Weekending: Tulip Festival

This weekend we were so lucky to host my parents for the annual Tulip Festival in town. Too bad the tulips had long bloomed. So we had a tulip-less festival.

But we had so much fun, watching the parade out front of our house, eating fair food, riding carnival rides and just loving our time with Grandmommy and Papa. Look at those faces, so much fun in one weekend!

My mom and I even snuck away for an ice tea and to a beautiful quilt show and our towns restored Century House.

How was your weekend?

Tulip Festival-- Round Two

You know when I promise "tomorrow" it usually means somewhere in the near or distant future, right?

So... as promised some more tulip festival photos. Tomorrow? Raku.

[Dutch Dancing on our Main Street]

[A group photo of the dancers. 

See what I mean when I say that grown people dress up to support the community? 

Confession: Eric and I danced one year. Yep, we're not even close to being Dutch.]

[Silly-faced Izzo]

[One photo of the Night Show-- from this year's Bye Bye Birdie]

[A very little one in a baby-sized costume]

[Izzo's version of dressing up]

Tulip Festival

Hello friends! What a weekend. The weather not only held, but it was beautiful. The sun shone in the bluest sky and it did not rain a drop.

It's hard not to swell with pride (ok ok-- and a little irony), when this little town is transformed for one weekend. Whole families, down to the smallest members dress in handmade dutch costumes, dancing, singing, riding bikes, waving from floats.
Our family is a bit less festive, we didn't dress up in Dutch garb, but Izzo did have several costume changes. Here are some pictures of the weekend-- which consisted of food and friends, s'mores and fireworks-- so many good moments to be treasured.  I stole away to a quilt show with my dear Wendy and then painted pottery with none other than Emily Sweet!

If you'll indulge me a bit, I'll have some for tomorrow too (:

[Izzo and her friend Lily]

[Eric and Adam with the boys]

[After they BEGGED to go on the Ferris Wheel, 

Truman decided he didn't want to go... too late!]

[We pulled our couch onto the front lawn to watch the parade!]

[Truman insisted on being carried all weekend-- too many people I think--

so we pulled out his old sling. Eric got a bit more support for carrying little one.]

What did you do this weekend?

Everything's coming up Tulips...

Yes, it's that time of year again, where our town of 6,000 has about 94,000 visitors. I'm not joking.
Our tulip festival is a big draw! We live on Central, our towns Main road. Lucky that we don't have to leave the comfort of our own kitchen to watch the parade... though we normally pull up a big blanket on the front lawn and watch the world go by.

I am so looking forward to one time of year food around here-- Dutch (and Dutch American) delicacies come out of hiding for this colorful and delicious weekend.

So I'll leave you with couple pictures of the beauties and with a promise I'll be back on Monday with a full report. If you promise to pray we have a sunny and dry weekend!