the judge's ruling

September 2012- We all know how Oma loves a parade.  This time she got to be the JUDGE of the Harper Labor Day parade.  I somehow got roped into it as well.  

Pecos came along with us to help distribute the awards and was a bit excited to give the overall trophy to the Gillespie County Fair Queens.

no rain on this parade

July 4, 2012- After a little fun at the Children's Parade, we headed down Main Street to watch the big parade.  Oma & I parked the truck Sunday evening prior to the parade just to make sure we'd have a good spot.  And we are not the only crazy parade goers that do this...there were at least 4 other vehicles already parked in the prime real estate for parade watching.  

 MiMi & Paw Paw needed to get back to Louisiana but they stayed to see what all the fuss was about.

There were the standard parade entries. 

And a few not-so-standard.  You can see some really funny and bizarre things in a parade.   Or maybe just in a Fredericksburg parade.  

Some political jabs.

Men with guns.  Big guns.

A chicken on a 4-wheeler.

A chicken car.  

A really old car.

A painted pony.

A dog riding shot gun.

 Brazos' favorite~ a trailer of hay.

When the horses appear that signals the end is near.

There's so many things wrong with this picture I don't even know where to begin.  So I won't.

 But a parade in Fredericksburg, or anywhere within 100 miles, is not complete until you see Regina on her tractor.

Followed by her husband, Will.

But this is the official way to end all parades in Fredericksburg.

Only a month and a half until the Fair Parade!

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!

TANK you to our troops

July 4, 2011-  America is another year older and to celebrate our boys had another fun entry for the Fredericksburg Fourth of July Children's Parade.  The ladies auxiliary for the VFW hosts the parade each year.  It is fun to see all the kids decked out in patriotic gear.  This year the boys won awards for Most Patriotic, Best Decorated Vehicle and Most Humorous.  While we are appreciative of the hosts and their hard work to organize such chaos, there are so many participants it would almost be better if there weren't awards or prizes given out.  All of the kids are so cute I'm sure it is hard to choose a winner no matter what the category.  To be fair, Pecos gave two of his flag prizes to other participants that didn't win one.

 

Casey is compelled each year to create a show-stopper of an entry.  We had the rocket horse two years ago.  Last year was the covered wagon.  This year was military. I had a different idea in mind but we couldn't quite figure out how Brazos would ride along with it.  Casey thought if he built an army tank over the battery-powered jeep then Brazos couldn't get out and it would be a great entry for both of them.  He was right, but you almost couldn't even see Brazos in it!

You are probably thinking that we are a bit too intense, obsessed and over-achievers.  After all, it is just a children's parade.   You're kinda right, but let me set the record straight- we are not super competitive parents out to smash the competition at a children's parade; we are out to make memories for our boys.  Casey has the talent to build such fun parade floats and Pecos really loves the parade and is so proud when everyone takes his picture and tells him how much they like his entry. That is what it is all about for us.  {Plus, Casey has this thing where he won't let himself be outdone and has to do something bigger and better each year.}

barefoot and waving a flag...it doesn't get much more American than that!

MiMi & Paw Paw were here for the weekend to visit and to see what the fuss over this parade was all about.  They had no idea how huge- and fun- it is.  

Scenes from the parade route:

After the children's parade wrapped up it was time for the big parade.  Pecos was having so much fun he wanted to drive his tank in the big parade.  Oma & Opa offered to walk along just in case he got lost....or lost battery power.  By the time it was all said and done he might have been the most photographed participant in the parade.

fly-over before the parade

This is one of the many reasons I love Fredericksburg.  Flags and people lining the parade route.  No left-wing liberal is gonna tell us we can't wave a flag or take One Nation Under God out of  our pledge!  

We missed out on fireworks this year...none in Fredericksburg due to the drought.  After two parades and a long, hot day and we were too tired to drive anywhere else to see them.  Maybe next year.  Happy Birthday, America!