Light Parade

On Saturday, we did something I've been meaning to do for the past 15 years.  We went to the downtown Light Parade.  I couldn't argue with the unseasonably warm temperature this year as I have so many years before.  I had fun.  I'm not so sure about Laci, who was irritated that she could not run around in the street, and was more entertained by the butterfly wand she stole, than by the brightly lit floats.  Technically, she didn't steal the butterfly wand, it was being "shared."  However, once it became Laci's turn to hold the wand, there was no prying it from the death grip she was using to hold it.  Shortly after this picture, Aunty Kristina broke the wand and no one wanted it.  Problem solved.

We live in a small town, so the parade was enjoyable, but nothing like what you might see at Disney.  We saw Frosty, Santa, and Snoopy...trucks, cars, and even a school bus covered in lights...floats with sparkling holiday themes...middle school marching bands, complete with flag girls which brought back some memories for me (yes, I was a flag girl in junior high, one of my best memories of growing up).  You know, the usual holiday things.

And a fire breathing dragon.

Yes, a fire breathing dragon.

Not your classic holiday creature, but he was wearing a Santa hat and beard, so at least he was festive.

He is a made from old pieces of metal: car parts, cans, basically metal trash found at the dump.

I'm not sure if you can see him clearly enough in the picture,

but you're looking at him from behind.  He "breathes" fire from his nostrils,

has huge wings, and a long tail towards the left of the picture.

I'd love for this to become an annual tradition for us,

but I'm doubtful that next year's weather will be as favorable,

so I'll hold off on making that decision for a while.

It was fun to have both sets of grandparents, plus aunts, uncle, and cousins to share the evening.

At least I can finally say, I've been to our light parade.