We've enjoyed this tradition for so many years now, we had a hard time remembering how we did Tulip Time over the last two years. Thanks to the trusty blog we figured it out- no trip to Pella in 2021 and a sadly modified trip with no festival and no Daddy in 2020. So boy oh boy were we excited to make our way back for the full-blown festival this year!
The day is never 100% perfect, but this was just about as close as we've ever gotten. Hello spring! Hello blue skies and sunshine! Hello delicious Dutch treats!
Noah wanted stroopwaffles!
Emma wanted poffertjes!
Everyone wanted to stick their feet in the canal, but no one did.
I wanted Dutch ribbons!
Daddy wanted the Triple Threat (hamburger with gouda, fried egg, and Pella bologna- to be eaten no more than once a year)!
And we all REALLY wanted the sunshine and colors!
We loved seeing the tulips and eating the food. We didn't go on the horse-drawn carriage, but we did spend not nearly enough time on the wooden playground.
Noah really wanted to drive this tractor.
The line for the bakery was ridiculously long, and the boys held our spot while the girls did a little window shopping.
Noah, tell us how you feel about that long line!
We cut the bakery a little too close to the end of the day, so many of our favorites were gone, but we still managed to find plenty of tasty treats to try out during the parade!
And Adam got his creamhorn. Yay!
The traditional parade picture- by this point in the night we are all sun-kissed, stuffed, a little tired of being so close together, and definitely tired, but still smiling! I love this springtime in Iowa tradition that we have made!
Same parade, same floats, same narration even. This is just about the only parade that we make any effort to attend each year.
The treehouse float and the LEGO float are our favorites.
We weren't able to get a picture of the giant wooden shoes earlier in the day, so the kids humored me by standing in their places on our way back to the car.
Same spot, eight years ago.
Yep, traditions are the best.
