Up, Up, and away...

 ...in our beautiful balloon!  Today was the day we redeemed out Christmas 'gift certificate' for a balloon ride.  We went with Heather Watkins Confetti Pebbles Balloons of Utah and she gave us a great ride.  Her cute family were her crew and they did a great job!  It was a perfect early morning ride and we were amazed to see what the view looks like from balloon aloft view!  Kind of crazy to figure things out from such a new vantage point.  Lift off - we barely felt it and when we came down it was just as smooth.  We tried to come down at a different spot first, and then the wind shifted and that was not an option at that point...so we drifted over to another spot and she put us down.  Sights along the way included seeing Ferf out running with her ladies.  Heather took us down low enough that we could converse with them!  We saw the temple, sunrise, the neighborhood mountain top trails, the ponds in backyards that we didn't even know were there, the meandering of the river and so much more!  The fields were so pretty - some green and some plowed.  On our way to land we even saw what may have been a homeless camp along the river, or it may just have been Spring Break kids trying to save money camping along the river/bike trail.   At the end of our ride they have a funny little tradition:  we kneeled down on a blanket and after Heather's little girl demonstrated how, we had to put our hands behind our back and reach down with our mouths to pick up a paper cup full of sparkling cider and drink it all up with no hands!  It was funny!  She recited the Balloonist Prayer before we started.

The winds have welcomes you with softness. The sun has blessed you with his warm hand.  You have flown so well and so high, that God has joined you in your laughter and set you gently back again into the loving arms of Mother Earth!  

It was a really fun experience and very interesting to see it up close and personal.  I've watched one land before a few years ago with Trigg, but this was the real deal just for us.  It was and expensive gift to give and we really appreciate the opportunity to have such a fun and learning adventure experience gift!