What a great way to spend a Sunday...It started at 4am, when my alarm went off. I got four kids out the door by 4:45am. We arrived in Ripon at 5:45am. We made a few wrong turns getting there. It was cold, windy and dark. All of the kids were instructed to bring warm sweatshirts, only one choose not to listen.
No balloons were setting up when we arrived. We found our way to the funnel cakes, and enjoyed a sugar filled breakfast. The wind had really kicked up...and there were rumors it was too windy for the balloons to launch. About 7am the entertainment started. Then by 7:30 a few balloons started to fill up.
Four were filling, and I enjoyed getting the pictures you see. Then about 20 minutes later, they started being deflated.
I talked to a pilot and he said the balloons were called a "90". That means they hold 90,000 cubit feet of air. One basketball holds 1 cubit foot. So a "90" is 90,000 basket balls.
The kids were asked to help hold onto the rope for one deflating balloon. They had fun being part of the action.
The event was a fund raiser for Valley Children's Hospital. The same one Lucas is currently in.
Angel and Autum were selected to go up on stage and be part of the Show. They were entertained by Ravioli the Clown (
www.raviolitheclown.com) and Miss. Sparkles Delight (
www.sparklesdelight.com). There were about 75 kids watching, and they were all laughing and having a good time.
I also meet Tim Mandel. He tried to get me to trade him my camera for his snake. I still have my camera. He was great to talk with, and He allowed me to get some great pictures of the snake. He also has animals available to have a Petting Zoo (209-765-7940) at events. He had the zoo at this event. There were chicks, rabbits, goats, pigs, turtles and more.
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