The Heidt Family: Rain on my Parade, Breakfast on the Farm

What I did on my Summer Vacation, PART I

We started planning this trip in December last year when we learned John's family would be having a reunion in Fargo, ND over the 4th of July. Originally this trip had some more traveling and sightseeing added to it. Until I came back to reality and realized every day in a small hotel room with two little kids cannot be considered a vacation. Especially when it is followed by a family reunion in yet another small hotel room. The Glacier National Park and North Dakota Badlands trip went back on the shelf for another time. Sad.

Anyhow, when we learned we would be in Fargo, ND over the 4th of July, we started planning around it. Fargo is roughly an hour from where all four of my grandparents live. When you have four fabulous grandparents, you don't get an hour away from their house and not stop in. So, we coordinated with Grandpa Kevin and Grandpa Kim to drive to Grand Forks, ND for a few days to visit. As we were finalizing our plans, I realized the summer Rochesterfest celebration would be going on just days before we were set to get to Rochester. So, we arranged and rearranged everything to get to Rochester, MN for a few of my favorite events: The Parade and Breakfast on the Farm. You'll find PARADE listed high up on my official "Things to do, Summer 2010" list. I LOVE a good parade and the Rochesterfest parade rarely disappoints. Unless you don't like parades. Then it is a long slow torture.

We packed up and drove the close to seven hours to Grandpa Kevin and Grandma Kim's house. They had made arrangements to sit on the curb in front of Grandma's coworker and even went out early to reserve us some seats! Even Aunt Megan drove down to join us! Grandma packed us up a picnic dinner and we were SET! We didn't actually tell William about the parade before we got in the car to GO to the parade. I was worried something about it wouldn't work out and I didn't want to be stuck explaining for days on end what happened to the parade. William was so thrilled about going to the parade and having all kinds of people around. This boy loves a crowd. And tubas. He was so excited about seeing a TUBA in the marching band.

We got down to our spot and enjoyed our picnic dinner. It was finally time for the parade to start! HURRAY! The first official group was several state patrol cars flashing their lights - William was over the moon. The second group was the Boy Scouts carrying the flag and handing out candy. CANDY? YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT CANDY! William couldn't believe so many good things were all in one place: Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Megan, police cars, marching bands with TUBAS, squirt guns (Grandma brought to entertain the "kids"), and CANDY. It would be huge understatement to say William was beside himself with joy.

The preparade entertainment: squirt guns with Grandpa. William's expression says it all: total WIN.

The look of excitement/anticipation! So excited!

Amelia has no idea, but is loving all the attention and the number of people around to watch. This girl loves a crowd!

Then the unthinkable happened. The announcer announced that the parade had been called off due to inclement weather moving into the area. Immediately. We were so SO sad. In the paper the next day we learned this was the first time in twenty eight years the parade has been called off.

Instead we went back to Grandma's and practiced giving hugs.

And playing dinosaurs with Aunt Megan

The following morning, we made plans to meet several friends out at an event called "Breakfast on the Farm". Which is just like it says. A local farmer opens up their family farm and invites the whole town to breakfast in their front yard. There are tractor displays, animal displays, a HUGE breakfast, wagon rides, games and so much more. Again, I didn't tell William what we were doing until we are on our way, so he was thrilled to find out we were going to eat breakfast AT A FARM. With TRACTORS. Anyway, it was a LOT of fun to take part in two of my favorite events from Rochestfest past.

This is one of two pancake grills working to serve everyone (note: I think it would be super fun to make pancakes like this for a boat load of people)

Two items of interest here: The cooks use a drill with mixing attachment to whip up their batter (a la tiling adhesive) and if you happen to look at the cook funny, you'll end up having to catch you breakfast as it flies through the air. The boy in blue above the drill is working hard to catch himself some pancakes.

Eating with the fam. I will say that the best part was NOT when I had to eat my breakfast with wiggly Amelia on my lap.

William's favorite thing? Getting to "drive" a tractor

Yet another tractor. This one made me nervous as there were still keys in the ignition as William discovered. Apparently, the owners had driven the tractors over the night before/early that morning for display. We had a hard time getting him away from this one!

William checks out the animal displays with Aunt Megan. I tend to avoid the animal displays....

Cute bunnies!

William standing in the corn field. We have some cute video of this somewhere...

Not a great picture, but William with Grandma on the horse drawn wagon ride.

Some friendly Brown Swiss cows

Horseback riding for William (not at the farm, later in the afternoon)

The next few days held a lot of visiting with John's brother, Mike and family, a visit to a LOT of parks for play with friends, a birthday dinner with Grandma and Grandpa (for Daddy, Kaye & Scott), a date out with our favorite couple (Jessica and Chris), hiking at Quarry Hill and playing with the grandparents. We usually pack in the activities, but this was a new all time level of busy-ness!

Reading books with Grandpa Heidt and cousins, Alex/Elena

Four cousins snuggled up and ready for a story read by Uncle Mike

This is what happens all the time. You start reading to William a super long book. All the other kids loose interest right away, but William has an astonishing attention span. He will sit for HOURS and listen to stories.

The three [almost] three year olds were such a blast to watch together this time! They are really playing well together, and even include Amelia a lot of the time! So sweet! The kids love to give each other some hugging - they are so excited about each other they would usually start jumping up and down. The missing kid/s would then usually notice they were missing out on the fun and take off full speed toward the hugging pair, bowling them over more often than not.

Everyone hugs!

Sweet HUGS!

Grandpa Heidt and William stand in front of a DIGGER at Uncle Mike's new house site.

William in a digger bucket at Uncle Mike's new house site

Mama testing out the playground equipment

Uncle Mike showing the boys how it is done!

Uncle Mike helping Alex up the slide

The famous corn cob water tower

At some point, the kids decided it was super fun to ride around in the car together - so we ended up with four kids in the van!

Amelia and Alex in the middle seats. If you're wondering why I didn't sit in the front seat, I'm not really sure why. Sometimes I don't think.

The cousins riding the alligator (crocodile?)

Another shot of all the kids on the crocodile!

The boys race down the slide - they had a WONDERFUL time playing together. William was exhausted after chasing/running/jumping/climbing/playing with his cousins!

Uncle John and Alex?

Amelia peeks!

Look at all the grown ups watching out for our kids - YAY! (Grandpa Heidt, Aunt Tien, Uncle Mike and a piece of Mama)

William and Alex get silly

A big storm blew through on Saturday night, knocking down a LOT of trees. William was fascinated by the tree removal process (it involved trucks. And power tools).