The Parade...

After the standard summer bbq-type fare for dinner, we gathered up the boys and headed over to the brand spankin' new stadium for the children's bicycle parade. At 7:30 the parade began. As each child began driving by (led by our city's finest!), their name & age was announced along with their hobby or something they enjoyed (Alex: camping, tractors - Ayson: balls, cars). I have to say, it was really too cute seeing all the little kids drive by with all the people clapping and cheering. You would've thought that Alex would be "ON" for something like this, but he was quite serious looking the entire time. Ayson meanwhile was relaxed and enjoyed being pulled around in the wagon. Every now and then we'd yell to Ayson to give us his "silly smile" and he would break out in his cheesiest grin. Alex's neighbor friend won first prize for her festive bike which she most certainly deserved, and Alex began to cry when his name was not called. It was a good lesson for him to learn in regards to being a gracious loser, and after an encouraging talk he yelled "Congratulations" to his friend. I was proud of him. I'm sure it didn't hurt that he received a Dairy Queen coupon for an ice cream cone either!

Warming up for the parade.

Pre-parade: trying to stay cool in the shade

Alex & Ayson dancing to the music while the band played onstage.

Of course these two took 1st place in our eyes!

At the end of the evening after we'd arrived home, it felt warmer than normal in the house. We checked our thermostat (on our three year old, 19 seer Trane no less!) and it read like this...



Here's hoping Mr. air conditioner man comes to fix it EARLY tomorrow or we're all going to be extraordinarily cranky!!