Fourth of July Parade

MONTHS ago I bought this dress off Zulily.com .  Months.
I'm proud of myself for planning ahead and picking a such a cute dress because barely a person walked by Hannah without commenting on how pretty her dress was.  And it really is cute.

Like I-wish-it-came-in-my-size Cute.

The parade we attended was in the next town over (I figured that a parade was more her speed than staying up late for fireworks) and started at 10.  Chris worked all day so it was up to me to get her breastfed, fed, bathed, napped, dressed, packed, loaded in the car and happy by 9:45.
I also had to get myself fed (fail), showered (I washed my hair in the sink), dressed (check!) and laundry started (check!).  I also had to take care of the dogs, find a white shoe that Hannah hid (turns out she gave it to her monkey MOA for safekeeping), fold two loads of laundry and empty/fill the dishwasher (so I could wash my hair in the sink).

And Chris asks what I do all day.....

We were 10 minutes late and I wasn't quite sure where to park, so I found a spot on a side street 35 blocks away.  Okay... it was only 4 blocks away, but the 3 intersections I had to cross were ridiculous.

I can tell that I don't push a stroller in the city enough because every time I come to an intersection I have this fear of Hannah rolling into traffic like I saw on a local news story while I was pregnant.  I set the brake and white knuckle the handles.  The people standing next to me must think I'm the same weirdo that set their parking break at a red light.  I'm not.  I hate setting the parking break.

I digress.

The parade was really sweet and brought back memories of my hometown summer parade.  I forgot how funny it is to watch the FFA guys run around behind the horses scooping all the poop.  No high school crush ever withstood the pooper scooper test.  Once I saw them do that, I just couldn't get that image out of my head.  And before you think I'm vain... okay, well I am.  BUT I was a farm girl and I spent my summers wearing wranglers, so don't think I'm too prissy.  I can get my hands dirty if I need to.

I just don't anymore.

I digress again.

Here's some parade photos:

No parade is complete without the old fashion firetruck.  Complete with ANNOYING siren that they blast right in front of you.  I had flashbacks to watching 'Mr. Holland's Opus' and the scene where they figure out their son is deaf.  Hannah is not deaf.  It startled her something fierce.

The older lady in front of us commented on what an angel Hannah was during the parade.  It's because I was force feeding her cheerios to keep the "I'M BORED" whining to a dull roar.

I'm impressed.  and pretty sure that unicycle is taller than her.  She HAS to has assistance to get on that thing, right?

The only animal at the parade was horses (well, and some dogs, but we have those at home and I'm pretty sure Hannah didn't see the ones in the parade), so I made a lot of whiny-ing sounds like I do when reading Hannah her animal book.  She loves when I make a fool of myself in public so she kept pointing and expecting me to whiny.  I think she also expected me to stomp my foot and prance around, but some things only take place in the comfort of your own home.

Do you remember when balloon art was popular at weddings?

When we were planning our nuptials and attending all the bridal expos, I remember that there was a balloon vendor trying to encourage all the ladies that balloon arches were a hip touch to any reception entrance.  Suckers.

I'm sure you still see it at 8th grade graduations and small town proms, but I that's not really my scene, so I haven't seen a display like this in a decade.

Scurrying for candy.  Next year I'm going to bring a bag of the cheap bulk candy and throw it at them from behind - just to keep them on their toes when they wander out a little too far in the street.  The mom next to me told her kids to 'Step Back!' every 30 seconds.  I was about to throw Hannah's sippy cup at them, but next year I'll be prepared with a bag of peppermint candies.

The guy in front of us took a picture of Hannah, and in return she poked him in the bag and played with the tag on his chair the whole time.

Queen of the Cows.

.... best title ever.

Hannah was loving it towards the end when all the marching bands were playing Katy Perry's fireworks.  She danced along in her stroller.  So Cute.

This guy came through and ushered all the kids back - (Yeah, right, like they're going to listen to a guy in a straw hat.... I'm serious about pelting them with candy next year...)

So that this monstrosity could come through without squishing them.

12 tires?  Seriously!?  Why would you need 12 tires?

That's the end of my snarky parade route commentary. :)

I hope you had a great 4th of July and please - be careful with the fireworks.

I don't want to hear about anyone blowing off their hands or losing an eyebrow.

I'm going to light a few sparklers, but leave the big explosions to the professionals.  ... or the idiots down the street.