Shimá dóó shizhé’é nánihidiinil t’ahdii nidi tł’éé’. “Tị’ nahgóó, kintah ha’diinééh nihiba’.” Níigo shizhe’é yidlohgo. Chidí bikéé’ adeez’áhí biyi góne’ adahee’na’, chidi bii’ sis beda’siitłó dóó beeldléí ak’ídadeediz honeenih baa na’aldeehgóó nił ya’iiltáál. Yá ałtso dinilchíí’ silií’, áadi nizhonígo hazʼáá léi’gi niikai niléídéé’ jóhonaa’éí bee hadíídláád yílk’id bilááhdéé.

The morning was still dark when Mom and Dad gently woke us up. “Let’s go, the parade is waiting,” Dad said with a smile.We climbed into the truck, buckled our seatbelts, and wrapped ourselves in blankets as we drove toward the fair. The sky slowly turned pink, and we found a perfect spot just as the sun peeked over the horizon.

Hodíína’, dilní hadahosiists’țặ’, ị’ deildlóósh, bił hada’diinééh deiyígeeh nihííghah góne’. Dah nidadiilniih nihigaan łahjí nidanííłna’, dóó ałkésdisí nídahiidlááh dloh nihigháago.

“T’áá’ akwe’é téíyá,” shima nihich’ị? ání, nihíla’ bee da’ahííníitą’go. Diné t’óó’ ahayóí áłah nilí dóó chidí ałná’át’í, baa’ ákoniidzin ádaa’áháyá ‘atisdii baa nitsáhákees.

Soon, the music began, horses trotted by, and floats rolled past. We waved until our arms were tired, and we laughed as we raced to pick up candy. “Stay close,” Mom reminded us, holding our hands tightly. With so many people and so much traffic, we knew it was important to stay safe.

Kintah hadiinééh da’ííłtso, k’ad nída’ííyéésgó6 nááná. Dahdíníilghaazh daat’ees halchingo dashoogish. T’áadoo ałtsoh nihił nidaayiz da nidi, ahił honiidló, da’iidá, tádiikááh dóó dlohasin iłhózh bee danihighandóó yiikah. Nááhodoo’na’go na’ahóóhai baa na’aldeehjí náádadiilwosh, hastóí sáanii da’alzhishjí nááda’niitah, dóó ats’os bee azhish nihinááł nááda’oozhiizh.

After the parade, we headed to the carnival. The smell of fry bread filled the air. Even ifwe didn’t ride every ride, we were happy just being together, eating, walking, and laughing as a family. Later, we cheered at the rodeo, joined the elders at the song and dance, and watched the powwow dancers.

Neenih baa’ ni’íldee’, t’óó doo baa hózhóo da nááhaigo índa nááná dooleeł. Nihimásání dóó nihicheii ánihił ní, doo ałk’édisí dóó nída’íyéés t’éiyá da. Ahí’iildéé bee ahił ‘ídlí, bił dahaghanii, ahił ‘ídlí dóó ahaa ‘iłhózhó díí yoołkáałjį’ bee ájít’é.

When the fair ended, we felt a little sad knowing we’d have to wait a whole year. But Grandma and Grandpa reminded us-the best part wasn’t the candy or the rides. The best part was being together-family, love, and joy that lasts forever.