Parade

Kristie, Kenzie, Cash, and I accompanied my sister, Barb, and her niece, Nikki, to the parade two nights ago.

Other than running like mad for candy and a man wearing a beard of bees, I recall little from the parades of my youth.

But since Kenz has come along we've attended one every summer.  And one even in the fall.

This year we decided to catch the TRF parade.  Judging by the humidity and heat (and the mosquitoes that tend to go with it), I wasn't too sure how good of an idea this was, but by six o'clock things began to cool off nicely.  We found a great spot along the parade route right in the shade (about three blocks north of Subway).

We set up our chairs, unpacked the stroller, and settled in. 

It wasn't long, though, before tragedy struck. 

I don't know if it was how Kristie was holding Cash or if it was the pears that ate before we left, but Cash exploded in his diaper. 

I heard Kristie say, "Oh, Cash . . ." and then I spotted something awful: he had actually exploded out the right side of his diaper.  And onto Kristie's leg and the chair.

"Honey, there is poop on your leg!" I said.

"I know . . ." Kristie said in her thank-you-captain-obvious tone and shot me a can't-you-get-me-a-wet-wipe-from-the-bag look.

As I went for the bag, I heard my sister, who happened to be sitting right next to Kristie, remark, "Oh, let me get my camera." 

Sure enough, she got several shots so that the moment was well documented.

"I tell ya.  You Reynolds' sure are good in an emergency," Kristie remarked as I took Cash and handed her a wet-wipe.

Luckily, Cash didn't get too much on Kristie so that she had to go home and change. 

"Well, I guess this is going to make the Christmas news letter," Kristie remarked once she was all cleaned up and Barb was reviewing the pictures on her camera.  For those of you who don't know our family or have never had the pleasure of reading my sister's now infamous Christmas letters, let me explain them: Barb feels the need to inform relatives and friends of all the things that have happened in their lives in the form of a Christmas letter.  While most people share the heart-warming tales and events, Barb tends to enjoy sharing the humorous and embarrassing moments (such as this entry).  I have never met anyone who has not read the annual letter and laughed to the point of tears. 

Now I can't wait for the holiday season this year.  As long as I can manage to stay out of the letter!

Once that little disaster was fixed, we could all relax and settle in to enjoy the parade, which was great.  It was not too long.  The floats were spaced well.  There was also a great variety of floats (could have lived without the rather sombre Tea Party float though.  I also couldn't help but notice that they were not handing out any candy.). 

Kenzie made a nice haul.  It helped that several of my past and present students were in various floats and showered us in candy (I did get blasted with silly string and hit with water balloons though).  Kenzie's highlights were a Prowler tattoo that Kaylee, a girl's hockey, player gave her and the flashlight and backpack that Cenex workers Derek and Matt gave her.

Today Barb (or Uncle Barb as Kenzie calls her.  For some reason she things Uncle is Barb's first name.  She has said several times this morning, "I'm going to the fair with my auntie, Uncle Barb!") and Nikki are taking Kenzie to the fair.  She woke up right at 6:30.  We could hear he saying how she was going to the fair and that she was so excited.

Should be a fun day.