Strawberry Shortcake

This weekend was than Annual Strawberry Festival in the big town of Portland, TN.  I never thought that I would be able to say, that yes, I have been to a strawberry festival, but today I can finally say those words.  "YES WORLD, I WENT TO THE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL!"  And let me just tell you, there are some interesting people in that town.  K and I decided that people obviously did not have mirrors in their houses, because there is no way they would want to look the way they did!  The average amount of teeth that a Portland resident has is......3.  Anyway, as you can imagine, we had fun watching people, and Chloe had fun looking at the balloons, clapping to the music, playing games, and eating a foot long corn dog (or at least a bite of the corn dog).  I will tell you that the week of the Strawberry Festival makes Portland a happening place.  There is even a beauty pageant.  Imagine carrying the title of "Little Miss Strawberry" with you for the rest of your life!  It can't get much better than that.  In fact, when we were getting some lemonade someone asked us if Chloe was 2008's "Little Miss Strawberry."  I mean, if we would have entered her she would have won.....just look at her!

The strawberry hat was only present in one picture, because it was 79 degrees, hot, and quite frankly, it was easier to keep a hat on her last year when she was much less mobile! But the pigtails are just as cute, they only had to be re-done 657 times in a 2 hour time frame! She discovered how to take them out on the way to the Strawberry Festival. So, when we first got there, we headed out into the big metropolis of Portland, TN, and Chloe was just staring at everyone and everything. It seems that in Portland, you do not put your lawn chairs on the grass, you put them on the sidewalk in EVERYONE's way so that nobody can maneuver through you. And if you have a stroller (like we did), you are out of luck. People just look at you, and the thought that they may be in someone's way does not even cross their minds. It is unbelievable. Chloe was looking at everyone like they were crazy. She is used to people moving for her. What can I say, she may be a bit spoiled.

As we made our way to the "Carnival" area, we saw the perfect photo opportunity, and Chloe instantly became a fireman. She is just a jack of all trades.

After that excursion, we let Chloe experience her very first "Waste of Money Carnival Game", BUT, since it was rubber duckies, and she loves rubber duckies, the $2 was well spent just to see the smile on her face. And guess what......she won this beautiful flower! All in a good day's work!


After the game, we headed to get a drink and a corn dog for the bargain price of $10. It is okay though, because this was Chloe's First Strawberry Festival, and everyone eats corn dogs at festivals. This is America, you know. Nothing like fried fat coating a hot dog.


After eating, and booty bouncing to the hip hop music, we headed home. It was a fun day, and a great experience. Cannot wait until next year's Strawberry Festival! It looks like Chloe cannot wait for her bed!