It's a bird, it's a plane, it's.......

Fall is a time when the sky is filled with migrating birds and falling leave. And at least around here last week, hot air balloons! A nearby city was hosting the World Hot Air Balloon Championship and our tiny town was in for a treat as they "invaded" one day for landing!

We had a blast watching them coming and as they began coming down, we followed one of the recovery teams......... (and this is why you should always have your camera with you!) Team Sweden was very nice and let us get up close.

Some times in life you go looking for fun and adventure and some times it finds you! We learned the next night there would be a Balloon Glow event (which was free) and so our balloon adventure was to continue......

We arrived before dusk and got the chance to see them roll out and set up the balloons. These were fiesta (not race) balloons and the pilots were handing out "baseball" type cards to all the kids. Since the baby had stayed home with dad, brother was nice enough to ask for cards for him too. Each card had a photo of the balloon on one side and the "stats" on the back.

Once the balloons were all set up and dusk hit, they started the "glow." As we walked around one pilot was nice enough to let kids climb in the basket and "light it up" for them.

I think the look on my son's face just about says it all! It was a magical experience that we would never have had if we hadn't kept our eyes open for fun and taken the time to embrace the moment and follow that recovery team! My son is already looking forward to the next time the World Hot Air Balloon Championship come this way (in another 10 years.)