"Hot Balloons!"

Tonight we went down to Indianola (about 30 minutes south of us) to see the National Balloon Classic.  We hear about it every year and figured it was something Jeremiah would really enjoy, so we decided to check it out.  He was very excited to see the "hot balloons" as he calls them! :)  They were supposed to do a mass launch of many balloons (I thought the announcer said there were 80 pilots there?) at 6:30 pm, and we arrived shortly before then.  And then we waited.... and waited..... and waited.  About 7:30 they told us that because of storm clouds just north of us, and windy conditions (apparently they need it to be less than 10 mph on the ground, and less than 20 in the air?) they would not be able to do the mass launch.  We were bummed. :(  However, a few pilots did fill their balloons with air and stand them up, so that was cool to see.  And we got rain checks, so we might go back some evening this week to see a mass launch of "hot balloons"-- I will post pics if we do!

We killed some time with a root beer float...

a tractor train ride...

and trying to push Daddy around.

It was a beautiful evening to be outside-- it was actually cool! :)

A couple funny things:  A lady sitting by us said to Adam, "He (Jeremiah) looks just like you, ya know."  Ha!  Really?  And I thought he looked like me!

And notice Adam's Calvin College shirt-- he got 2 separate comments on it this evening.  One guy walked passed us and said, "Calvin College, huh, my cousin (or maybe sister?  I don't remember) went there."  I told him that I went there and he proceeded to ask when I graduated and then he said that "she would be much younger than you because she just graduated last year."  Huh.  So you're saying I'm old.  Thanks.

Finally we got to see some balloons!

This prompted J to exclaim, "Oh WOOOWWW!"  He was all eyes! :)

You can see how the wind was blowing this balloon.  It didn't feel all that windy down on the ground, but obviously it was higher up.  Can't blame them for not launching, I guess!

Hopefully we'll make it back another night this week-- I am sure it is very impressive to see all the balloons launch together!