The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Was AMAZING

Hi Everyone! Happy Tuesday!

A couple weeks ago was the 10-day Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. This is our first year in the city, and I wasn't really sure what to expect.

Our first time out was Wednesday morning, early. I expected the balloons to be cool, but it was so much more than I thought. Pictures don't really do it justice...there are so many balloons that launch over a couple hours and you get to be right there...I mean, you can reach out and touch the balloons. The cold air and the hiss of the fires that go on and off filling the balloons with hot air and the warmth from that fire when you get near, how everyone near claps and cheers when a balloon leaves the ground...t was one of those times I was happy to be alive, to be part of what was happening...where there was just this delight in the world and that's not something I feel very often (aside from in relation to my kids, where that wonder is there every day).

Love these pictures below of my kids, too...some of my favorite ever, with the early morning light and the wonder on their faces...

These three bees were my favorite...they all launched together, too, looked like they were holding hands as they ascended...

And off the subject a little bit...I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but somebody told me once that spots like those in the pictures below are spirits trying to make themselves visible. I'm sure there's a perfectly logical (non-paranormal) technical reason for why these spots appear, but I love it when my pictures have them...like the two in the pictures below...I like to think my brother Luke and our baby Hunter were there with us that morning...

The other time we went was Friday evening, with my parents.

In the mornings they launch the balloons, in the evenings, they have "glows," where the balloons stay on the ground but inflate and light up.

Here's "Spider Pig" ("Spider Ham,") inflated and you can see how the balloons light up (they light on and off with the fire, not constant) as the sky gets dark:

And right in front of us a balloon team came in and unfurled the balloon...we had no idea what it would be as it lay on the ground and then started to inflate...

The next thing we knew, this guy was towering over us:

The bees going up at the glow...

Our two days there were a good introduction. Next year I want to:

• Go again to the Special Shapes launch (which we did on the Wednesday) but get there EARLY...like 5:30 AM-ish to watch the test balloons ascend in the dark and experience more of the morning. A thermos of hot coffee would also be nice
• And I would love to do another evening glow, but we can get there later than we did this time, and it would be nice to pack a picnic, and also to plan to stay for the fireworks...

Bottom line: the Balloon Fiesta is SO COOL. If it's something you've thought about doing, do it. It far exceeded my expectations and I can't wait to go again.

XOXO