balloon classic

Labor Day weekend always brings the balloon classic to Colorado Springs. Locals gather to watch hundreds of hot air balloons launch on the weekend mornings. This means rousing ourselves early from bed on a holiday morning and fighting a crowd before we've even had breakfast. It's always worth this because it's a pretty fantastic sight; it is also the occasion of my first date with Mark. (We didn't call it that at the time because we were just getting to know eachother and decideing whether to date, but since it worked out I call it our first date.)

The other two times we've gone, we've been on the other side of the lake watching the balloons fill, expand, grow like a bunch of circus tents coming to life and lifting off to touch gently upon the surface of Memorial Lake and then float off into the sunrise. Some of the balloon handlers touch the lake like mosquitos and others, with a lot less finesse, almost drown themselves. Miah loved to wave at the people as they drifted overhead.

Although she enjoyed the balloons, Miah thought it was too early in the morning to smile for the camera. Roxy meanwhile, barked up a storm at every balloon she saw. Notice her ears are back! We won't take her next year, poor thing.