Fun at the Hog Day's Parade

For the few who haven't totally given up on me ever posting again...
August has been a VERY hard month. I have had to say goodbye to a couple of women who have meant a great deal in my life. Cancer takes so much from us.

On to happier news. We had a time fun time in Kewanee Saturday at Hog Days. Yes there really is an event called Hog Days. When you grow up in the "Hog Capital of the World" it is quite normal. Olivia joined us last year, but she was only one month old, so she probably doesn't remember much....

She certainly took part of the whole experience this year. My family has an odd (but explainable) tradition of a picnic in a funeral home parking lot near our parade seats. We enjoy awesome pork chops (cooked on huge grills in the center of town of course), chips, soda and oatmeal pies (same menu every year since I can remember)! Olivia just sat down on the ground and started eating with the gang--she didn't miss a beat.

She liked the parade. And for your random information file, Olivia's mama decided to keep count this year of tractors vs. queens (princesses, runner's up etc). The surprising tally had the royalty edging out the tractors. The stunning totals...51 queens --- 42 tractors. Every pagent winner from every county in the area sends their winners to the parade, so we knew there were alot, but the total was somewhat shocking. I guess we have to have enough pagents so that every girl can be crowned queen of something. And we wonder why our girls have trouble seeing value in themselves outside their looks....But I digress...........

Olivia got to be part of the whole parade experience--she smiled through a sucker, two freezy pops and a tootsie roll. What is a parade without saying MMMMMMM to some of the junk they throw at you!!!

(A note for Aunt Melissa's enjoyment): I provided entertainment for the parade crowd by falling flat on my face (didn't see a random step in the middle of the sidewalk by the little green house). I hit the ground hard....50 year old women don't bounce!!! I am sore everywhere today, including my pride!