Sunrise Cousin Adventures!
Jake and Lillian are in the States for a bit, so all the cousins flew out to meet them in Mesa, AZ. I suggested a hot air balloon ride since it was on my bucket list, and Michelle and Lillian were all in! Laura opted out, and Jake was hesitant at first, but he eventually decided to embrace the adventure.
Michelle generously booked the trip for us, and it was SO MUCH FUN! I loved hanging over the basket and looking down—it’s a view you’d never get otherwise, except maybe with a drone. In an airplane, you’re not free in the air like that, so the experience felt even more incredible.
I’m so glad I brought my camera because we got some amazing shots! At the end of the ride, we did a champagne toast, a tradition known as the Balloonist’s Blessing. It originated in France, where pilots carried champagne to prove they were human and to thank anyone whose property they landed on. Even today, pilots bring a spare bottle—though in Arizona, they don’t land on much private property. In Colorado, however, it happens more often!
