Apple Blossom!!

26 years ago a cute little blond kid walked out onto the old gym at Manson High School and pretended to blow a trumpet.  On the 9th of May the legend lived on when Rock followed in my footsteps.  Unfortunately it also meant that I had to attend the pageant for the first time in 26 years.

They gave him a trumpet without a mouthpiece and told him to try his hardest to make sound.  He took the challenge and blew his little cheeks out.

He kind of did a good job of being quiet and behaved, especially when you compare him to the other kids that had tickle fights on the stage.

DeA ended up running the Pig Jig with all three kids so I waited at the finish line to cheer them on.

Ryker seemed pretty fresh after running a whole 50 feet of the 5K.

DeA finished the 5K in under 34 minutes with all three kids on one stroller.  There were big hills and ornery kiddos, but she couldn't be deterred from finishing.  Then she complained that her legs felt jello and 'sexy'.

Pretty stinking impressive.

Rock was pretty cocky for a kid that didn't really run that far.

After the Pig Jig we snuck into the Grange for the Kiwanis pancake breakfast.  Jens was pretty excited to eat breakfast with Mama Rae.

Mom was pretty excited to eat breakfast with Nick's beard.

They moved the parade to 11am a few years ago instead of 10am.  A few years ago it seemed too late, but now that we're used to it things are easier as we get ready for the parade.  Jens helped save the spot on the sleeping bag.

Uncle Nick brought down his truck with the helicopter on a trailer.  We did a combined float this year with nine bags of candy.  Ryker was pretty stoked.

Jens is finally big enough to help throw candy and look cute for the judges (not that it did any good...the judges this year wouldn't recognize adorable even if it was their own nephew).

Needless to say she was excited.

golakechelan.com had a few good shots of the parade and Papa Dale.