So it’s been years since I last went to the Bratwurst Festival Parade.  In a sense, not much has changed since that time.  We watched the local high school bands and cheerleaders…including mommy’s favorite blue and gray team

Zachary loved the fire trucks, while everyone else was interested in his Korean squat.  How do they do it?

There was this vintage car with a Carle’s logo…which instantly brought me back to my Grandmother’s sage words.  “Now kids don’t touch anything and I’ll get you a lollipop”.  More bribing words could not have been spoken and it definitely kept us in line, as these were extra special lollipops…multiple flavors in one pop and I’m sure loaded with sugar…but if it got us out the door quietly, she was willing to sacrifice the hour of sugar rush and subsequent crash.

And when rained threatened the parade, my mom gave us her defective umbrella, convinced it could be salvaged…not so fast my friend

Not a bad way to spend a day!