Canada Day Parade: Raymond, Alberta, Canada

In the summer, we all have a little extra time to visit family, friends or explore new places.  Not to mention, it's warmer.  Warm weather  and summer both bring along with them parades; a fun part of the season, especially for the kids.

I used to love parades.  The floats, candy, friends and family, music, and costumes.  But as I've gotten older, I have fallen out of love.  I don't know any of the people sitting in the old and/or fancy cars (this is usually just political exposure), there are few or no floats, not a lot of costumes, and lots of places don't allow candy throwing anymore.  It's become so bland. 

There is one parade that I still love to attend.  And if you get the chance, you should go too.  It's a small town parade in Raymond, Alberta, Canada.  Their parade is in celebration of Canada Day.  I say this is a small town parade because it takes place in a small town; however, they have huge spirit when it comes to July 1st celebrations.  And the town more than quadruples in size for the event.  People come from all over to enjoy the parade with their families and friends.  It's a huge party.

Here is a taste of the parade:

Waiting for the parade with their treat buckets.

 Royal Canadian Mounted Police

A parade wouldn't be a parade in Canada without the RCMP.

picking up candy

Pirates Beware

The Raymond High School Band.

They actually play while marching.  I have been to too many parades where the band is just walking by silently.  And these guys are good.

Shriner's

A bagpipe band.  So fun.  

Wizard of Oz

Lego Movie

Everything is Awesome!

Raymond Baptist Church

 A line of kids pulled by a tractor.  There were two of these in the parade.

The Haunted Mansion

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Raymond Alberta Stake

I don't remember if this was Noah's boat or Nephi's boat.

And, of course, horses.  You cannot have a small town parade without horses.

LDS 3rd Ward

Building on the dreams of the pioneers

I love the smaller entries into the parade.  The creativity of people is so great.

Shane Rodeback Exc.

The LARGEST front loader I have ever seen in my life.

Huge Radio Flyer Wagon

A family celebrating a great-grandfather's 90th birthday.

Big Trucks.  Because country

Sunset Lake Properties

fun lake activities happening on their float

International Rotary Club

Inspection of the candy

This parade is a blast.  Almost every entry throws candy, and a ton of it.  So, no kids get left out.  Watch out for the occasional water gun shooting.  They will get you.  Don't forget to dress up and get your tattoo.

You will not be disappointed in this activity with the kids. If you get stuck in town because of all the traffic, take a breath, wave, and enjoy the moment to just be in a small town.

Canada Day 2012

I love Vacations.  And this year our vacation was just over a week.  This was much needed.  One of the days we were gone was over Canada Day!  We spent it in Raymond, Alberta Canada.  Here they make Heritage Days wonderful.  Pancake Breakfast, Stampede, Running Race, Parade, Softball Tournament, Glow Golf, Town Street Fair, and Fireworks.  All of the activities are so much fun.  Loved it.

Here is a peek at the Parade:

These Firefighters are AWESOME.  Bagpipes.  Just FANTASTIC!

Great Float.

Gotta have the band.  They were so fun.

This shopping cart was great.  I wish I remembered what they were representing/advertising.

You can't have a parade without horses carrying the flag.

Hand Print CANADA Flag Shirt

Tomorrow is July 1st! CANADA DAY!! So, I had to have something for my Sweet Pea to wear for tomorrow too. I found these cute hand print flag t-shirts. I thought they would be really easy to make. I already had all the supplies, so it really was simple.

See:
I decided I wanted to add a little bit to the onesie I used. So, I just took a little bit of red crochet thread and put a little stitch around the neck. I really like how it turned out.

I know that the Tutorial is done with regular craft paint, but I had fabric paint already and wanted the softness of the fabric paint. AND mine had sparkles in it. What little girl doesn't like sparkles?

Deer 'N Moose 'N Bears OH MY!

Deer in the campsite.

Just in case you didn't know, deer can be vicious.

Moose out on Cameron Lake, right near the shoreline.


Bear:

on the trial up to Bear's Hump.

On the way into Waterton Park.




I love seeing all the wild life.

Except for the mosquito's. YUCK.

Back From the Great White North

Which isn't white at the moment.

AND I improved my tan while I was there.

Camping Trip with 6 month old, successful.

One of my favorite places in the world is Waterton, Alberta, Canada. We always camp. The little tourist town is so beautiful and quiet. AND you get views like this:



Swimming in glacier runoff water which makes it so you can barely breathe. Wild animals in your camp sites.

(this isn't our camper, I'm a tent kind of girl) The best ice-cream EVER.

Who wouldn't have fun doing all this?

I will post more pics when I get all the cameras organized and together.

GOLD!!

Yeah Canada Hockey Teams! Both the Mens and Womens Hockey Teams won Gold at this years Olympic Games.

GO CANADA!!

I Am. Canadian Quilt

I made this blanket out of two old sweatshirts of ours. They were both really soft inside and I didn't want to waste the softness. There is no batting or other side. It's just a single layer with the edges shaggy. Cutting this takes FOREVER to do! Way longer than I thought it was going to take. I really like how it turned out.




If you know what the label REALLY is, don't judge me. I LIKE IT.