Neighborhood Bike Parade!

Chelsea had their annual Fair a couple weeks ago, and to kick it off, there is usually a bike parade for all the kids to participate in. They can dress up and/or decorate their bikes and then they all ride to the fair, throwing candy out to all the spectators :-) This was the first year we asked Brett if he wanted to participate, and he couldn't have been more excited! This was a special thing with Kyle and they both had fun decorating their bikes prier to the big day. Unfortunately, we woke up on the day of the parade to grey skies and rain...and the big storms came later in the evening, just when the bike parade was to start. So, it was canceled. Brett handled it like a trooper, especially when we suggested doing our own little parade around the block with our neighbors :-) We scheduled it for this past Friday and the kids had a blast! It was such a hit, I think we may have found ourselves a new tradition around here :-)

Hanging out, waiting for all of his friends to arrive :-)

Jack came up with this set-up himself (with just a little help from Garry), and was proud to show off his kite!

Leo, the alien :-)

Carolyn and Norah decorated their bikes as unicorns! Their dad is the creative one in the bunch :-)

Instead of choosing a theme, Brett was happy to just decorate his bike the old fashioned way...with flags, streamers, and stickers! 

The group all ready to go!

Kyle is such a great dad! He decorated his bike as well and led the kids around the block :-)

Such a cute unicorn :-)

After the parade, we hosted a potluck dinner at our house. Yum!

Emma and Anna were content in their stroller while we all ate :-) Such cuties!

Brett's grasshopper, "Greeny" joined the kids for dinner.

Brett was such a happy boy all night....he LOVES these summertime activities with his friends :-)

Lots of goofing around between these two! Silliness at its finest.

Later on in the evening, another neighbor, Kaleigh came over to play with all the kiddos. Since she's a little older, the kids idolize her and she does such a great job entertaining them! Here she is teaching them some yoga and stretching moves :-) So cute!!! 

After I took these pictures, us ladies headed out to the Ale House for Book Club, and the guys cleaned up and put the kids to bed. Such a great night!!

Oh, and another funny story before I forget....Kyle came home from work that evening with a trophy he had picked out for the best decorated bike. Us moms kept saying we didn't think it was a good idea at such young ages to only hand out one trophy...that they all should be winners. Kyle, along with the other dad's, thought we were overreacting, and decided to do the vote anyway. Each child voted on who's bike they liked best....and Carolyn was the winner! I kept imagining the worst, that the kids who lost would be in tears. But nope, they were all so excited to vote and hand the trophy to Carolyn! Everyone was smiling and seemed truly happy to see her win. Such a cool moment (that I forgot to get on film!). Another lesson to us parent's to just let go sometimes and your children might just surprise you :-)