Christmas Parades

This year we did two Christmas parades. One in Greenville last night under a canopy of twinkling lights. Another today in Simpsonville where it was only mildly warmer (35F last night, about 49F today).

In Greenville the downtown was crowded with about 30,000 people for a crisp cool night. Isabelle and I were on our own after having been to a birthday party at the Upstate Children's Museum. She had a blast and I stuck around to help out. In return I got to have a lovely chocolate cupcake and get to know some of Isabelle's friends.

Anyway, the parade was as good as last year. We brought chairs and had a picnic of hot chicken soup as we waited. Isabelle was very patient and made some friends. Our location was better than last year since we weren't at the very end. The bands don't play when they can see the end so we missed all the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeers and Jingle Bells. There must have been seven or eight bands in all.

Here are some of the highlights.

Isabelle with her new Santa hat. She wanted one to wear in the Simpsonville parade. More on that later.

One of my favorites is always the firetrucks. Unfortunately I don't have too many other pictures but here is some video of the marching bands.

At the Simpsonville parade Isabelle was part of the action. I dropped her off dressed in lots of layers with her YMCA Dance shirt and here pyjama bottoms. All the other kids were there and they were ready to go. Being 64th in line it took a while for them to get moving but they did fine. There was lots of dancing and waving and general good cheer.

Maggie and I parked the Jeep at the other end and walked back. (She still gets lots of comments, usually something like: "That some purdy dawg you got dere!" Off course she laps it up.) The group was rearing to go so I went forward with the other dads to get some pics and video. Here is some of what I got.

In front of the float that the little kids rode in.

Walking along early on.

Focused on Miss Ashley and Miss Lori who did a great job getting them ready and keeping them going during the parade.

Ah, a breather! She was getting pretty hot under all those clothes with all the running and dancing.

A not so typical Santa "muffler shop" float.

This one is for my Dad who may have had a few run ins with a car like that once.

Now for some video of the dancers.

After the parade we hit Brewster's for a milkshake and then home for a long hot bath (Isabelle, not me). Then some supper, which Isabelle promptly threw-up, and then to bed. I don't think she was really sick with anything, just very tired and excited.

In the end they did great. Only a few of the little ones needed a break on the float. To top it all off, out of around 100 entries in 5 categories, they were entered in the "Best Walking Group" category and THEY WON IT, beating out all the other dance teams! Yeah Goldenstrip YMCA!