parades and community fairs

Our family has been in many parades and attended many community gatherings this summer.  Many.  And, we've been having a good time!

The candy in the picture below is what Kate and Robert collected along one parade route.  Some parade entries throw candy to the crowd.  Other entries collect what hasn't yet been collected.  Who knew that one could get more candy by walking behind a float or two than actually calling out for it from the side?

This picture was taken behind Ben's booth at a community festival.  We've been wearing and seeing a lot of orange!

Sen. Orin Hatch sought Ben out at one parade to tell him that he really liked the way he did politics and that he was the future for how it should be done in Utah.  Too bad he later hosted a fundraiser for Ben's opponent in the County Mayor race. 

Along each parade route, Ben's campaign passed out fans created from mini-Ben signs.  It's been a very hot summer and these little advertizements have been a huge hit at every parade!  Let's hope they have made some positive impact for Ben's name-ID around the county.  Our kids, and cousin Abby, helped make the first batch.  Dozens of volunteers continued to work on them throughout the summer.  Thousands have been passed out.

Abby walked with us in the West Valley City parade while she was in town.  She's a great campaigner.  We wish we could keep her around!

The Dew's dog has been in many of the parades with us and is wildly popular!  "Look, that dog is wearing shoes!"  I can't remember how many times I heard that line this summer.  That dog has been a trooper and made a lot of people smile. 

The Dew's also loaned us their Jeep for all of our parades this summer.  Joel was the driver.  The Jeep carried the fans, taffy, and campaign literature along the route and also provided a ride for the kids as they got tired from time to time. 

This was at taken at the end of one of the parades.  We sure know how to wipe out our kids!!!

It seemed like Mia Love's parade entry was near ours for nearly every parade.  And, both campaigns have used orange as its main color.  Good thing we get along - despite our disparate political opinions!

The booth in Taylorsville.

This is George Pence.  He's the volunteer extraordinaire!!! George is also the campaign blogger.  See that gash over his eye?  That's the result of tripping over James who was scooping up a piece of candy during the parade in South Salt Lake.  Jiggered up his glasses and camera as well.  So, what did George do?  Well, finished the parade and then joined us in Magna that afternoon for another one!  We have the greatest volunteers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tuckered out from gathering all that candy, hot, and taking it easy in the Jeep for the rest of the parade.  See that splotch of pick behind his ear?  That's Kate.  She's playing my phone to pass the time until the Jeep reaches the end of the parade.  However, in other parades (most of them) that little girl was in full campaign mode.  She's a great fan passer-outer!

Another shot, at another parade, with the phone.  Love her!

Here's me in my parade uniform. 

At the end of the parade in Sandy.