We went to the 23rd Annual Celebrate America event at Tom Brown Park. The festivities started at 3 PM but we waited to go until 5 PM because we weren't sure how long Alisa would last and we wanted to stay for the fireworks at the end. There were food vendors, pony rides, airbounce water slides, face painting, kids crafts and several bands playing on 2 stages throughout the day. We got 2 free helium balloons for Alisa at the Kids' Zone and then sat on our blanket and ate a picnic dinner that we had brought. Then we enjoyed 3 100% fruit slushies for only $2 each (Alisa was thrilled that we let her have a few spoonfuls of them).
Alisa entertained all the people sitting around us as she popped bubbles, picked up handfuls of grass and dirt and constantly fell while walking around our blanket. They waved at her and clapped for her when she successfully climbed up and down the little steep hill without falling. She even took several steps up the hill backwards, which I'd never seen her do before! One lady gave her a balloon (one with no helium in it) and she had a blast playing with it. She ended up falling on it and popping it later but didn't cry about it.
The main concert (3 bands) started at 6 PM and ended just before the fireworks started at 9:30 PM. Alisa got a little fussy around 9 PM because she was tired. A Boy Scout walked by a few minutes later selling glow necklaces and she was reaching for the ones the kids in front of us had just bought. She really wanted one and we needed something to keep her happy for another half hour until the fireworks started, so when the next Scout selling them walked by, we bought her one (only $2.50).
She cuddled with Daddy and stared in amazement as the fireworks began and then fell asleep about 10 minutes into the show because it was more than an hour past her bedtime. She opened her eyes on occasion but didn't cry from the loud booms overhead. She slept in Craig's arms as he carried her to the car (while I pushed the stroller with all our stuff in the basket underneath) but she woke up when he strapped her into her carseat. She stayed awake all the way home. She seemed to get a second wind because she happily talked as she watched the lights and listened to the music of her Baby Einstein Move & Go Music Mirror (she's rarely in the car after dark, so she rarely gets to see the full effect of the lights).
People said the event is always too crowded and chaotic but I didn't think it was that bad. Since we got there earlier than most we had no problem finding close parking and a place to put our blanket. At the end of the evening, there was still plenty of room between peoples' blankets and chairs for kids to run around in. The food lines were very short every time I looked and the bathroom lines were nonexistent. The only thing about the crowds that affected us negatively was leaving after it was all over. It took 40 minutes to get completely out of the parking area (since we were one of the first in, we were one of the last out).
Alisa absolutely loved seeing Sparky the Firedog:
She cried very hard when we took her off Sparky's lap so he could hop on the golfcart and go visit some other kids:
Looking at her festive balloon:
Bubbles with Mommy (who let her help hold and dip the stick some--messy!):
Fun with Daddy:
2 comments:
Haha, Hayden missed the show too! I just LOVE her outfit, it is sooo cute!!!!
The pic second from the bottom is my favorite...I want it for my desk.
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