Hot Air Balloon Ride

James and I just did the coolest thing ever!! We went up in a Hot Air Balloon...

For our 1st Anniversary- I wanted to go along with the "paper theme" and I bought James a gift certificate to go up in a Hot Air Balloon. Because of bad weather (the conditions have to be perfect)- we weren't able to go on the Hot Air Balloon ride until now... it was the coolest thing that we have ever done! One of the guys we work with has a Hot Air Balloon- and he took us for a ride.

First they fill the balloon with air using a large fan- the picture below shows them filling it.

I was able to climb into the balloon while it was still on its side, and they were still blowing it up, and take a picture of the top of the balloon from the inside.

After the balloon was blown up, James and I climbed in the basket and flew over Minerva. We started at the old Jr. High (that was recently torn down), flew Northwest and landed in a yard over by Kiko Meats.

Below is a picture of is flying by PCC Airfoils (where James and I both work) and a picture that Kyle took of the two of us riding in the Hot Air Balloon about 500 feet in the air.

We had a great time- though I think I had butterflies the whole time. It was a little scary- but well worth it! We landed fairly smoothly- hitting a tree in the process (oops!) But besides that- everything was great!!! We finished the ride with a champagne toast (one of Kyle's traditions).

The Greene Twins

James and I were in Portland, Oregon this past week at a conference for work. Luckily we were able to visit my friend Denise (from Milligan College), her husband Andrew and their two baby twin boys (Drew & Gavin) while in the area- they recently moved to Richland, Washington.

We had a fabulous time- though we were only able to spend a little over a day with them.

Here is a picture of Drew (left- sleeping) and Gavin- three months old.

We also took a trip with Denise and the boys to a local winery- Bookwalter Winery. Here is James standing in front of some of the grape vines- with a newly purchased bottle of red wine.

Denise and Andrew just recently moved to Richland, Washington- because Andrew moved to a new job with the same company. They have been really busy and haven't had a lot of time to unpack all of their boxes.
Friday afternoon, James, Denise, the twins and I were sitting downstairs talking- and all of a sudden we heard some rustling. We thought maybe a mouse was in one of the boxes, so we sent James to investigate (as we ran upstairs). He discovered that a SNAKE had gotten stuck on the packing tape of one of the boxes. We found out later from the neighbors that it was a "good snake" (eats rattler snakes)- but we didn't want it around. I was brave enough to take a picture of it- after James put it out on the back deck (our hero).



Friday and Saturday were wonderful- spending the weekend with Denise, Andrew, Drew & Gavin. We had a wonderful time, and even enjoyed the beautiful scenery on the way back to the Portland Airport (here's a picture I took from the car- almost losing the camera in the process....hehe)

I'll leave you all with one last picture of James and I holding Drew & Gavin.

The weekend was wonderful- and it was cool seeing Denise (I miss you so much!!) HUGS