Holidazzle!

After a long week of packing up to move at work, I was itching to do something different. I randomly thought of the Holidazzle and thought that the boys might enjoy it. This thought came about 2pm on Friday afternoon. After spending a couple of minutes researching, we found out that Saturday night would be a better option because we wouldn't be fighting rush hour traffic. Also, we found out that Southwest Transit does a FREE bus on Saturday to Nicollet Mall. We love the convenience of that for sure - cuts off of a 1/2 hour of driving & no hassle parking! 

When the boys got up from their naps on Saturday we headed out and drove by the bus sitting at the Chaska pick up. We were able to grab the bus in Chanhassen & our driver was dressed like Santa! Charlie loved the bus because it was his favorite color & we got to sit in the front seat. Levi got a little impatient & it's harder to wrangle him in his winter get up.

Free cookies while we waited for the bus!

I "made" him a scarf & he loves it.

We got dropped off downtown about 5pm so we had quite a bit of time to burn before 6:30. I told Erik we should go through the 8th floor Macy's display. HAHAHAHAHA, obviously we have never actually looked into that more than me just hearing of it. While waiting in line for the elevator, the staff informed us that it was a 2 hour wait once you got upstairs. ummmm, no thank you.  So we headed back outside to wander & noticed the streets were really filling up. We wanted to make sure we got a spot where the boys could actually see so we found a place & parked the stroller. It was now 5:30...so I took the boys into one of the buildings with a long hall & let them run. I also went into a walgreens & picked up a nutritious supper of sandwiches, chips & juice to help them pass the time.  Around 6pm it was really getting packed (this was the last Holidazzle parade ever!) so we went back outside & waited it out.

Nutrient dense supper.

Levi was very happy to have access to so much juice.

Scaredy pants.....

When it finally started, I was happy that everyone was satisfied & sitting still. A few floats in, there were a couple that scared Charlie (a wolf, a witch, etc all on a float & then he was completely freaked out by a baseball on wheels spinning around). Of course he would be scared & Levi was just loving it. He was waving at everyone, dancing, yelling "COME" & leaning out into the road looking for more. So Charlie spent the 2nd half freaking out & hiding from the floats & making Erik hold him. When Santa's sleigh came last he thought that was ok. I was just happy that everyone seemed to be staying warm.

Not afraid of bus driver Santa.

We only had to walk a couple of blocks to catch our bus back & there was one waiting & we had the same driver! He gave the boys a candy cane & got us dropped  back off. Such a fun little night for us.