Girl Scouts and the Santa Parade

For the sixth year in a row, Lia's Girl Scout troop decided to participate in our town's annual Santa parade the first Saturday in December.  The girls voted to walk for the first time instead of riding on a "float" that we have always made in the past by decorating one of the grandpa's flat bed trailers. This was due to the fact that that our other troop leader, Regan, had shown them a picture of walking with clear colored umbrellas decorated with lights and snowflakes.  So, after buying the necessary items, the girls got together in November to decorate their umbrellas.  I then went ahead and made Lia another tutu out of white and light blue tulle, sewed silver snowflakes onto a white t-shirt, and tied a giant bow in her hair with Christmas ribbon that had blue and silver snow flakes on it.  She looked quite adorable if I may say so myself! 
Lia went down early with her friend, Sienna, to line up for the parade with the rest of the troop while Ron and I took Logan and Ella down to watch the first half of the parade.  Logan and Ella bravely stood at the front of the crowd (so that they could see) while Ron and I stood in the back.  They were absolutely enthralled by every tractor, float, and band that went marching by.  It is always so fun to watch their reactions to this parade!  After Lia's troop walked by, we met them at the "finish line" of the parade and then quickly headed up to one of the homes of another girl in the troop for our Girl Scout Christmas party.  We had a potluck dinner and then the girls got to play some games and participate in a Secret Santa exchange.  Lia and a few other girls in her troop also got to play some Christmas songs on the piano for everyone to hear.  Logan and Ella had a grand time running around the house, playing in the massive toy room, and even participating in the games with the older girls.  It was a fun evening had by all!

The finished product!  Lia all decked out as a "walking snowflake" before leaving our house for the parade.

A close-up of Lia and her decorated umbrella.

And one more close-up.

After Lia got picked up, Ella decided that she wanted to get in on the fun.  Par her request, she put on her snowman shirt and her white, ballet tutu which I thought was such a cute idea.  She also asked that I put her hair in a bun and put makeup on her face after watching me do the same to Lia's face.

A close-up of Ella's makeup and pretty, gem stickers that she wanted put on both of her cheeks.

A profile shot of Ella's bun.  Her hair is finally starting to be long enough to put into a tiny bun and I just think it is the cutest thing as it shows off her dainty, little face that normally is covered so much by her hair.

After parking and walking to our favorite corner to watch the parade, Lia's troop came about 30 minutes later which was perfect as it gave Logan and Ella plenty of time to enjoy the other groups marching in the first half of the parade.  Lia walked in the front of her troop behind the the sign carried by one of the moms and an older sister.

Lia flashing us a smile as she walked on by.

We met Lia's troop as they finished the parade in the library parking lot.  I managed to corral all of the girls together for a group picture before they dispersed.

Lia posing with her good friend, Sienna.

I just couldn't resist taking a few more pictures of Lia since her costume looked so much prettier all lit up in the dark!

And another full length shot.

Ella, Logan, and Lia posing with mama before leaving the parade to head to the Christmas party.