Vacation: Part I - Flekkefest

Flekkefest = a troll festival.

Elbow Lake, MN's sister city is Flekkefjord, Norway, and many people in the area are of Scandinavian decent - hense this Norwegian theme.

During the 3 day event, children dressed up as trolls are a common scene around the town.

We spent our first couple days of vacation in Elbow Lake, where my parent live, celebrating the 33rd annual Flekkefest celebration.

We took part in as many of the fun events as possible including Crazy Days and the Craft Show.

They have the Taste of Scandinavia, which serves lutefisk, lefse and Swedish meatballs. Even tho I'm Norwegian, I pass on this event. However, I do LOVE lefse.

Corn mazes, dunk tanks and street dances also took place.

Alexa and Lillian enjoyed the pony rides.

Lillian's very first ride on a pony.

Grandpa Tom was there by her side to ensure her safety.

The public library was full of fun..book sales, root beer floats, mini golf, an inflatable jumper and the girls' favorite...face painting.

They both were painted with beautiful princess crowns.

The Grant County Herold Office (the local newspaper) held a quarter/prize dive.

They hid small toys and $10 worth of quarters in the little swimming pools and then filled them with shredded paper. Each age group had a minute to dig for treasures.

Lillian came out with some fruit snacks and bubbles.

Alexa was a maniac and dug out juice boxes, a couple boxes of crayons and a handful of quarters.

Adam had the honor of sitting with the Mayor of Elbow Lake (my Dad's BFF).

Elbow Lake is a small town, but the trolley shuttles the provide to transport you from activity to activity is sure nice. We took advantage. Plus, it was nice to just sit and relax for awhile and enjoy the ride around town.

Adam and I on the trolley shuttle.

Friday night the hospital puts on their famous pork chop feed. Even tho the line is usually a mile and a half long, it's worth the wait. The pork chops are DELICIOUS!

This year they had a HUGE inflatable fun house at the park during the pork chop feed.

Alexa's eyes got huge when she saw it and mastered it a good half a dozen times.

Of course Lilli had to try too, but couldn't get through it herself, so her Mama had to help. I'm not gonna lie..it was pretty fun.

Also in the park, was music. It was a family (forgot their names?) of 6 who played guitar, harmonica, violin, base, mandolin and sang. One of the daughters even yodeled.

Great-Grandpa Dick and Lillian listening to the music.

Lillian, Uncle Tiny and Alexa downtown Elbow Lake, enjoying Flekkefest!

The airport put on an air show and also held the classic car show.

We kinda missed all the planes taking off, but the girls enjoyed looking at the ones on the ground.
This blue one was our favorite.

After eating pancakes for breakfast at the community center made by the WCA football players, the girls enjoyed some fun activities put on by a local church. They had games, play dough, blocks, stencils, puzzles, movies AND an ice cream sundae bar.

Lillian and Alexa playing play dough.

Saturday afternoon was the big Flekkefest parade.

It was hard to sit through the scorching heat, but the girls loved getting a HUGE grocery bag full of candy.

Alexa and Lillian watching the fire trucks in the Flekkefest Parade.

On Sunday, after the fish fry put on by the Elbow Lake Fire Department, we visited the Grant County Historical Museum. We visited the little old school house and old country house as well as toured the museum. We saw my Grandpa Dick's uniform from WWII, which was on display and the car my Grandpa Carroll spent months restoring. He drove it in the parade which carried the Grand Marshalls.

Grandpa Carroll, Grandma Katie, Courtney (my brother's girlfriend), brother Tiny, Me, Lillian, Adam and Alexa.

To view more pictures of our vacation...scroll down to my previous post and watch the Smilebox slideshow.

Stay tuned for Part II of our vacation tomorrow on Mom-a-Logues..