Two Little Pumpkins

This past weekend was the annual Morton, Illinois, Pumpkin Festival and Parade. We go every year. Last year was the first time Lucy was actually aware that a parade could have meaning in her life: total strangers walk down the street and throw candy to her! She's been talking about it all year. Last year I was about six months pregnant and wondering who my little 8-month old baby would be the next time we went.

Fortunately, this year Darren's aunt Bonnie, aunt Madge, cousins Rachel and Jeana, and Jeana's absolutely wonderful three kids came as well. Lucy took about thirty seconds to warm up to Hallie, Jessie, and Noah. They played all afternoon, and for some reason, Hallie, the 8-year-old, and Lucy became devoted friends. At one point I heard Lucy yelling, "C'mon ol' Hal! Come play!" We took the kids to Ackerman's Farm where there are a lot of kittens and cats roaming around. We played with and petted those, as well as seeing peacocks, turkeys, goats that were only four days old, and a pony named Bucky.

The next day was the parade. Lucy had new jeans and an orange t-shirt, and I dressed Elaine in her pumpkin onesie and Halloween pants (they say "Once upon a boo, there was a cat, a bat, and a witch's hat). She rode around in the front carrier all day, and with her outfit, her round little moon face, and her gappy front teeth, she looked like a little jack o' lantern herself.

The parade is pretty lame, I must be honest. But...it's still really fun. It's just a bunch of high school bands and local politicians and community groups, riding through, throwing sweet-tarts and tootsie rolls. The kids filled bags with candy, and we all got sunburned (despite our late application of sunblock). We ate hotdogs and nachos and pumpkin ice cream, and to top the day off, went to an apple orchard. This had a playground, a train (Lucy was in heaven), and more goats.

This time I took little Smoochie to see the goats alone while the other kids played. They ran right up to her and put their cold noses on her. She laughed her squeaky mouse laugh over and over. I love that laugh. I love that there are things now that tickle her funnybone, such as baby goats. She's becoming her own little person. A little person who I like a lot.

We rode home and talked about it all and ate some more tootsie rolls on the way. All in all, a good weekend.