Monday

Never Allow Anyone to Rain on Your Parade

Saturday dawned crisp and cold and the wind whipped the heads of my brave daffodils who made an early Spring appearance. 

We bundled the kids and grandparents and headed to the tall sky scrapers of our city to welcome the great Texas Rodeo with a Grand Parade.

Settled on the pavement with a warm blanket and anticipation, we waited.


We clapped to the beat of the University of Texas' marching band.


Two-stepping Spanish horses skipped and bounced to silent music and a pleased crowd!


A very tall jean-clad cowboy strolled down the street and we watched in awe.


Strong-muscled horses proudly carried a carriage of root-tootin' cowboys.


But the highlight of the parade was a certain two year old who eagerly watched every movement with wide-eyes, while clapping her dimpled hands and waving her American flag. 


While pointing to the hundreds of horses that marched in front of us, she quietly whispered this question over and over in my ear, "My turn? Horsie. My turn?" 

My eyes locked with the man of my youth and we both smiled at the thought of living in the country one day.

Not wanting to rain on her parade, I said, "One day, honey. One day."

And I meant it.

51 comments:

the BLAH BLAH BLAHger said...

Hold on to that dream!!! Sometimes it's the only thing that gets us through the tough times!

Anonymous said...

Wonderfully written as usual. What fun the parade must have been! The pictures are great, and the last one is too sweet. The best part is that you're able to stop and recognize and capture those moments. Too sweet. :)

Hillary @ The Other Mama said...

Great story and I love the picture with the b/w and color! Absolutely precious!

AngelaCate said...

What a great post! Is that a cupcake hat she has on? Looks like a vintage picture or something you would see on a greeting card...too cute!
Angie

Melissa Stover said...

that is a beautiful picture of her! we do live in the country and we are still telling our kids maybe someday to the horse.

Upstatemamma said...

It looks like you all had a really nice time. And that last picture is great.

Unknown said...

Maybe one day. For the minute the closest mine gets to a horse is a quick pony ride at the farm.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx said...

What a beautiful, beautiful family.

Christie said...

Beautiful pictures!! I love parades~

Shell in your Pocket said...

I love that last picture..so cute.
sandy toe

Liz {Learning To Juggle} said...

B.E.A.utiful!! What a sweet little picture.

The Mommy said...

Love the hat, love the coat, love the shoes!

Les & Sweetie Berry said...

These moments like so many others we're given in life...are easily missed...I'm so thankful you didn't...Beautiful my friend...Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

That looks like a lot of fun. It's snowing on my parade in the Northeast.

Anonymous said...

What a very sweet moment and what a beautiful picture! I love it!

Bridget said...

Can I very selfishly say....I don't want you moving to the country! We just met!!! :)

OK...and I LOVE that pink coat!

southerninspiration said...

So are you in the big H?????

Suzanne

Unknown said...

LOVE IT! LOVE IT!!!

Unknown said...

LOVE IT! LOVE IT!!!

Mama Melissa said...

How sweet!!! Love the pics. And, hold onto the dream! :)

Melissa

Lana said...

I remember those parades...ahhh the memories. The smell of manure and the cotton candy being sold all in one spot.

Precious memories! Thanks for sharing!

Natalie said...

i think we live in the same city. i am dying to go to the rodeo this year since i've been out of the country for the last 7 rodeos. i'm thinking it's not going to happen though. we really don't need to spend the money this year. ah well...there's always next year!

Mom said...

What fun! Of course, just looking at the pictures makes me feel the cold... But it does look like fun.

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

what a great day!

Love the last pix of your girl!

Kate said...

So sweet! And how fun is that?

Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae said...

She's adorable.

Tammy said...

What a fun event! And your kids are so adorable. Love the elements on the last photo. Very nice.

Kasey said...

That parade looks like so much fun. I love your daughter's hat. That picture is adorable.

Anonymous said...

That picture is precious! Definitely deserves to be hung on a wall or entered into a contest! How adorable!

Anonymous said...

The first photo made me think...oh look THAT family looks homeless.

And the last the photo? The one you got all crazy with the PS skillz (you have mad skillz. yo)...made me want to EAT this child in her her cupcake hat.
Buy that kid a pony will ya?

:)

Dorci said...

I love that picture of your little sweetie in her precious pink coat. Her look of wonder and longing at those amazing horsies reminded me of myself. Since I was around her age, those have been my thoughts, too. My turn? Horsie? I was even called Dorci Horsie when I was growing up. I'm still waiting for my turn to have my own horse. Some day!

Robin said...

She still wears her cupcake hat! What a great picture!!!

Lori Robertson said...

Kristen - you always capture these special little moments so beautifully! I love it!

Lori Robertson said...

Kristen - you always capture these special little moments so beautifully! I love it!

Jaden Paige said...

That last picture is so beautiful! I love it. Glad you had fun!

Valarie Lea said...

That is an adorable picture!! I live in the country and I still don't have my horsie. The hubby says he will end up having to take care of it, so its a no. :(

kp said...

oh she could not be cuter!!!! that picture is amazing!

Anonymous said...

That last pic is a keeper, FOR SURE! What a cutie she is (and I love the jacket!)

km said...

So Sweet! My boys have been taking horseback riding lessons. The also have to saddle and groom their own pony. It's great fun...even if we only get a chance to be in the open one day a week. My little girl is waiting for her turn.

Val, Brax and Harper said...

i think i found your blog when you picked up wfmw... and i love it! that is a precious picture of your little girl!

Anonymous said...

Cute pics! I'll have to ask my sil if she went to the parade. I love the coat your little girl is wearing, too cute!
Toni

misty said...

the black & white picture is beautiful!!!

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

That is so sweet and she is super adorable. My almost 2 yr old loves Horsies and refers to them as OOOccceees. Love it.

LunaMoonbeam said...

Great pics...stories...all of it. So, so cute.

And can I say, your two year old shows a LOT of restraint! Mine would have been SCREAMING!

Unknown said...

Looks like such fun! And that last photo is awesome!!

Jenny said...

I really miss the rodeo parade. Thank you for sharing it here! Wonderful pictures!

Julie said...

Gorgeous picture!

Selina said...

Beautiful picture! Thanks for sharing.

Lynn said...

The picture of her on the curb is priceless.

Matt said...

Gotta love Texas. My son wants to go to school there. I'm all for it. It's a lot warmer than where we're at now. People are great too. You have really nice photos. There's a site that'll give you a free online photo album just for signing up, if you want to self-publish them, and it's great for digitl photo printing too.

marky said...

That picture is AMAZING!!