First Parade

Ankeny does their canival and fireworks a week after everyone else. Saturday, Tony and I took the boys to the Summer Fest Parade in Ankeny for their very first parade. We weren't sure how it was going to go, but we take any chance for a family outing we get. Due to Hayden's feeding schedule, we had to begin our preparations the night before. We wanted to do the best we could to avoid any vomiting at the parade, so we needed to adjust Hayden's feeding schedule to work with Saturday's activities. Our adjustments worked and there was no vomiting at all on our outing...yay! Of course, it was a different story when we got home.

The parade began with the marching band. When they got to us, only the drums were playing, much to Hayden's delight. He smiled from ear to ear as he moved his head from side to side and giggled. I was so excited to see him enjoying himself that the tears just started flowing. I never know when things are going to hit me. It never seems to be when you'd expect. Of cousrse, I cry privately when someone gives us bad news about Hayden. For some reason, I can better hide my emotions in those times. It's the happy times, when he finds something he truly enjoys, that I can't stop the tears. Those time creep up on me, too, when I see a kid doing something that Hayden will never be able to do, or not be able to do until he is much older, but should be able to do now. Anyway, the rest of the parade didn't really hold Hayden's interest. He only perked up for the music, as expected. Thankfully, none of the sirens, or semi horns scared him. We were worried that those would startle him and make him cry which would lead to vomiting. He fell asleep durning the parade. Yes, he was really asleep and not faking it like he usually does in those situations. Even the first few semi horns didn't wake him up.

Once Daddy explained to Nicholas that needed to wave to people so that they would throw him candy, he was all over it. He eagerly stepped into the street and always pick up 2 pieces of candy and immediately put one of them in his mouth, wrapper and all. How sweet he is to get a piece for brother, too. He loved the dogs that went by and pointed at them. Of course anything in a costume, is still very scary.

Both boys behaved themselves perfectly. We couldn't have been more proud. We were thankful that we loaded them up with sunscreen before we left the house. I hadn't been out in the sun for that long (4 hours) in years, so I should have put some sunscreen on too. My arms and legs are a little burnt, but at least the boys aren't burnt at all. Not only did the boys have their first parade experience, they now have their first tan lines.