Rose Parade

Right after we returned from our Christmas vacation, we returned the rental car and drove up to Pasadena the next day to catch the Rose Parade.  I knew it was a big deal but I didn't realize how many people camp out in the streets!!!!  We decided to get a hotel close by for New Year's Eve and all went to bed very early that night, not even bothering ringing in the new year so we could get a very early start toward the parade route.  We woke up at 3:30am, hopped on the metro system and arrived at the parade route by 5:30am.  There were so many people even that early! Most had camped out the previous afternoon or night and I was very concerned I'd have to stand for the next 5 hrs.... pregnant that was not really an option.  Greg went off with Lillian strapped to his chest to find us some coffee and breakfast and I started asking those around me if we could snag a portion of the curb they weren't using.  Sure enough we got a spot!  We even met a family whose son was marching in the parade.  I thought I marched in the same parade as a Junior in high school and Greg was bothered by my lack of memory.... we had made a trip down there, got to lead the Disneyland parade and performed in what I thought was the rose parade back in 2000.  Greg feels I should have remembered the floats but as a band it was just another performance for me and you didn't march that close to the floats.... the amount of people and distance were not that unusual as far as I remember either.  Anyway, once it started Lillian was quite entertained (although we were there 3 hrs early so trying to keep her engaged for that long was a bit tricky).  The theme this year was "Oh the Places You'll Go".  It was quite a site to see, all the huge floats made completely out of plant material; however, it may be one of those once in a lifetime type things.... not sure I'd be willing to do it again unless one of my kids were performing in it.  I did manage to get some good photos of my favorite floats.