SummerFest

7/9 - It's that time of year again, Ankeny SummerFest! As per our tradition we went over to the Wagner's house and enjoyed a wonderful feast while we waited for the parade to start. We went down the street to a spot they staked out the night before and got there just in time to see the start of the parade with a police car. The kids flopped right down on a blanket with Miya, Spencer, and Amelia in the middle with Wagner-kid end caps.

7/9 - Aaron and Alex enjoyed the start of the parade too but Alex couldn't be bothered to look at the camera.

7/9 - All six of the kids were shouted and pointed at this fancy firetruck. They loved the lights and the sirens.

7/9 - There was much oohing and aahing when this tractor went by. It was so tall and impressive as it drove by.

7/9 - Alex was using his amazing powers of standing during the parade and he loved waving at all the people who walked by. I almost captured his wave in the picture but my timing kept being off.

7/9 - Amelia looked so cute in her new hat courtesy of Faith and I loved that I didn't have to worry about her head burning as it often does with her super-blond hair.

7/9 - Spencer thought this float was the best one there. It was quite impressive with the lightning and the fire in the top which actually wiggled as it passed.

7/9 - Amelia's Mr. T impression. She collected every necklace that she could and put them right on.

7/9 - People kept giving candy right to Alex. Not just tossing it in his general direction but actually handing it too him. I guess it pays to be cute and small. He had a really hard time getting them open and tried with this one for about 10 minutes, even using his teeth, before he gave up.  We did give him a piece of candy for his efforts, just not that one because it was too big.

7/9 - The bubble machine on this trailer was a big hit with my kids. They went a little far without even knowing because they were so captured by it.

7/9 - The float for a doggie daycare was Miya favorite. It doesn't get any better than a bunch of dogs walking by. After they passed she asked Aaron, "Can we go to a doggie daycare sometime?"

7/9 - The doggie daycare people passed out doggie treats for a snack. We don't have a dog but Miya didn't let that phase her. She noticed this cute dog at the beginning of the parade and was snuggling it intermittently the entire time. She instantly though of it when she found the dog treat.

7/9 - We went to the carnival and let the kids go on one ride. They all picked the bounce castle and our group were the only ones on it which made it more fun.

7/9 - Miya liked the slide but spent nearly all of her time inside bouncing.

7/9 - Amelia didn't like the bouncing and spent nearly all her time sliding.

7/9 - I love this picture of her! The face is just priceless on Faith's daughter. For the record I do know her name but Faith doesn't like them put on the internet and I totally respect that.

7/9 - Amelia was having a hard time in the bounce house but her best friend Spencer helped her go down the slide and she loved it. He's such a good helper.

7/9 - Amelia, Faith's daughter, and Spencer went down the slide together. They barely fit and Amelia ended up falling behind. Spencer was very popular with "Monkey" who held his hand the whole walk to the carnival and was squeezing so tight he couldn't get away despite his many repeated efforts.

7/9 - The men and kids went to the cardboard regatta while the Mom's got some quiet time together. We joined them for one race before my family had to leave in order to get Aaron to work on time. Faith's brother joined us with his two girls right before we left for the Carnival. It's not the best picture ever but I was about to fall into the pond and it's what I could come up with.

7/9 - The racing cardboard boats were pretty awesome to watch. Some of them fell apart rather quickly but others made it all the way around and back.