The Parade

The only thing more fun that going to a parade, when you're two, is BEING in the parade! So when Grandpa Joe (my dad) called a couple weeks ago to see if Natalie and I would like to walk with the Metro Youth Partnership float in the Greater Moorhead Days parade, I jumped at the chance. She hadn't been to a parade since Concordia's Homecoming 2006, but I knew she'd have fun.

And fun she had! We bundled up (man, it's gotten cold lately), picked up supper and ate outside while waiting for Grandpa. He parked a car for us at the end of the route and met us back at the float with a few minutes to spare. We mingled with the other dozen or so MYP folks and celebrated their second-place win for best float -- out of about 90 entries!

I pushed Natalie in the stroller, while she sat quietly and watched the crowds. I know, Natalie quiet. It really doesn't happen often. In fact, she was pretty "mums the word" the whole evening and I chalked it up to awe and wonder. Grandpa filled her lap over and over with handfuls of candy. She kept them from falling off her lap and waiting for me to yell "Throw it!" before tossing another piece to the curb.

We saw tons of her friends and I got plenty of exercise walking the 25-plus block route.

Thanks, Grandpa for a fun evening!