Winter Nights & Lights Parade

It is snowing out today and looks just beautiful for this time of year so I decided to post something that had to do with the holiday season. Two weeks ago, the company I work for participated in St. Cloud's "Winter Nights & Lights Parade" for the first time. Since I work for a power company we had to make sure that our trucks were all lit up with lights. The theme this year was "Baby, It's Cold Outside" and let me tell you it was just that! That day, the high was 17 degrees and when the sun went down it got bitter cold, but we braved the elements and trudged on! This was our fearless leader, Lori. She did such a great job organizing this whole event.

This is Paul and his oldest son and Lori all waiting patiently. I was a wuss and sat in the warm truck until the parade started. I am surely not a huge fan of winter. I much prefer 80 degrees and sunny with a margarita in hand! Dream on, right!

This is my good friend, Suzi. She's a bad-a** chick that has her CDL so she was able to drive one of the big Gas Dept trucks.

And since Suzi was driving, we were able to bring along a few of Santa's helpers. This is Suzi with her son, Hunter.

Hunter brought along a couple of his friends for the ride. Bryce is on the left and Jake is in the middle. All I can say is what a bunch of nice and well behaved boys. A true pleasure to have each of them with.

And who it this? Why it is the Little Punk himself! Grant was so excited to be able to ride in a big truck and hang out with the big boys!

We had to wait in line for about an hour before the parade started so the big boys were entertained by Grant the entire time. He is such a ham and loves to be the center of attention. Shortly before the parade was set to start the boys spotted something in the parking lot to the right...

Why, it was Donner and Blitzen pulling Santa's sleigh!

Of course, the boys wanted to get out and get a closer look. Grant even got to go up and pet on of the reindeer.

AND THEN...they got to sit in the sleigh! What a great photo op! I had just got my new camera the day before so I was the designated "photographer"!

Here are all 4 boys piled in the sleigh. By this time they were getting cold because they were just wearing sweatshirts inside the cab of the truck and of course couldn't take the time to bundle back up in their jackets before they ran out to see the reindeer. Just look at Grant's face. You can almost hear his teeth chattering!

After only a couple of minutes of freezing, we piled the boys back into the truck and it was time for the parade to begin! This is the Gas truck that Suzi and all of the boys were in.
And this is the Electric truck that Paul and his youngest son Tanner rode in.

This is just another picture of the gas truck coming down the street during the parade. I just though it was a cool picture with the sunset in the background and all of the lights. What a bunch of crazy people standing outside for and hour to watch a parade in freezing conditions! Only in MN!

Grant got to sit on Suzi's lap the entire parade. He was going to "help" her drive but became engrossed with waving at everyone. After the parade, Suzi told me that he was so cute because he had a perma-grin on the entire time and kept saying, "Look at everyone waving at me!" He thought they were all there just to see him! TOO CUTE! I wish I could have seen and heard it for myself, but I can just imagine how adorable it all was :)

After the parade, we were treated to a pizza party. The kids had a great time together. Of course, Grant had to sit next to his "new best friend, Rice" aka Bryce. He just adored Bryce because he pretty much doted on Grant the entire time.

While the big boys were busy having a spit-ball fight in the booths behind us, Grant was busy blowing bubbles in his milk. Little stinker! But I had to take a picture before I explained that it was not polite to blow bubbles in your milk. Oh well...kids gotta be kids sometimes, right? As long as no one is getting hurt, you just have to let them go.

I am a little worried and sad today, though. This is my beloved kitty, Gabby aka Gibber Gabbers.

I have noticed that she has been drinking A LOT of water lately and peeing like crazy, among a couple of other subtle symptoms. She had been sick with a kidney infection earlier this year so I decided to do a little of my Internet research. I am now convinced that she either has kidney disease or diabetes so I called the vet and made an appt for her to be checked out Mon morning. I have almost lost her twice now and I am NOT ready to lose her now. She is only 6 and has a lot more life left in her. Plus Grant just adores her and would be very sad to lose her. Cross your fingers that everything turns out okay and at the most all she needs is another round of antibiotics to clear up an infection. This cat is soon to be deemed "The Million Dollar Cat" for sure!

Blessings to all!!