Lantern Parade

Big excitement at the Hayward-Uptons!

A local organization, Spontaneous Celebrations, a.k.a. Those Hippies, puts on an annual parade around Jamaica Plain's pond just before Halloween.  All the kids make lanterns, get dressed up and walk around the pond, or as far around the pond as their parents care to herd them.  We didn't attempt it last year, but this year Frances was all for it.

She went as a Fairy/Ballerina.  Think lots of pink and girlyness.  Old mom did her best to get Frances's hair into a bun and then introduced Frances to blush.  

Frances liked the blush.

She was just a touch pleased with herself.  She originally wore the tutu to my friend Tara's wedding, when she was seven months old.  

Chandler was a flower.  They aren't visible in the picture, but her shoes had ladybugs on them.  If you could see the ladybugs, you'd totally understand how Chandler looked like a flower.

After getting all dressed up, we headed over to the Pond.  There was quite a crowd, but the light was fading fast so we didn't get a lot of pictures.  This is Mark and Chandler just before heading around the pond.

One last shot of the Fairy/Ballerina and her lantern.

It was really fun and a little chaotic.  Think about gobs of people wandering around in the dark with costumes and candles.  Next year, I'll try to bring hot beverages.  Hot coffee with a shot of Kahlua cider would hit the spot.