Derby Parade

A few weeks ago R brought a paper home from school that said he was to create a derby hat to be worn for derby day at school (which was today).   Being true Oregonians, we had absolutely no idea how to approach this "derby hat project."  After consulting Dr. Google, and coming up short on how in the world I am suppose to create a preK boy derby hat, I asked P to talk with his coworkers to see what we should do.  That same day P came home with an adult sized, plastic, green, jockey style party hat.  Not wanting to head out to the craft store, I just let R decorate said green hat by exploring and pulling contents from the craft bin.  He decorated it all up with soccer and Cars stickers, hot glued on some puff balls, put a number 5 on it cause he is 5 years old, and put on letter stickers to spell our Ryker.  He was pretty darn proud of that hat, and was so excited to bring it in for Derby Day at school.

Parents were to come to school today for this Derby-palooza, which we were told would consist of the pre-K kiddos singing, and then they would parade around the block.

Being the parent of a pre-K kiddo, I did what I should do, I went to observe the hoopla.  I put J, who is still febrile (103.1 this morning) in the sling next to me and tried to entertain K through the singing - which he was not impressed. 

It just seemed like a bunch of silliness to me. 

To be honest, I think R hated it all the most.  Today wasn't even one of his scheduled school days, I just had him go for this special Derby Day...and truth be told I'm not sure he thought it was all that special.

R hid under his hat for the duration of the singing, to be honest I don't think he even knew any of the words...they did say "my old Kentucky" a lot.  For the parade he had a frustrated face...

Not sure if the pouty face was related to the ridiculousness of this all, or the fact that he noticed how dollar store-esque his hat was when compared to his classmates.

The other kids hats, oh goodness the were done up right.  I'm talking all the bells and whistles.  After seeing all the mamas dressed in their designer DRESSES and hats, showing off their surgically enhanced breasts and botox plastered smiles...well I sorta wish that I had an oversized plastic, green, jockey style party hat to hide and pout under too.

Instead I stood there among this crowd of moms - a beautiful sight - I was carrying a sick baby in an Ergo (mamas just don't use slings of any type around these parts) wearing jean capri pants (which were probably cool 7 seasons ago when they were first purchased), a plain black tank top, Chalco sandals (which just scream HIPPIE), sloppy pony tail, and no make up to boot.

But I wasn't there to impress these mamas, I was there for my number one pre-K kiddo, and he knew I was there, and that is all that mattered.

Perhaps someday the derby will seem less silly, and R will know that song about Kentucky they were singing, and I'll get up to fashion with these southern bells (and if I win the lottery, maybe even enhance my breasts - a gal can dream right :).  For now, we will continue being our best selves, even if that means we stick out like a cheapo plastic hat among the crowd of elaborate ones.