It was a long journey fraught with peril...well OK it was 3 blocks of walking on sidewalks, waving to neighbors laughing and enjoying the sun! We made it up to town and took our seats on the sidewalk, peeking up and down the street waiting
for our parade! On the east side of main street we could see the cop car with his lights a shining, ready to lead the parade. I handed out cracker snacks to the 3 oldest (Aidan is too young yet and ate right before.) We watched as the parade began. There were police cars and police boats. Fire trucks old and new from all the surrounding towns with their lights on and honking horns.
There was the mayor and the grand masters of the festival. Marching bands playing their songs and putting on a show at the same time. There were our Vets that we yelled our thanks to as they drove past, thank you for helping to keep our country free!
Princesses from our town and the surrounding towns waving regally from their thrones, crowns on their heads while my sons yelled "Look Mom, princesses!" Oh and candy! How could I forget the candy! Fist fulls and fist fulls tossed to our huge group of kiddies, who eagerly -almost as eagerly as their father- picked it up from the curb and tossed it into the bag we brought. Some of the floats were mighty creative, we had a blast watching them.
Oh and then the herd of tractors cause you aren't a real farm town if your parade doesn't include dozens of tractors. As well as a small garden lawnmower driving up and down the road selling drinks to the parade watchers. There was also a float promising a free ice cream cone in the park afterwards.
We watched and watched, and Brody waved until his arm fell off. Ok so maybe it didn't
really fall off but it looked like it might be coming loose each time another float of princesses drove on past. Orin went off and on between wanting to be in the stroller, wanting to sit on the curb next to
Mason, and wanting to be in my arms. If you were to look at all 500+ pictures that I took, you would be able to tell when I was and wasn't
holding him because of the angle of the shots and the fact that I didn't have a hand to zoom in or zoom out. About 15 minutes into the parade, little baby boy couldn't fight the fact that it was it was an hour and a half past nap time, and he passed right out, lucky for him his cute little hat
coveredhis eyes and he slept through all of the rest of everything. Next year he will appreciate it a little more and hopefully be able to stay awake. Funny how he is the child that refuses to sleep most of the time even late at night, but falls asleep during an extremely loud parade. I think I'm take him on daily walks just to get him tired out.
Well all the kids, yes I will walk them to sleepiness. So after the tractors, police, fire trucks, horns, sirens, flashing lights, ponies, unicyclists (yes unicyclists they were crazy good), oh and a couple men on racing toilet bowls, the parade came to a close. We packed up our huge bag of candy, that honestly is bound for a shelf where it will stay unless daddy eats it or we host a party, right next to the Halloween candy.
Our kids are lacking apparently they don't hardly ever get candy. They will get some but this is seriously half a reusable grocery bag full! So we packed up and headed down the side walk to the town park to get everyone their free ice cream. I wish
I had the ability to navigate my double stroller and take pictures cause it was fun watching kids running and playing in the grass and on the playground, listening to the announcer talking about the bike give away in the large gazebo, the different booths set up selling antiques, crafts and fun little kid toys. We had to bypass the booths for the time being, but maybe next year we will check it out! We waiting in the line for awhile but man those volunteers were pumping out ice cream cones like machines! Way to go volunteers! Everyone got their ice cream and we roamed to an emptier area of the park to enjoy our cones.
Orin took about 3 licks then handed it to Hubby and said, "Daddy, Have it" Hubby was very much happy to take the ice cream of Orin's hands. After the ice creams were eaten we started to walk back to home, and walked past the area where the food tent was set up and the cheese curds and corn dogs were being sold, oh and mini donuts. I meant again to snap a picture or 50, but the smell of the cheese curds were too much and we had to turn tail and get away from there.
We made it home through the streets lined on each side with cars, returning to a Dexter dog that was very much happy to see us! Daddy carried the sleeping Aidan inside and laid him in his crib in the basement while the rest of us got all our stuff out of the stroller and headed downstairs. It was too late for them to take a nap so I got all my big ones snuggled on the futon to watch a veggie tales movie. All and all it was a very fun afternoon with the family, and we are all excited for next year!!
So I've been missing since around the Fourth of July...I knew where I was but stayed away from this blog. I had things to share but for some reason I couldn't make myself. I just worked on my cooking blog instead. It's easier to cook, photograph and share. But I'm back and I'm getting down to business. This post is an update but so much has been going on I won't mention much. Then I will get back to my normal posts.
Orin turned two September 28th
My parents had a surprise 25th anniversary party (I forgot my camera...can you believe it? If you really know me you wont be surprised.)
Aidan turned 1 October 8th
Orin and Aidan had a joint party!
Sometimes we just hang out...
We have been crazy busy every day of every week for the last few months. Even when we are laying around we are busy. I will update more now and will probably even make entries about a few of these topics. Stay tuned for some funny adventures and lots of cuteness!
I get to watch them dress up, and with simple fabric, a costume really changes you from a boy to a wild lion. 
Or maybe into a superhero, a superhero that has some dealings to handle with a lion.
Watch a barn turn from a plastic toy, to a farm with animals needing to sleep and eat, and cars that in our house also need to sleep in the stalls.
Well we all love a parade! Hubby, the herd of boys and I all got to spend a fun hour and a half yesterday watching a parade march down mainstreet in Tiny Town. We loaded our double stroller with the babies, and the big boys walked. 
