I almost cried

 So Saturday, we set out for the Mint Hill farmers' market for some jam and a perfect start for summer.  But as we drove into Mint Hill our way was blocked by a police man and what looked like parade.  We, however, would not be stopped in our quest for local jam and tried another route to the farmers' market, only to yet again be blocked.  At which point we gave up and gave in.  We parked at Burger King and went to the parade.  Luckily for me, in my prepared soccer mom state, I had our camping/tee ball/parade chairs in the van.  As we sat down I was so happy I almost cried.  I seriously love parades.  Like a lot.  Like sleeping-on-the-street-overnight-to-get-a-good-spot-at-a-parade-route-is-on-my-bucket-list-for-after-Greg-dies-because-he-said-that-that's-white-trash-and-won't-do-it-with-me love.  And while the Mint Hill parade was more like the pre-parade of the Freedom Festival or the Hinckley 24th of July Parade, it was still the best (and only) parade I've seen in North Carolina and I was so happy to be watching spray-tanned 5-years-olds wave at me from 1980's Corvettes, I almost cried.  Seriously, teared up.

They know how to do a parade in Mint Hill.

After the parade, we again tried to go to the farmers' market, but it was CLOSED! Because there was a festival going on down the street.  Heaven!   I tell you heaven!  And while we didn't find any jam, we did get free sunglasses.  It was amazing and worth skipping my planned-for IKEA trip...although now I'm trying to figure out when I can go to IKEA because I am not taking all three hoodlums to IKEA.  Not going to happen.

I love festivals so much I spent $3 a piece for my kids to ride this dangerous contraption.