grillin' & chillin'

July 4, 2012- Time for the annual 4th of July Fredericksburg Children's Parade, sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution.  We always have such a fun time preparing an entry, but it has become quite the undertaking in the past few years.  Casey always wants to out-do himself from the previous year's effort.  I help him with the idea but he is the sole engineer behind it all.

This is actually the float I wanted Casey to make last year, but Brazos was only 1 and we didn't think he would be able to~ or want to~ sit at a picnic table while it was moving.  So we held onto the idea and it worked perfectly this year.  

Pecos was the chef.  In a Beef apron, of course!

Brazos was his eager customer.

Casey provided the man power and while he was happy to do it I think he is ready for a motorized entry next year!

A few more details from the award winning entry.

Here's the one detail that didn't quite work out on parade day.  Casey really wanted the grill to emit smoke.  So he rigged it up with dry ice.  Yes, that is a jack that he used to wedge a plastic container of dry ice into the top of the grill.  It worked pretty good at home but something was a little off and it didn't quite have the same effect the morning of the parade.  But it was such a good idea!

Pecos collecting the award for Most Original entry in the parade.  Brazos was still sitting on the float!

All American boys.

It was another fun year at the children's parade.  You may think we go a bit overboard or take it a little too seriously.  But we have fun coming up with the idea each year and Pecos is so proud to display our efforts.  Brazos so far is just along for the ride!

Our efforts have become a bit legendary.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.  MiMi and Paw Paw drove 8 hours just to see it.

Oma has just as much fun~ maybe more~ than we do!