UP, UP AND AWAY. . . .

Ashlee finally got to give Jason his second anniversary present today and it was only four months late! Their anniversary is in May, but because of freaky weather and scheduling difficulties, they had to wait until today. We all had to keep it a secret so she could surprise Jason. I got to go watch them take off and here's the fun photos I took. They took off from one of the soccer fields at Rejoice Church. This is the company that does the balloon rides. The man looks kind of like the Wizard of Oz. Funny. Funnier still is he also does this business in Kansas. Hmmm. Getting the basket ready for takeoff.

Ashlee watching them setting up the balloon.
Happy 2nd anniversary, Jason and Ashlee! They are so cute, aren't they?
This basket is not very big and six people were going up-the balloon owner and helper, a couple from Ohio (she thought I was Ashlee's sister-woohoo!) and Ashlee and Jason.
Ron and Mary Jane came to watch the kids too. I told Ron they had a cancellation and he could go up. It was funny because he is afraid of heights. I'm with him. I don't think I would want to do it either.
The balloon is way bigger than you think it is. Here it is all rolled up.


Filling the balloon up with a giant fan.
It's so pretty when it starts to inflate.
Jason and Ashlee holding up the side of the balloon to facilitate inflation of the balloon.
Jason and Ashlee.
It's getting there. It takes quite a while to get enough air in these things.


Jason showing Ashlee how to video.
Jason holding up his side of the balloon.
See the fan?
Don't you love how the sun is illuminating the inside of the balloon?

I had to fight an urge to run inside the balloon. It looks like it would be fun to be inside there. This is before they fired it up, of course!
That fan was whipping Ashlee's hair all around.
Inside the balloon.
There's a horrible glare from the sun in this photo, but can you see the fire inflating the balloon? It sure got hot fast!

Fire in the hole! I don't know how the material doesn't catch fire.
Just a little bit more air and they are good to go.


Yep, the pic is turned the right way. After they got in, the basket tipped over! They were holding on for dear life.

Look at Ashlee's death grip.

I love Ashlee's expression.

Ready for takeoff.
All aboard!

Wow - it went up into the sky fast!
Kind of scary to see part of your family float up into the sky.
Up, up and away. . .
In my beautiful, my beautiful balloon!
Since Ashlee doesn't have a blog anymore, I got to write all about this adventure. It was interesting to see how they go about getting the balloon and basket ready. When they landed and were letting the air out of the balloon, the owner grabbed Ashlee out of the basket and threw her on the balloon to help it deflate faster. He said she didn't weigh enough to help much. Some neighborhood kids got to come over and jump on it. Now that sounds fun! (I was home watching my granddog.)