Rodeo Days

This past week was the annual Rodeo Days here in Isanti. We didn't participate in all of the activities. In fact, we bailed on going to the actual rodeo for the eighth year in a row since living in the area. Oh, well. Maybe we'll make it one of these years and see what all the hype is about. But we did have a great time at the parade on Thursday and at the kiddie activities on Saturday. I also came across some runners participating in the road races Saturday morning during my own run, so that counts as being involved, right?

We got to our favorite parade spot about an hour and a half before starting time Thursday evening.  Considering the entire town of Isanti and half of Cambridge attend the parade and start reserving seats that morning, we discovered what we consider to be the prime spot by accident a couple years ago.  We set our seats up before the official start of the parade, so we miss a handful of floats and things, but it's not as crowded, and all the parade participants are so excited to hand out candy at the beginning (cute kids help), that Steve and I...I mean, Maggie gets quite the collection by the end.

Playing catch before the parade starts.

Only the beginning.

Steve's goal was to make Bode look like a Bipartisan NASCAR with all of the political stickers. 

"I want down!"

Our time at the kiddie activities Saturday consisted of a lot of time in line.  Everything was free, so what can you expect?  We stood in line for the blow-up obstacle course, for the pony ride, and the longest line was for face-painting.  Maggie was so excited to get a puppy face, so after almost an hour waiting in the hot sun, she was up.  Of course, when it was her turn in the chair, she shut down and wanted nothing to do with it.  That is, until about 30 seconds after we left.  Then she was beside herself because she, again, wanted her face painted like a puppy.  Her meltdown was, no doubt, caused by over-tiredness, as evidenced by the three-hour nap that afternoon!

Petting zoo.

Obstacle course.

Maggie said her pony was named Brownie. I think she made that up.