Thursday, August 7, 2008

A parade





The Iowa State Fair kicks off today.  It is one of the biggest state fairs in the country and it listed as one of the 1000 places to visit before you die!  We are going this weekend and I am going to gain 10 pounds and not think twice about it.  I am so excited!

Last night we went to the Fair Parade.  It is a huge parade with over 200 entries.  It started at 6:15 pm and we left around 8:15 pm and there were still floats and bands coming down Capital hill.  I have no idea what time it got over.  The boys had a great time.  We usually go to the parade in Ames every year for the 4th of July and that is fun but Harrison really focuses on the candy (a lot of it!).  The parade is fun and it is fun to watch Harrison get the candy, but it seems like that is what we focus on  - candy and not letting other kids steal our candy!  The great thing about this parade is that they don't throw out candy.  We really get to focus on the floats and music.  
The boys LOVED the bands, especially Bennett.  He was mesmerized.  He would be eating something or looking at me and then hear the band and then just stop.  He kept his eyes peeled on that music until he was careening his neck to watch as it was lost from view.  Harrison kept telling us to 'LOOK!  LOOK!' every time something was coming.  When asked what he liked best he said the horses and bulls.  Some road apples were left right in front of us and that took a little time to explain.  "Why do they potty in the road?  We don't potty in the road!"

We really got a great place to sit.  I am definately going to remember this spot for the future.  We sat our chairs by the street and then put a blanket out to 'picnic' on.  There was a giant green space behind us.  I had brought a ball so we kicked that around for a while before the parade started and then Harrison found that he could run on the brick retaining walls so there was lots to keep us occupied.  Harrison even met a friend to play ball with!

Of course a fixture of all fairs and parades are Queens.  There is the Fair Queen, the Pork Queen (a definite honor!), the Sauerkraut Queen, the County Queens, etc.  There were about 4 floats with the County Fair Queens on them and every time one went by Harrison would wave and say 'Look at all the pretty girls!'  Well, once those floats passed there were some floats with State Fair volunteers.  When Harrison saw that float he said 'Look at the pretty boys!'  We all laughed and he just went on waving.  

No comments: