Balloon Fiesta - Arriba!

Li'l Asher,

	It's that time of year again.  Hundreds of hot air balloons are descending (literally) on Albuquerque.  It's the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta!  And this will be your first year attending.  Because we're locals (and smart) we always take a bus from the Coronado Mall to the balloon field to avoid all the hassles of traffic and parking.  But in order to get there before the mass ascension, we have to rise early before the sun is up.  It can be quite chilly, so we bundled you up appropriately.
Once we arrived at the field (even though the sun wasn't quite up) there were still lots of things to see.  Here's a balloon crew testing their burner for their balloon - you found this quite impressive.
You quickly became tired of sitting in the stroller because you couldn't see any of the action.  Dad, Papa Bruce, and I took turns holding you so you could get a good look around.
	The morning progressed and more and more balloons popped up on the field like giant mushrooms.  You were enamored by all you saw - balloons on the ground, in the sky, all around! (Papa Bruce was pretty impressed too.)
As is always the case, we miraculously run into someone we know at the Balloon Fiesta.  Considering the hundreds of thousands of people who are there, it still never fails to happen.  This year it was Uncle Wayne and Aunt Michele!  Aunt Michele made sure you didn't miss a thing, especially the bees taking off.
	I could tell that you were getting a little tired after all this excitement.  So after the last balloon launched into the great blue of the New Mexico sky, we headed home. You weren't too upset to leave, especially since I assured you that we'd come again next year.

Love Much,
Mom

You can buy anything at the
Balloon Fiesta - just ask
this guy!

A Balloon Inflates

Sharing a snack with Auntie Michele

One of Asher's favorite things - riding
the bus to and fro the Fiesta!

The Evil Empire comes
to Albuquerque

Look! Over there!  And there!
  And there!