Predawn Rose Parade Float Inspection!

This was the first float that Danni saw with pink flowers on it... so we had to take a pic!

She liked these roses too... but it was hard to keep her eyes open... it was EARLY!

Good morning, sunshine!  (Although this was the only sunshine we'd see for a few hours!)

Gummi bear fun!!

I liked this car... and the Caution tape too!

Papa's favorite float!

We tried to convince the Trader Joe's people to give us a balloon... it didn't work!

Our 'dark morning' selfie with the dragon in the background!

Even though she was tired, she still liked this ballerina float!

And the heart float too!

I was sleep-float-admiring!

We met the Clydesdales... they were all nice and toasty warm in their trailers.

On New Year's Day, we got up suuuper early (Danni calls it 'dark morning' when the sun isn't out yet!) and headed over to Pasadena to check out all of the Rose Parade floats before they rolled down Colorado Boulevard at 8 a.m.  It was really incredible to see all of the individual flowers on each float -- you just can't see the detail on TV... It was also cool to smell all of the flowers.  Even though I am a boy, I thought it smelled really nice!!  ("It smells like YOU, Mommy!")  We saw every float that was in the parade, and we stopped to chat with some of the float drivers.  Did you know that the Disney float had 5 drivers underneath it!  Crazy!!  We were grateful to get out of the cold -- we cruised home, stopped for some cinnamon roll french toast for breakfast, then made our way to our living room to watch the parade on TV.  Afterward we (willingly!) took a long nap and then continued to enjoy the New Year!  Happy 2016!