2012 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!

We were VERY excited to be able to witness this year's Balloon Fiesta here in Albuquerque, NM!

For about 10 days we got to see the morning sky filled with balloons.  We also got to see many of them landing wherever they could find a vacant spot.  It was GREAT!

 We were also fortunate to be able to share this experience with Grandma and Grandpa Baker!

They came for most of the week and spoiled us rotten!

We woke up at 4am on Thursday morning to get to Balloon Fiesta Park in time to see the morning launch up close and personal.  It was a cold and VERY fun morning!!!

 We bundled Cody up nice and tight! Before we left home we heated some rice packs to stick in his stroller with him.  He stayed toasty warm!

 We got to see the Dawn Patrol launching before sunrise!

 We thought these two looked like fun!  Holdyn ran up and let them know she is going to be a cowgirl for Halloween.  They were super friendly and made Holdyn's smile grow just a bit bigger!

 Here we are by the Spiderpig gondola.  As they were preparing and launching balloons we got to be right there and talk with the pilots. We could touch the balloons as they blew up, and watch up close how these things work!  It was very entertaining!

 Holdyn liked to get close and run away as they blew up. It looked like they were going to run her right over....they probably would have if she wasn't so fast ;)

 Me and my girls as the first balloons were blowing up.

 Cody sporting his Halloween teeth ;)

 One of the Dawn Patrol Balloons...  We could watch them glow from the fire as they went up and up.

 Grandma and Cody watching the balloons fill up.

 When the mass of balloons were clear to launch they sent off the fireman balloon with the flag as they played the National Anthem.  It was a really neat opening!

 As soon as the Anthem was finished playing they started off!

 We were there on the morning of the Special Shapes.  We all had a blast watching the fun different balloons blow up and take off...some of them really are HUGE!!

 Most of the balloons were handing out little trading cards with pictures of their balloon.  The girls loved collecting them and trading them back and forth.

 Here are a few of our favorite shapes!

 Cody was, as usual, a champ!  We really couldn't ask for a better baby!

Kimber couldn't take it any longer. As soon as we picked up Cody from the stroller she claimed it for herself, cuddled right down and crashed.  

We were so thankful Grandma and Grandpa could come enjoy this with us! We are hoping next year Ben can have some time off and we can take him to see them up close too! We could see them spotting the sky each day, but it was really an experience to be right there when they blew up and took off!