Labor Day Parade

So I get a lot of crap at work about living in, technically, a podunk town (mostly from other podunk-town-living coworkers ;)). Although our address reads another town all together, we're in an unincorporated area that is a little bit country ;) and we love it. Living on the outskirts, the sticks if you will... my neighbors are pretty much farmers, we don't have a post office to call our own, my internet connection is slow at best, tractors are pretty common road blocks, and I can hear the baby cows in the distance mooing for their mama's on a summer's night. It's pretty great... and especially on Labor Day each year... our little podunk town has a parade. They close down the main highway and line 'em up. Ed and I have been going every year we've lived here (4 years, last year the exception...), and we weren't going to miss taking Josie this year. This parade is not like one you probably see in your hometown, this one has a character all it's own.

Josie waving the firetruck along.

A good view from Dad's shoulders.

Our buddies loving the big tractors.

We sit on the corner in front of a shack of a long since gone little country store, and watch one after another HUGE John Deer tractors, and combines roll on past. The little boys OHHH and AHHH the whole time, Josie mesmerized by the candy being flung in every which direction. Sure, there was your typical marching band (which I LOOOVE), and Shiners in funny cars, but the best part is all the local farm kids driving their antique tractors for everyone to admire. You just don't get that in a big city parade :)

And that shack we camp out in front of to watch the parade, pretty darn amazing backdrop to photograph all our favorite kiddos. This picture will long be a favorite, one I think I'll look back in 20 years and just shake my head...