A few weeks ago, Amara and I attended the 4th Annual Concert in the Park – it was our fourth year going and we were both looking forward to seeing what it would be like this year. We had been a little disappointed last year; we just didn’t like the band as well but we were still excited to be going.
This year we got a wonderful surprise! When I went to pick Amara up on Saturday afternoon two of her friends were there with their Mom who had stopped to see Jenna – and we talked them into joining us! Amara was thrilled that she would have friends to play and dance with and I was thrilled that I was going to have another grownup friend come along.
We got to the park, staked out a spot and spread out our blankets. While we waited for the band to start Amara took the girls on a tour of the booths! They got the super-fast tour! Most of the booths had been there in years past, or similar ones and it was if Amara just wanted to give them the lay of the land. We only stopped at two booths. Our first stop was to get the girls balloon flowers. The other stop was the booth selling kettle corn. Our friends had never had it and it is one of Amara’s favorites.
You can click the pictures to see the smiles in a larger size!
We settled down on our blanket to nibble on the kettle corn and to watch the balloons burst one by one, as they hit the grass. We should have remembered to get them last. About then one of the local and amazing Zumba instructor and some of her friends took the stage. Amara and the girls were off and dancing. My friend and I Zumba’d too in between taking pictures. Amara was outraged when she realized the we were standing on the sidelines. “Grandma! You left the kettle corn unguarded!” She ran and grabbed the bag, handed it to the other mom and went right back to Zumba some more.
In between the Zumba and the band starting Amara and the girls went to talk to the mounted police. It was one of the same officers that had been there last year. He even remembered Amara. She was thrilled that he did.
The girls danced a little to the band and played with all of the hula hoops that were laid out but they had liked the Zumba better! Since our friends hadn’t planned to join us, they couldn’t stay the whole evening but before they left there was much giggling while they rode Cecil the Sea Monster. Amara had loved him last year but he was lots more fun with friends.
Amara and I stayed a while after our friends left. We made the slow tour of all of the booths. Amara got her face painted and looked so very cute! She wanted to take pictures in the photo booth but stick in the mud Grandma said “No.” I figured I had taken enough photos and videos we didn’t need to spend our money on that. Sure wish we had, as there is not one picture of me with my cute pink ladybug that I had painted on my cheek.
We stopped by two booths where artists were painting. Amara chatted with one of them about whether he was using oil paints, she thought he was. I loved that this older gentleman really took an interest in talking to Amara. I told him she had been taking art classes for years. She told him that she had only worked in acrylics and he shared with her how much she was going to love working in oils. It was a wonderful interaction. I just stood back, soaked it all in and was very proud.
After our slow tour, we ended up back at our blanket. Amara talked to the people on the blanket next to us and petted their beautiful Boxer – with the owner’s permission of course. It was about then that Amara decided she’d had enough and was starving! Just like the last three years, we left the park and headed for Wendy’s to get hamburgers to take home and share with Grandpa. It was a wonderful evening and Amara was asleep within moments of hitting the pillow and never woke up until 8:30 the next morning.
If you would like to read about the first three concerts here are the links.
Concert in the Park — our first year
She’s a Dancing Machine — our second year
She didn’t get to Dance — our third year
Thanks for this post G. KC, We had a great time!
I am so glad you and the girls could join us and I really hope we can do it again next year. We can even take a picnic and some watermelon!
Zumba can be so fun… Amara looked like she had fun … I would have had fun there too 😀
It really was a wonderful evening for all of us!
What a fun outing and good memories to boot. Love the face painting. You are lucky to live where you can be outside all year round. We are getting our first frost tonight, so our time outside will get less and less. But, we played some softball this afternoon but almost needed a jacket. 🙂
Hard to believe you are going to get frost tonight – it is 97 degrees here today! We are getting the heat everyone else had last month and no chance of it cooling off until at least next Monday! Wish I could send you some!
Can it really be four years of Concerts? She’s growing up so fast. Great post.
The time is flying and I am so glad you and I are close by to enjoy it all. xo
It didn’t disappoint this year! Now the bar has been raised for next time.
Amara is still keeping her fingers crossed that they bring back the band from the first year but I am already looking forward to the next one especially if our friends join us again and we take a big picnic – maybe even some chairs.
So much loveliness, all in one spot. Sounds like a perfect date.
I do remember the concert last year – where everything didn’t turn out as planned, but Amara still had a great time.
I love that picture of her with the elegant face painting. Next year I’m hoping to see Grandma with her ladybug – that must have been darling!
What a fun, happy time – and now maybe you’ll have repeat company every year!
Sounds like the event redeemed itself after last year’s lackluster time. A marvelous time for all! I love the photos but sure would have loved seeing you with your pink ladybug — or you doing Zumba!! 😀
I can’t believe you left the kettle corn unguarded! Sounds like a really fun day.
What were we thinking?
I am glad that this year was a hit and an improvement over last year and of COURSE that policeman would remember her..who wouldn’t! ? 🙂
Long time no see! Glad Dot is okay! And good luck to Amara and her new school year. My grandson just started half-day day-care, so I get to pick him up everyday. LOLOL
Oh, what a fun time y’all must have had. I’d not be able to walk if I did Zumba! 😉 The little painted faces are adorable. I’m so glad you popped in to see my dolls and I hope you’ll come back some time.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 🙂
Sounds like a fabulous outing! I do Zumba, too, but I do it in the pool so that no one knows that my gyrations are kind of creaky. It’s still fun and a great workout.
I give you lots of credit for Zumba! I am so uncoordinated that i have a problem doing it. Wish I could!
We have concerts in the park here too, looks like you all had another great outing, happy Septmeber!
What a great idea for an outing! Never heard of Zumba in the park before.
You created such a wonderful tradition with Amara. Good for you. I enjoy this link up and “meeting” new bloggers. By the way I am an arm -flailing zoomba enthusiast myselft.
Kids just have the absolute best fun!! I love the picture of her up on her toes — in the first set. Sounds like it was a fun day (and what day isn’t with our precious grandkidlets!!)
That is one of my favorite pictures, too! She is always so full of energy that it does brighten any day! We’re very lucky!
What fun! I used to do Zumba and loved it! Enjoy your Sunday!