Balloon Festival

Our little town has a balloon festival every year that is so much fun. It's the perfect size; enough balloons to impress the kids, but not so many people that you have to fight huge crowds. We go meet a bunch of families in the evening. We eat dinner, watch the balloons launch, watch for the skydivers, and then wait until it gets dark so the balloons can "glow". Jack and Cole both thought it was wonderful and I must admit I think it's pretty cool, too.
The balloons don't all launch from the same place. You just start to see them rising into the air...pretty fun.
Just chillin' out waiting for balloons.
Gotta love that wide stance! He is not going anywhere.
"Afterglow"We all look a little glassy eyed...it's really late for the kids and Matt was working nights this last rotation...but, we made it (he finished Friday) and it's the last one ever (we hope)!!

My mom was nice enough to drive from Salt Lake, stop in Denver, and drive a trailer full of furniture my aunt was kind enough to donate to us, all the way to Michigan. She stayed about a week and the boys LOVED having her here. True to form, I have no pictures. Sorry Mom...you were here for a couple of these!
It has been time for Cole to get a haircut for awhile now...curly and shaggy in back, long and straight on top...very odd. But hey, at least he has hair...that seems to be rare among the Taylor children at this age. He wasn't so sure about the clippers, but did pretty well. He looks so much more grown up to me! (not the greatest pictures, sorry)
Before...

After...We've been going to Dow gardens a lot lately (it's kind of like Red Butte). Jack loves these steps and insists on going up to the top "and right back down" all by himself on our way out every time.
Jack got into the Desitin, the pic doesn't do it justice...7 washes later he was still greasy. I'm really glad he isn't a kid that does this all the time (I know there are some out there)....but I definitely wasn't prepared.

Cole's new trick..."so big!"