The Fabulous Forest Park Balloon Glow!

This past Friday, we were lucky enough to be able to go to the Forest Park Balloon glow. To go to this is our friends, the Smith family's tradition....and this year they invited us along! They inflate the balloons the night before the Great Forest Park Balloon Race...and it was a perfect evening for it! We got there early enough to get a good spot to set up our table, chairs and coolers for picnicking before the event. We could then just walk across the street after it got dark to walk among the (I think about 100) balloons and see them inflate and glow. I know there were many thousands of people there and traffic was awful! We had no problem cause of getting there early. We hung around and left after the crowd too.....which took a couple of hours after the fireworks to disperse. For those of you who do not know....Forest Park is St. Louis' Central Park...great spaces, lakes, boathouse, skating rink, zoo. It is where the 1904 World's Fair was held. Remember "Meet me in St. Louis"?

Here was our set up....Charlie and Barb, Catie(Ron and Jan's dtr) and her two kids, Jan, Ron and Mike and Laura ( Mike's dtr)and Ella arrived later. Ron and his grandson, Austin.....

Charlie playing with Luke, the Smith's other grandson....

Someone lost this thing.....weird sheepskin thing....

Luke pulling Ella and Austin in her wagon....the kids had so much fun!!

Sweet Ella Grace!!

Boy mom made me a big sandwich!

And I took a BIG bite!

Gary....Jan's brother and family arrived just in time to get a parking place near us!!

The youngest Smith.....Austin Knoerle...a cutie!

Walking among the balloons was something I never will forget!

Ella LOVED it! Was a real trooper! Walked very far and never let go of my hand!

Laura and her daughter.....