We visit my mom every Sunday and when we do we often pass through Fort Campbell/Oak Grove on our way home. So thankful we spotted the Spring into Summer Festival banner in Oak Grove last weekend! We are always looking for fun things to do with Anna Claire (particularly free ones). And she absolutely loves festivals...she still talks about the butterfly festival we took her to back in September and asks to go again.
It was such a neat event for small children. We took Anna Claire to the Tennessee State Fair and Oktoberfest in the past 6 months, easily spending $50 on each trip, only to find one or two rides she could actually ride. In both cases we had to console a heart-broken child who was not able to participate in any of the fun she was seeing. She didn't meet the height requirements.
Spring into Summer Festival was another story...a happy one! It was FREE. She could ride just about everything there, so long as a I rode with her. The only tears shed were due to us leaving because she was having so much fun.
Anna Claire loved the strawberry ride. Thank the Lord she could ride that one because all we heard from the car to the mini-carnival was "I ride the strawberries!" I did have to ride with her, and though I normally get dizzy on spinning rides, this one wasn't bad at all. I kinda liked it.
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| The "Berry Go Round" |
We rode the carousel twice. The first time she wanted off because the up-and-down movement of the horse she was on was kind of jerky. Didn't blame her. Then later she said, "I'm bwave Mommy, I ride the carousel again!" And she did. She was ecstatic to get the horse with the pink saddle the second go round. She had her eye on him the first time and was pretty disgusted that another girl beat her to it. So we were happy for her.
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| "Bwave" girl riding the carousel |
Anna Claire was a brave girl and rode the fighter plane ride herself. It was a LONG ride. After five minutes most of the kids were crying and wanting off, including ours.We were calling out to the man, "She wants off! She wants off!"
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| The plane ride |
There were also round trampolines set up for the children to jump on while harnessed. Just like what they have at our mall. Anna Claire REALLY wanted to do this, and I saw many kids her size doing it with ease. So we got in line. The lady in front of us turned around and told us they were the last in line and that the man said no one else could jump after them. We went up to the man to make sure this was true, and it was. So we did our best to gently break the news, but the result was tears as you might expect.
We did what any good parents would in the situation and offered distractions. We asked, "If there was any other ride you could ride on, what would it be?" "Would you like a treat, Anna Claire?" She wanted to rid the carousel again and the kiddie cars, so we took off to our final rides for the night.
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| Riding the Kiddie Cars |
I should mention there were many more things happening at the festival that we enjoyed. Anna Claire had her very first snow cone (one that had way too much syrup, making mommy who forgot to bring bib a
stress case). There was live music and a show that we were able to watch for a bit. There were games, and although we didn't play it was fun to walk past all the booths. And there was an inflatable. Anna Claire took her turn in there - now that she has been turned on to "bouncies".
I have already put this festival on my calendar for next year and love the idea of making it an annual Memorial Day tradition. That, along with paying a visit to the nearby Veterans' Cemetary to pay respects to my dad. Anna Claire liked seeing all the "statues" and flags. She was upset that someone took the flowers Meme put on Granddaddy's grave and so was I.
On a positive note, we ended the Sunday with a Sonic dinner outside which is always a hit. We spent Monday making a family Walmart trip followed up by a cookout and playing in the water. I loved our Memorial Day weekend.
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