  A community get-together of small name bands that play and people just chill.  I asked him to come check it out with me.  We enjoyed it for a few minutes but realized we needed to bring our own lawn chairs.  We haven't been back yet... 

Joel found out about the Spirit of Boise Balloon Festival and told me about it.  I almost forgot but my dreams reminded me.  Seriously.  I woke up one morning having had the strangest dream about chasing hot air balloons.  I then remembered that the festival was going on.  I looked up the events and days and saw Nite Glow.  I googled the images and decided I wanted to see this in person!  It was Friday night and events started around 6 and really got going around 8 and then the balloons would be lit up simultaneously once it got dark.  My plan was to get there early, find a place to picnic, meet Joel once he got off work, and the rest would be an enjoyable night... well, with Hailey... things didn't quite work that way.  She was cranky the whole day and didn't get a single nap in that was longer than a cat nap.  Cranky and fussy and still eating by the time Joel got home I wondered if we should even go...

We decided that if she was going to be cranky and not go down for bed we might as well put her in the carseat and try to at least enjoy the evening while she slept in her seat.  She did end up falling asleep in her carseat for a little while and we did have a fun time walking around and then sitting on the blanket eating our dinner.  Cabbage rolls and watermelon.  Joel was in heaven... he just wished there were more.  It started getting dark and we were walking around.  Hailey was awake and "needing" attention.  We held her till she eventually fell asleep in my arms, but only after she had left an awesome drool tattoo on Joel's shirt.  Teething is coming soon... da da daaaa!!!

The balloons were all laid out on the ground and when the signal was given they started to blow them up.  Then after the fans had blown enough air into them the fire thrusters were turned on and the balloons were filled completely.  Then after advertising and mumbo jumbo the announcer did a countdown and all of the balloons  pulled their fire thrusters at the same time.  Thus lighting up all the balloons all at once.  He did it multiple times.  Hours of waiting for a few minutes of lights.  It was worth it.  We enjoyed being out of the house, having a picnic, playing with Hailey way past her bedtime, walking around, people watching, dog watching, balloon watching.  It was a good night!