The Fireman’s Parade ended where we were seated about 8:30 pm. We packed up the stroller and returned home.

By that time, Ethan was ready to go to bed. We followed our evening routine (getting Ethan dressed for bed, reading a Bible story, praying with Ethan while he drinks milk from his sippy cup). Tonight was my turn to give Ethan his milk and put him in bed, and just about the time I returned downstairs, the fireworks began at the Clearfield County fairgrounds behind our house.

Joleen and I headed outside to watch the fireworks (with the baby monitor nearby). Because of the loud noise, Joleen went to check on Ethan, who was standing in his crib quietly, at that point. She brought him outside where I was taking photos of the fireworks.

Standing outside, the fireworks were a bit too intense for Ethan so he and Mommy returned to Ethan’s bedroom where they finished watching the fireworks from the upstairs window in Ethan’s room. He soon went back to sleep, thankfully!

This week is the Clearfield County Fair, a big week in the life of Clearfield. One of the highlights is the Fireman’s Parade which took place this evening.

The parade is like one continuous block party. Someone told us you have to “earn” a place along the route, which can take years. It’s a good thing we have hospitable church folk! As we went out this morning, just a half block from our house, to place our chairs by the parade route, we found that most of the spots were already taken. But Rick and Becky were passing by in their pickup and invited us to their corner for their party.

We had a great time with great folks and great food. It was amazing how many church people from both West Side and Centre Grove we bumped into on the way to our seats on Weaver Street, a few blocks away from where we live, especially considering that we’ve only been here one month!

Ethan enjoyed the parade tremendously. He let out squeals of joy like we never heard before as the fire trucks passed by. And when the bands and music played his foot would go round and his hand would tap to the beat. He even waved, arm outstretched, at one fire truck crew.

Saturday, July 26 was the Loose Reunion. Loose is pronounced with a long o, as in “low.” My maternal grandmother, Sara Aurandt, was a Loose.

There are now only two surviving siblings from that generation — my great aunt Esther Strayer who lives in Newport, PA whose health prevented her from coming this year, and my great uncle John Loose who lives in Martinsburg with his wife Beulah.

Until last year the reunion was held at the Beagle Club just outside Williamsburg. My mother hosted the reunion again this year at her home in rural Williamsburg. As you can see by the pictures, food and conversation are the main stay of the gathering.

This was Ethan’s first family reunion. He and my cousin Kevin’s twins got to “play” together again for a bit (read about the first time here). The twins are just two weeks older than he. Ethan also let his great great uncle John hold him.