I love and look forward to the Gladiolus Festival each year. It brings back so many wonderful memories. My kids also look forward to it and that makes me happy.
On August 6th, we watched the Kiddie parade. The parade route for this parade is a bit shorter, so we have to sit in a different location than we do for the Friday and Saturday parades. I usually park near the dam, which excites the kids. They love looking at the "waterfall" and every time we drive over the river, they beg me to drive near it so they can look at it. I didn't get any photos during the parade this year, but I had to take photos next to the dam.
The dam that my grandpa played on as a child and I'm sure my uncles did too. That thought just about gives me a heart attack! I can't even imagine. I wonder if their moms knew about their choice of fun? I do love to sit near it though to watch it and listen to the water flowing over it.
A Blue Heron standing in the river. I love these birds.
On Friday, they had the old cars parade before the big parade started. My dad drove his car, a 1961 Nash Metropolitan, and the kids rode with him.
Waiting for the big parade to start....
and enjoying cotton candy
Watching the parade
Sweet Evan
Some of the loot that they caught
We only go to the carnival one of the nights, which is all we can take, and we went this night.
My big kids taking Samuel on the little cars
Ashton is so sweet and was more worried about taking the little kids on the little rides than he was about going on the rides he wanted to ride.
Sawyer giving my dad five everytime he went past him
They took Samuel on the dragon ride, but you can't see him.
Trying to win a fish...and Ashton did win one. My dad took it for his little pond.
Hadleigh rode the Zipper with me for the first time. She loved it, like I do and we giggled the entire time. They rode quite a few rides that I didn't get photos of. At the end of the night, they rode the slide before we headed out.
On Saturday morning, we went to the flea market on the island. We went at opening to avoid the heat and humidity. We had fun looking at everything and I found an English saddle for $90 with stirrups and a girth. I asked if they would take $75 and the man said yes. I was so excited. Hadleigh saddle soaped it good and actually used it at her lesson on Wednesday. Before we left, the kids had ice cream and I had my favorite item, an apple dumpling. I look forward to it every year.
We went home to cool down for a bit and I had to finish decorating the cakes for my mom's drum and bugle corp reunion that was being held that night.
I finished the cakes and delivered them to the venue hosting the reunion. I went to Susie's Corner to do a little shopping. I never get a chance to go there, because it's a little antique shop that you want to visit without kids. I bought an adorable table that I will strip and use as a night stand and a beautiful vintage gladiolus tablecloth. I can't wait to use it. I also found a Kist apron, and my grandpa and his parents owned the Kist bottling company in my hometown. Kist has a special place in my heart. I need an apron to wear while I make bread, so it's perfect. It has meaning and will be useful. I think my grandpa would love the fact that I'm getting use out of something "Kist" related. Last but not least, I found a stack of old bushel baskets and I bought those as well. You can use them for anything, and I know we will use them with our garden and much more.
After my fun morning of shopping, I went home to get Jerry and the kids, and we headed back to town to watch the parade.
silly girl
Sawyer with one of his candies
That night we went to my school's multi class reunion. It came about after a ton of us reconnected on facebook. It was so nice to catch up with my former classmates. Here is a picture of a few of us.
On Sunday, my parents had a cookout for my family. My aunt and uncle from Kansas City, MO were here for the Glad Fest. It was so hot and humid, so we stayed inside most of the day. At dusk, I went out to take pictures of a bee collecting pollen on some of my dad's sunflowers. It was so neat to watch.
He almost blends into the flower. You can see how much pollen he's collected.
Our favorite bug, the firefly or lightning bug, was just hanging out.
These flowers are so beautiful
My aunt and uncle were leaving the next morning to head home. I had to have a picture of them before they left to head back to the hotel for the night. I hope they end up retiring in this area.
