Twinkle Twinkle Glow

Yesterday was the start of the 2011 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! Last year we went to the Mass Ascension at 5 in the morning on the first day and sat in Fiesta traffic for almost 2 and a half hours! So this year we decided to skip Mass Ascension and go to the Glow on the first night. Chet got tickets from work so that meant that we got to hang out at the HP tent and have dinner and chill for a while before the event started. This was a good thing for two reasons. The first was because Casa Vieja was catering dinner and the second was because we could just hang out and watch the whole park for the balloons to start going up. For a while it looked like it was going to be too windy but then Scott the balloon pilot for HP headed out to the field and said it was a go.

Standing next to the HP balloon while they were filling it.

All the balloons have names. The HP balloon is just called Hewlett-Packard. Boring, right? At least it's pretty. ;)

This balloon was right next to the HP balloon. It was may favorite (next to Spyderpig). The way it glowed was just so pretty. Loved it!

The kids really liked this balloon because their school mascot is the dragonfly. I'm sure it has a name but it must be one of the ones that didn't pay to have it put in the magazine.

Every once in a while the announcer would tell the all the balloons to light up at the same time. It was awesome. But when he would tell them all to "flicker" it would freak out my eyes! I'm pretty sure it would cause some seizures.

I also love the one with the giraffes on it. It's called "It's a Zoo". I think that would have been my moms favorite. :)

This balloon is brand new this year. It is very neat looking. All the letters and barbed wire are 3D so they stick out of the balloon. 

Pink pig in the sky!!!

This one is simply called Carousel.

This is Tropical Sunrise It was one of the last ones lit when all the others were deflating.

 

We bought Harris a program that has all the balloons and their names listed and the first one that I saw when I opened it was Spyderpig. I was like, "I want to see that one!" It is also brand new this year. It is also a special shape so I wasn't expecting to see it until the Special Shape Rodeo. But as we were heading out I caught a glimpse of a red webbed balloon. We rushed over since the Glowdeo was coming to close.

 

Is it a pig? Is it Spiderman? No it's Spyderpig!!

 

 

 

The Wells Fargo balloon, Centr Stage, Joelly the bee and Betty Jean the butterfly with Spyderpig.

 

We had a great night! The Glows are much cooler than the Mass Ascensions. Although I am looking forward to the Special Shapes Mass Ascension on Friday!