Balloon Fiesta

 I wasn't really planning to attend Balloon Fiesta this year; however, Chelsea and her beau, Brent, came to Albuquerque and wanted to see the balloons.  Since this is may be one of the last times we are living here, it was a good time to see the balloons one more time.   Chelsea and I went early Friday morning to maybe catch a ride in a balloon, but that didn't happen.  We met up with Craig and Blair and their two friends, Matt and Brittany.  We wondered the whole place for hours and watched hundreds of balloons launch.  It really was the perfect morning for the balloons.  

 Friday night, I dragged Stephen and Nolen with me to Balloon Fiesta.  We had a really good parking spot due to Nolen's jiu jitsu gym giving us a parking pass.  So we easily walked in and stood in line to get dinner.  After finally getting food, we found a nice spot to watch the balloons light up.  We stayed through the fireworks show and loved it.   This was a good year for 2025 Balloon Fiesta. AND I am so glad Chelsea came to enjoy it with me.  

 

Balloon Fiesta 2023

 This weekend, my best friend Melanie Iverson drove down with four of her kids from Denver, Colorado to watch the eclipse and attend Balloon Fiesta!  We had so much fun.  They arrived late Thursday night and we all slept about four hours before we woke up at 5 AM and headed down to the Balloon Fiesta.  We arrived at just the right time and saw the mass ascension.  There were so many balloons.  It was gorgeous.  

We headed home and everyone needed a long nap!  I taught some piano lessons then we went to the jump park to hang with some of our friends.  We had dinner with my parents and played Uno!  So much fun.  Saturday, we slept in and then headed over to Craig and Blair's house to watch the eclipse.  It was incredible to see the full ring of fire.  We laughed and laughed with Craig and Blair while watching the sun slowly get covered up by the moon.  

After the eclipse we walked down to the river and played in the water for a few hours before we headed back to the balloon fiesta.  Stephen got VIP passes again this year so we got to park close and get taken right down to the field.  Melanie and I decided to go get food for all the kids inside the VIP tent.  When we walked in we saw so many yummy treats.  So we grabbed eight cupcakes, ice cream sandwiches, and waters.  We started walking out when the people at the gate said we couldn't take the food out.  So Melanie put all the cupcakes down her jacket.  It was hilarious!  I put the ice cream sandwiches in my pockets and we walked out.  For sure the security guards knew we took the food because it was pretty obvious. When we got out, Melanie had frosting all over her shirt and jacket!  AND the kids didn't even want the cupcakes!  We just laughed and laughed and laughed.  

The kids loved the drone show and while we were watching the fire works a lady gave the kids some free light up swords.  It was a blast!  Sunday, we all headed to church, then Melanie headed home  It was such a fun weekend.  I am so glad I have a good friend who is willing to do anything with me.