Cabbages, Carrots, and Classic Quotes . . .

We finally made it back to the St. Patrick's Day Parade this year!  It is definitely our favorite parade to attend, and we have such a gracious invitation to a beautiful home of friends that live right on the parade route.  Not only has it been a welcoming environment for our family, but they are so generous in the food they have for their guests!  I cannot imagine how much preparation takes place before the event, but we are grateful for these opportunities to make memories with family and friends!
  
Brady and Reese are at the age where they are "prime" targets for many of the coveted parade throws.  After the first hour of floats, Brady and Reese had accumulated enough stuff to fill our small house. 

This is only one of the bags.

The first priceless quote of the day came from my observant and vocal son.  He has an amazing ability to watch people in these environments, take in and process all the information, and he told Gary,

"These people are crazy." 

We only had one injury, but I am pretty sure the whole parade heard it.  Reese got slammed with some heavy beads on the head and face.  I guess that the person throwing the beads at her could not tell that she is about 3 feet tall, less than 30 lbs, and full of drama.  She wailed for about 5 minutes while we tried to console her.  The other riders on that float felt really bad, so the "gifts" came pouring in.  Cabbage anyone?

She got over it.  "THROW ME SUUUUMMMMPIN!"

I didn't go to these kinds of parades as a child, so I am just now learning the intensity that they can arouse in those tiny bodies.  I noticed that Brady was trying to shove a ball/bat into one of his goody bags, and it was obviously not going to fit.  I asked him, "Buddy?  Do you want to go put that back by our stuff closer to the house?"  He responded by frantically waving his arms up and down and screaming,

"MAMA!  I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR ALL THAT!"

Although I don't appreciate being reprimanded by my children, I couldn't help but laugh.  His reality was that if he left that spot for even a second, he might miss an invaluable treasure.  I graciously packed away his junk, and we moved on.

I wasn't able to take many pictures of our friends and the surrounding parade goers, but here are a few more shots . . .



  And here is the next toy I will have to confiscate.



Get that nasty thing out of your mouth! 

 

Reese retires for the day.

Gary and Vince

Brady just plugged his ears when it got too loud.  When his "catching" hands weren't available anymore, that is when he decided it was ok to leave.