Spirit of Boise Balloon Classic

For the past week, while taking Elle to school, we watched hot air balloons rise and float over Boise. This is an exciting annual event that Elle and I enjoy very much. But seeing as how she has school in the morning, we were not able to attend this event the first few days it occurred. But luckily, this event occurred for many days, and Elle does not have school on Friday, so we were able to attend by the end of the week. However, the balloons are set off very early in the morning, so we had to be up and ready to go at an early hour. But the early hour was worth it, because the balloons were very neat to see. Everywhere we looked balloons of a variety of shapes and sizes were floating and rising in the air. Elle and Hudson were pointing and exclaiming phrases—or grunts in Hudson’s case—of excitement in each direction we looked. It was so much fun, and we really enjoyed watching all of the balloons.

But watching the balloons was not the only exciting thing we got to do that day. We also had the chance to ride in a hot air balloon. The crew of one of the balloons offered free tethered rides to children. Elle, of course, desperately wanted to do this, so we got in line and waited an hour to have a turn. And I am glad we waited, because it was so much fun. Both Elle and Hudson loved it. It was exciting and thrilling, and has been something Elle has wanted to do for quite some time (well actually for a year—since last year when we went to this event for the first time).

But lucky Elle did not only get to do this once, but twice. We attended the event the next day with Johnny, and they offered the tethered rides again. We got in line quickly, and Elle was the last kid to get a ride, due to winds. She was a very lucky girl, and we were so glad to afford her this opportunity. It was a great two days of fun and excitement with hot air balloons.