On Friday night, we headed out to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta with some friends of ours. The balloon glow we were gong to see was canceled due to high winds, but we still go to eat some fair food, hang out, and watch the fireworks after it got dark. Here are some pictures we took.

The city runs a great park and ride shuttle service to the fiesta using school buses, so here is Kate on a bus, talking to Chloe, her buddy.

Funnel cake. Yum.

Since the balloons couldn't inflate, some of the pilots entertained the crowd by blasting the flames up into the air. The kids we were with were alternately thrilled and freaked out.

Ellie (shown here on Luke's shoulders) was thrilled. She kept saying "Fire come again, mommy!"

This was definitely one of those occasions when I wish I could see what Kate is thinking. "OK. I'm not in bed, and instead we're in a giant field staring at a pillar of fire." As the evening wore on and we still didn't go home and put her to bed, she got more and more confused looking. But she was a good sport about it.

One day, I am going to make the Jeromins teach us how to take family photos that look like J. Crew catalog covers.

Ellie was the commentator for the evening. During the fireworks she kept getting Dan's attention and then telling him "Look at the fireworks, Mr. Dan!" Later on, Dan got Ellie's attention and told her to look at the fireworks and she was all "I see them, Mr. Dan," like "Stop distracting me me, dude. I have this fireworks thing down." It was hilarious.

Kate almost fell asleep in spite of the fireworks. Maybe next year she'll be a little more into it.

Thanks for a great night out, friends! Maybe next year we can see some actual balloons.