The Princess Diaries...: Happy New Year!

I love Raleigh! We went to the First Night Raleigh celebration downtown yesterday and it was great! Sophie got to see, hear, and dance with a great kids band - Stacy Clearman's Little Land Band, we explored the Museum of Natural Sciences, we made crafts, and Sophie got to be a part of the parade! She said, "This is the greatest parade ever!" She got to hold part of a large puppet with some other kids. The city did an early countdown to the New Year at 7:00pm for all of the kids (and their parents) and Sophie loved watching the giant acorn drop and the fireworks display afterwards. I am so glad that we were able to enjoy this family friendly event to celebrate the New Year and get home by 8:00pm! It's a good thing Clint and I got to see the early countdown as well because we both fell asleep waiting for the ball to drop in Times Square. I missed the midnight celebration for the first time in my life...I felt a little older this morning. :)

We really enjoyed the Little Land Band! Stacy Clearman is also known as Pastor Stacy, worship leader/music director, at the church we have been going to, Church Alive in Fuquay-Varina.

Our beautiful tissue paper hair bow craft :)

This is the very large puppet that Sophie got to help hold up during the parade. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time and Sophie was able to help some other kids hold up the back. She was so excited!