warning: uncontrollable wholesomeness ahead

Another year, another 4th of July parade in Alameda!

Last year Natasha seemed vaguely entertained by the noise and just being outside, but this year she really got the parade experience!

And her friend Violet was with her this year - next year the two of them will be running around together (for those of you playing along Jeopardy-style the question for that answer is: how could next year's parade be more tiring than this year??")

Several of her books have horses in them and, as Natasha will tell you, the horsies say "neigh." Every time a horse went by, she pointed and said "neigh!"

Little kids on the parade route always get flags, which Natasha patriotically began waving immediately!

<-- Action shot

It's not the fastest moving parade in the world, so she had plenty of time to study the aerodynamics of the flag...

..which of course let directly to studying other characteristics of the flag. Like taste!

The paper flags didn't last long at all (as you can see by the bulge in her cheek and the bit of stripes hanging out of her mouth), but the plastic ones held up a bit longer. None were any match for her razor sharp teeth though.

At the end of a looong day, Natasha chilled out with her entry-level raver accessory in the awesome sweater Auntie Mel made for her (hurray, it fits!!)