Fall Festivals
It was a beautiful fall weekend here in Richmond. Leaves are starting to change, the temperatures are still in the 70s, and everyone and their mother seemed to be hosting a festival. So on Saturday morning we hit up the Midlothian Day Parade in nearby by (wait for it) Midlothian.
Despite all of the sights coming down the street at us (dancers, bands, car, dogs, Shriners, etc) Clara’s favorite part of the day was a tie between the pinwheel that someone handed her…
…and this toothbrush that a local dentist passed out along the parade route. No joke. She screamed “brush teeth!” when he gave it to her.
Then on Sunday we took a long walk that included a jaunt through the Richmond Folk Festival. Though we did sit and listen to some of the free folk music performances while eating lunch, we spent most of our time checking out the booths and other attractions, like these extravagant Caribbean festival costumes.
And, as usual, Clara loved the petting farm in the children’s area.
A close second to the goat and donkey was the mango Italian ice. Er, well, technically they called it “Soul Ice.”
The whole weekend really made us appreciate living in this awesome city and all of the things that we get to do and see. And in this case, they were all free. Perhaps Clara can campaign to be the official ambassador of Richmond?
It could happen, right? Especially if we put that photo of her with the toothbrush on her campaign posters.
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The “BRUSH TEETH” thing is hilarious. Gave me a nice laugh to start the day. Glad you guys had fun!
They look like two great days out, what a great place to live!
And Clara is too adorable with that toothbrush. I guess now you know what to get her for Christmas without breaking the bank!
I LOLed when I read that she screamed “Brush teeth!” Such a smart girl! Richmond looks like a lot of fun. My husband has a lot of family that lives in Richmond and Midlothian so we go down a few times a year, but it’s definitely some place that I’d love to raise family in too!
She is such a cutie! Speaking of cute… where did you guys find those adorable boots?
Target! Love them!
xo,
s
her yelling brush teeth! is so cute! :)
love all of the pictures, she is such a happy & sweet kid.
I love the boots she wore to the Midlo festival. So cute!
I love fall! It was a bit cooler here in LA last night and some people had wood fires going. It smelled delicious! :)
I’m jealous of Clara’s mango italian ice! When I was in Charleston we had Charleston Ice and I’d never had anything like it before. It was SO GOOD. I had the strawberry, mango, and lemon flavors. YUM. I didn’t even know it was italian ice but thanks to you now I do. I just google searched to find out where I could find some here in LA! haha
oh man that picture of her with the toothbrush is beyond cute!!!!
Ha! We were at both of those festivals as well last weekend! Too bad we didn’t bump into you guys.
No way? Too funny!
xo,
s
As the owner of several soda themed t-shirts, I got a giggle out of seeing your Dr. Pepper t-shirt (again).
They give John his power. Haha.
xo,
s
What a wonderful weekend!! I wish it were still in the 70′s here in WI, but no such luck…ah another year wearing snowsuits under Halloween costumes:(
Looks like such a fun time! I wish it was still in the 70′s here! In London today we had highs of 42! So chilly!
I think the photo of her eating the Italian Ice is definitely the right one for her posters.
Haha- good point.
xo,
s
Awe, I love her little mohawk. It looks like y’all had fun and it makes me miss fall on the east coast. I’m ready to bundle up in a sweater and have a pumpkin spice latte while we go for a drive in the beautiful swirling leaves!
So fun! I can’t wait to do more things with my son when he’s older (currently 8 months). So did you do a stroller switcheroo? Do you guys have two strollers?
We do have two strollers (one jogging one and a smaller one for stores). More on that here: http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/06/daddy-daughter-a-deal-or-two/
xo,
s
OMG – Clara’s little boots she’s wearing at the parade are SO cute! Where did you get them? Are they Uggs? What a stylin’ lady!
They’re from Target! Very affordable and comfy. Although they’re lined with fur so I always wonder if they overheat her little feet, but she seems to love them.
xo,
s
Midlo Fest veteran and Midlo Middle alum here! I remember going when I was a kid and LOVING the firehouse tours.
It looks like Clara’s shirt from Sunday matches your office color scheme!
Haha- it does!
xo,
s
Were the boys from Benedictine there marching in the parade? That’s where my husband graduated from HS (he lived in Varina at the time, and still reports to Richmond once a month for the National Guard). And seriously, Clara gets cuter everyday!!!
We’re not sure who was marching but they were awesome. Anyone know?
xo,
s
That was the Midlothian High School Marching Band. Go Trojans!!!
My 19 month old loves few things more than tooth brushes and Italian Ice! Don’t you just love fall festivals?!
Fun! Sounds like the campaign is coming along well…everyone knows you just need nice teeth to be a politician!
Haha, want to be her manager Heather? You seem to know your stuff.
xo,
s
I love all the fall festivals that seem to happen in every city in the Mid-Atlantic! We’ve been averaging 1 festival every weekend for the past few weeks… some we’ve gone to on purpose, others we’ve come across by accident! Such a great way to get outside, enjoy the nice weather and experience something a little different.
LOVE Richmond!! We didn’t make it to the Midlothian Day Festival this year, but my church was represented there and I heard a great time was had by all. Are you all going to any of the festivals this weekend?
Which festivals are this weekend?
xo,
s
There’s a Children’s festival at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday – 10 to 4.
Thanks! Not sure if we’ll make it out there but it sounds fun!
xo,
s
Clara is such a cutie!
You guys seem to have a lot of fun over the weekends. My weekends seem to spent in cleaning and cooking for the next week – I would so appreciate a post about how you manage all that! Like recently I read that you use some kind of soray so you don’t clean your bath tiles for a year! And that got me thinking that it would so help if I knew trick like that. Thanks in advance!
Oh yeah tile sealer is a trick! We also work really late on week nights (on blog stuff and on cleaning the house) so it’s just one of those choices that we make to try to make some family time on the weekend (by giving up some family time after dinner during the week for example). We definitely don’t have it all figured out though. There are some weekends where we work the entire time or run errands or catch up on laundry/cleaning. It’s definitely a challenge to try to make time for fun stuff- but we want to give Clara that time whenever we can!
xo,
s
Okay I feel a little better now with you commiserating in my misery :). Yeah, I don’t do much on week nights as I feel pooped after my day’s work- ah if only things magically cleaned themselves!
I’m surprised the dentist didn’t offer to adopt Clara right there and then! She’s looking so grown up now – love those tan boots and want them in my size.
Clara is so darn cute! I totally can’t figure out which one of you she looks like – what do most people say (and what do you guys think)?
Most people say John, some say me sometimes and it makes me giddy. I hope when she gets more hair I’ll get it more. Haha.
xo,
s
I’ve always thought she was the spitting image of Sherry!
Yay!
xo,
s
That toothbrush pic is to die for!!
Do you guys watch Parenthood? I was just watching last nights episode and the teenage boy with his new girlfriend reminded me of younger versions of you two!
That’s too funny! We don’t watch it but we’ll have to check it out!
xo,
s
Just googled it and found this: http://www.tvline.com/2011/09/exclusive-parenthood-lands-gigantic-star-to-play-drews-new-girlfriend/
Is that who you mean? I totally see baby John in that kid! And the girl is pretty so I’m super flattered, although I’m not sure I’m that cute. Haha.
xo,
s
Yep, that’s them. Although, the girl looks different on the show then in that picture. When she has her hair up she looks just like you!
Too funny!
xo,
s
My family went to the Richmond Folk Festival, too. I am glad I didn’t run into you guys. I would have felt the urge to walk up and say hi like we were old friends only to realize that is a one way street. That would be uber embarrassing. LOL.
Haha- we actually met some readers at both things! Was lots of fun. Definitely say hi to us! I promise we’ll be more awkward that you.
xo,
s
I love how Clara opens her mouth THIS BIG. It reminds me of the picture you took of her with the enormous wooden spoon at Goodwill.
fall parades are the best. and i’m totally jealous of the 70 degree weather. had to scrape the ol’ frost of the windshield this morning!
This is all so cute – I can’t believe how excited she was about that tooth brush!! I love that your town has so many fun things to do on the weekends!
My favorite Cousin and her hubby went to folk festival this weekend too but she didn’t get a lot of photos, thanks for posting this… Now I can get a better idea… We might go next year. This just reminds me of what a small world we live in.
to the*
So we were actually in Richmond on Saturday for longer than expected (we went to see 2 o’ clock Wicked show, got stuck in traffic, paid another round of ticket to see the later show). So we strolled to the Fall Festival…and my thought was I wonder if I’ll see the YHL crew…had fun, but would of loved to of bumped it you guys!
Aw man, wish we had run into you!
xo,
s
I for one think more people should scream “BRUSH TEETH!” at parades. That, and “TAKE THAT BABY TO THE MARKET!”
Haha- agreed.
xo,
s
I totally agree about Clara opening her mouth THIS BIG, so cute. I also just can’t get enough of how she sucks her thumb! So precious.
Aw the picture in front of Tredegar just made me miss Richmond a lot since that’s where I used to work. Hope Clara got to meet some park rangers. Glad yall had an amazing time!!
I love, love, love small town parades. There’s a great chicken-themed one in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma called “Rooster Days”, and it’s basically the highlight of my year.
The folk festival is great fun! We were bummed to miss it this year. But alas, we were consumed by soccer, school festival and trips to Lowes. NO BS Brass band is a fave around here! We bring our lunch, buy a few treats and use our lunch money to “fill” the orange “Keep the festival free” buckets. Not to mention the free shuttle rides!!
It always makes me think twice when I hear Midlothian, VA. I live in Midlothian, TX. It looks like y’all had so much fun at the festival! We don’t have a fall fesitval, but we are the cement capital fo Texas if that means anything! HA Love reading your blogs!
So, Sherry is wearing a full-on winter peacoat & Clara is sporting a short sleeved tee in several pics :) Cold, Mama?
Yep! I told her it was too warm for a coat, but in her stubbornness Sherry was determined to wear it the whole time just to prove me wrong. :)
-John
oh, petting zoo memories! I don’t know how many goats and lambs we’ve petted over the years :-) Now that the kids are too old for that activity, the world is very different… and sometimes I miss the simple pleasures of petting zoos
SO glad Clarke is not the only child obsessed with brushing her teeth. I have to bribe her with something else (usually the passy) to get it away from her at night!
Brush on Girls! Brush on!
I love petting zoos, too, and I’m many decades older than the Beautiful Bean. Thanks for these great photos!
Just curious…as a Wahoo myself, I noticed that John seems to have gotten a new cap. Or does he have two – a “work” one (orange) and a “dress” one (navy)? Either way, it looks good!
Oh yeah, the orange one got too torn up to really be worn anymore (though it does get broken out again for really gross projects). So the blue one is my new go-to!
-John
I personally think that if a political career is in Miss Clara’s future that you should use the mango ice picture. Every celebrity needs a picture of them eating to really fit in. LOL. Remember all of those pics of Clinton eating McDonalds back in the day, too funny.
Sherry, I really like your coat! Where did you get it? Thanks!
Aw thanks! It’s from Banana Republic Outlet (last year on clearance).
xo,
s
Marching was the Fort Lee Army Band at the beginning and the Midlothian High School Band….proud mama here of a band member. Great festival and never miss it! Sometimes when it is cold we get hot chocolate from the Apothocary. You must go to the lunch counter there, real shakes,lemonade and limeade. Great diner food. i used to love getting egg salad there as they make it fresh everyday.
They were so good! Loved it.
xo,
s
So cute! “Bush teeth!” I bet it was the highlight of that dentist’s day!
How is the Joovy holding up? We’re expecting out first in April and I really like that stroller, but there’s nowhere for me to visit it in person and test drive it to see how sturdy it seems.
Still loving it! No issues at all.
xo,
s
Are you folks done with flickr because of YHLife? Clara looks like she had a fabulous time!
We would love to update flickr too someday (not with any copy to explain things, but it’s a great place to back up photos so they’re off site/protected).
xo.
s
Not related to this post (couldn’t find a comment section on her gallery) but I was wondering what you do with the fabric you use for Clara’s weekly/monthly photos? It would be adorable to make a blanket out of scraps from each if you still have them.
Love your blog. I found it this month and I am obsessed already… That makes me sound crazy but I’m so okay with it!!! Haha You have a lovely family.
I made her a birthday quilt and bunting with them! Love it! Planning a beanbag and some other fun things with the rest of it!
xo,
s