Balloon Festival 2009 (7/24/09)

Stephanie, Sharon, the 4 kids, and I all went out to the 2009 Balloon Festival at the Soleberg Airport in Readington, NJ. As always, all of the hot-air balloons up & taking flight is always amazing to see! All of the shapes, colors, etc. -- awesome! We had 1 daring little one who wanted to go up in one-- guess who?? Yes-- Juliana ... but, we didn't get a chance to... maybe next time. We had a good time strolling around watching the balloons, trying all different kinds of samples, taking chances, etc. It was fun!
Despite all of the beauty of the balloons, our feet were not too pretty! It was a rainy week here in Jersey which turned the fields we had to park in & walk across a MESS! Stephanie and I almost lost our flip-flops as we treked through the mud, we had to drag the 2 double strollers, and to top the night off, my minivan got STUCK in the mud as we attempted to leave... wheels spinnin', mud flingin'... UGH! So-- once we got PUSHED out of that mess, we were on our way home... thank goodness! Thanks to the shower, the garden hose, and the car wash (not 1x, but 2x's!) -- everyone and everything got clean. :) What a mess on such a nice day!
Note to self... no more balloon fest during a rainy week! :)

Up, up, and away at the NJ Balloon Festival! (7/25/08)

The balloon festival came to town at the Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ and what awesome & beautiful sight to see! :) As an adult, it was awesome for me to see, but the kids were so amazed & overwhelmed by the sight of the huge & beautiful balloons all around them... on the ground, in the air, everywhere! I still remember going to the Balloon Festival as a child with my Grandparents. The balloons were so beautiful... they had so many pretty colors, different characters (bumble bees, Darth Vadar, Energizer Bunny, Happy Face), and shapes (barn, Noah's Ark). There must have been over 75 balloons on display and in flight!
While there, the kids got to see their 1st "concert", as well... the Gin Blossoms were there performing! We got to listen to the music as we strolled around the festival and finally sat for the last bit of the concert... as we sat watching the concert, the kids bopped along in their stroller to "Follow you down...", etc. It was cute! Following the concert, the sky lit up with fireworks, so Aunt Sharon and I high-tailed the strollers out of their because Micaela gets scared by the loud noise of the fireworks.
I am SO glad we got to go to the festival... it was so awesome to see! If you have never gone, be sure to go next year when it comes to town... it's definitely worth it!