Balloons Over Bend

Okay I know that I live in a somewhat tourist-y little place, some would say it's the "Aspen of Oregon", and most of the events going on here are a little too expensive for our family of five to partake in every one of them every year but we did discover a fantastic FREE activity that our whole family could enjoy. We went to the Balloons Over Bend Night Glow on Saturday and watched the pilots light their hot air balloons in the dark, which I've gotta say was super cool and I've never seen that (at least not in person, that I can think of).

And Sunday morning we all managed to drag ourselves out of bed and get down to the last launch morning launch to watch the balloons again. I have to say, my heart started pounding when we got close enough to see the balloons! I was afraid we wouldn't get there in time to see them all before the launch. As soon as we were close enough I tore off my seat belt and jumped out of the car to start snapping away with my camera. It was beautiful and a little bittersweet. I found myself misty-eyed and missing wishing more than anything that my mom would have been there to share the experience with me. I think maybe because whenever I think of the Old Mill where they did the launch and the park where we go walking I think of my mom. So this post is a little dedication to her I guess. I wish it could be more Mom, but I hope you like it!!