Oohhh...the Lights!

The Sunday after Thanksgiving is the annual Festival of Lights Parade in the next town over. It's quite fun, especially since it is the town I grew up in and I remember many parades, sitting on the sidewalk drinking hot cocoa out of a thermos. We don't do the hot cocoa, but we do like to go oh and ah over all the pretty floats and twinkly lights. This was our third year going to the parade since we've moved back to the Bay Area.

Padyn loves it. Heck, even Kate loves it. There's lights AND dogs AND music. What could be better? And of course, Santa rounds out the parade at the end, so there's something to look forward to when it gets a little boring (which really, it doesn't).

Afterwards, on the way to the car, we asked Padyn if she liked it. She replied that she liked it more than she thought she would. Ok. Then, when we asked her what her favorite part was, she surprised us with, "The cheerleaders."

Now, mind you, these weren't real cheerleaders. They were girls in elementary school. One of the local Catholic elementary schools. It was dark, they were in green, they weren't really doing much...just sort of hanging out behind the band. But apparently, they left a big impression on Padyn. She now wants to be one when she's older.

Great.

No offense, Callie. I know you are a great little cheerleader. I was just hoping Padyn would be more interested in dancing than cheering. Personal bias. That's all.

When I asked her again later what her favorite part of the parade was (secretly hoping her answer had changed), she still said the cheerleaders, but at least she added, "The princesses and Santa."

Ok, that's a more acceptable answer. I don't have to hold my breath now.