The Parade

On Labor Day, our fair city puts on an adorable parade. Who doesn't love a parade?!
So Little One and I parked it on the curb and watched the show.

She and Baby gathered just a few campaign stickers.

She was a little freaked out by the dragon, but She stared it down.

We saw some A. Maz. Ing. little kid dancers in fantastic traditional costumes. Something I love about the diversity of our area is the abundance of cultures to liven things up. I have to say the Central and South American traditional singing/dancing groups stole show. I would have paid to see that, and if you know me and my cheap self, you know it was pretty good. At least as far as I was concerned.

Little One was most impressed by the marching bands. Every time we started to hear one coming up over the hill She stood up and started dancing and clapping, screaming "yay!" She'd look at me with the "can you believe this?!" face and say, "muso mommy, MUso!"

But the true highlight for us both came with the wildlife rescue center crew. I saw Her staring. Awestruck. Coveting. She'd turn to me. Turn back. And whisper quietly, with amazement and devotion in Her voice, "Hop-hop...". So finally I said, "if you want to go see, Little One, it's ok". I didn't really think She would, truthfully, but the words were still traveling out of my mouth as She dashed into the street in a beeline. "Hop-hop!" She cried, raising Her arms. And gave the 6 foot tall bunny a big, squeezy, lovey hug. And would not. Let go. The amazing ginormous hop-hop had to carry Her back to me, dangling from it's neck, and deposit Her, flush with joy, into my lap.

The crowd cheered. And hop-hop said to me, "Wow, that is a brave little girl! Most kids cry when they see me." And I realized, hey. She is getting pretty brave! Little One is by nature very cautious, very fond of my shoulder when there is anything new around. But She saw something She adored so much, that She mustered up Her courage and went for the hug. Going waaay outside Her normal mama-range to do so. You go Little One! And I hope that as She grows She always finds that courage when She sees something She loves. To just go for it! Grab it! Hold on tight. Before the parade passes by.