**warning- this post is wordy w/ a TON of photos. don’t say i didn’t warn you. š **
In case you didn’t know, St. Patrick’s day in Savannah is HUGE. Our parade/celebration is the 2nd largest in the US (right behind boston)!! There were over a million people at the parade this year.To give you an idea,here’s a shot of River St.:
EEEEEK!!! I’m glad we didn’t venture that far north!!
photo from here
It was an amazing thing to witness, to say the least. To learn more about the history of Savannah and St. Pat’s, you can read here. To see lots of photos,videos, and news stories about the craziness…you can read here.
In the weeks leading up to the parade, there are all sorts of cool traditions happening in Sav. Our favorite is the greening of the Forsyth Park fountain:
The weeks leading up to the festivities are simply fun. Full of joy and anticipation. I wasn’t able to attend the parade last year (due to itttty bitttty babies!) and I knew I HAD to make it this year, especially since it’s our last one.
We got a sitter for the babies and I took the bigs with me, I knew they were going to want to experience this.
After a special breakfast:
We got dolled up in our greenest green (and had the sitter snap a pic!) and headed to town.
To say Harper and Sadie were excited would be a massive understatement. š
If we were going to try to park on our own and find a spot to watch the parade, we probably would have had to go downtown around 5 or 6 am.
Luckily, we had the option of taking buses with the Rangers. And get this…we had a police escort. I was completely in awe. I felt like a little kid. HA!
After parking south of Forsyth Park, there was LOTS of walking to be done. No big deal unless you happen to have a gaggle of 923480283 children with you, as me and my girlfriends always do! I scooped up my friend’s little girl, we made a human chain, and went on our merry way.
The Ranger wives/families were given bleacher seats right in front of St. John Cathedral.
This is the view from where we were sitting:
We settled in (in the BLAZING sun!!),put on sunscreen, and watched the parade begin. Here are some shots!
Right about this time I got a text from J. He told me they were “stepping off” (leaving Forsyth Park to start marching). I spread the word and we all started to apply our BRIGHT red lipstick.
The girls with all of their friends (and their red lipstick…waiting to kiss their daddies).
MY favorite tradition in the Savannah St. Pat’s parade is that when the Rangers march through, ladies rush them and kiss their cheeks.
Before the boys rounded the corner in front of the stands, we could hear a roar from the spectators. We all jumped up on our feet b/c we knew that could only mean one thing…the guys were coming!
I watched the handsome rangers march by company by company, so excited to see J’s face.
The girls saw him just as I did and we ran for him as fast as we could.
A friend shared this photo with me. This is the moment he first saw Harper,Sadie,and me. I have to tell yout that this one makes me cry.
He scooped the girls right up and we all went in for smooches:
And then ran right back to our seats so we didn’t get mowed down. HA!
It was an awesome AWESOME experience. One I will remember for the rest of my life.
We headed back to the buses and went back to J’s office. We picked him up and here’s how he looked. Sheepish+happy. š And his face was COVERED with lipstick. š
Home we went where we were greeted by this:
and where this happened almost immediately:
I can honestly say that I’ve never seen anything like St. Pat’s in Savannah. I’m so grateful that I got to witness it in person!
Happy Monday!
xxo
s
oh thank you for sharing this with us Steph. I must admit without the story I was not understanding the pics you had posted earlier. What an awesome time!!!
hahhah!!! this wonderful! that pic of jimmy afterward sitting in the car is priceless!
xo
I’m so glad they took such good care of the Ranger wives on that special day! You all deserve it so much! Thanks for sharing!
That picture is priceless! This was a fun post to read, it made me laugh ALOT.
i teared up reading of this tradition.. so happy you and the bigs were able to go enjoy this together.. memory made..
This is incredible! Thank you for sharing such a beautiful moment with us. His face is truly the perfect description of “priceless.”
This is awesome!!! š {smooches} from Texas!
What a awesome event you get to attend.. priceless the best with be kissed!!
Glad you all enjoyed it lot!
Your photos brought tears to my eyes, too! You are so blessed to have such a wonderful husband (+daddy)
That pic of his face made me tear up so i can only imagine how it makes you feel.
Cutest family ever. le sigh.
that is AWESOME!!! that photo of J makes me a little teary! what an incredible experience!!!!!
Wow, looks like so much fun!! š Would love to be in Savannah on St. PatĀ“s Day once!!
Sweet and memories!
that photo of J seeing you all is absolutely priceless! š
Totally awesome pics!! It looked amazing, truly!! Can I tell you that I got teary eyed when you said that you could hear a roar and then you knew the troops were coming?!!! Such a moment of pride I am sure!
That picture of Jimmy when he first sees you? Slayed me. I got all teary eyed. And I don’t even know you. š
ok, that look on J’s face when he saw you guys, yes I am crying too, how very lucky you are to have a wonderful man like him who just thinks his family is the best thing ever, at least that’s what the look on his face is telling me…glad you had fun!!
That looks like the best day ever!!
i love that friends took pictures for you! what a great tradition to be a part of! love the littles in their green shirts. they are A-dorable.
Looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing your story and photos! From my years of living in Newport, I can tell you that you’ll have a great St. Patty’s parade there as well!
So Sweet! Looks like you guys had an awesome time!!!
I’m so happy you were able to get photos of “the kiss.” Savannah is just a special place to live & I love how they treat our troops. The crowds were incredible this year!
That pic of J in the car after the parade cracked me up!!Thanks for sharing š
that looks liek so much fun. Boston’s parade is so crazy. I have never gone because of the chaos. one year i’ll have to make it.
You’ll be close to Boston soon… š
Wow, that looked like an amazing day….and I LOVE the expression on J’s face….made me tear up. Just awesome!
such awesome photos! Newport RI has a big St. Patrick’s Day celebration too. š
Love reading your posts about Savannah. I so miss it!
i love this!!! what an experience!!! thank you for sharing with us…made me smile. š *
We’ve always wanted to go to Savannah for St. Pat’s Day. Maybe one day…and the one that makes you cry made me tear up too. Thank you for sharing your life with us. I now have such a deeper sense of gratitude and awe for our military families. thank you.
Oh My ! what a awesome experience … the photo of J seeing ‘his girls’ is awesome. Thanks for sharing x
Simply, so very cool! WHAT an experience!
Love this so much!
So beautiful and sweet! Loved reading this. Thanks!
Wow! That is awesome! So glad you got to experience that! š
That looks so FUN Steph! and I’ll say it again… that photo of J when he saw you all is precious. XOXO
Oh that brought a tear to my eye and broad smiles to both my and my husband’s faces. What a wonderful tradition to be a part of!
I never knew that Savannah had such wonderful St. Patrick’s Day traditions!! Thanks so much for sharing your day.
what an amazing day, I am so glad you shared it here. one more reason to visit sav. as i was reading your blog, my girls came by w loads of questions about your girls…next thing i heard, when are we going over there to play?
such an awesome post! thanks for a peek into your lives.
Dang it I cried too!!! But when I got to the pic of J with that HUGE kiss on him and THAT look I literally snort-laughed out loud! And then the babes pic and the one of J asleep was priceless! Thanks for sharing such a blessed event!
oh steph – LOOOOOVE this post. how AMAZING for you guys. so glad that you go to experience this – have always wondered about st pattys day in savannah, and it was so much fun to “live” it through your post. š
OMGosh that photo of J when he saw you all brings a tear to my eye…simply priceless & adorable! You have such a precious family & you can feel the love in your writing. Brilliant photos, thank you for sharing! š
This might be my favorite post of yours ever. Love all the pictures. Especially the one of J when he first sees his girls and the one of you kissing him. What a great day.
What an awesome story!!! š
What a fun parade! I didn’t realize Savannah had the 2nd biggest parade. I thought it was Pittsburgh. What beautiful weather you had as well. It looks like such a beautiful city. Your pictures (and the book Saving CeeCee Honeycutt) make me want to live in Savannah! Everyone looks great in their green t-shirts!
how fun and what a great tradition…
How fun!! That first picture is a crazy sight, I would be afraid of getting trampled.
I love the picture of his face, AWESOME!!
:0)
That picture of Jimmy when he first sees yall – BLOW IT UP & frame it! Warmed my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Such a special moment captured on film. Like so many of the moments you share – I love reading about them! Thank you for sharing.
My very best,
Dana
Quincy (my guy) is trying to get into regiment this June, hoping for Savannah! Especially after this adorable post! I almost cried I want this so badly!!1 xoox
My sights is blurred reading this. SUPER AWESOME! Your family is beyond beautiful!!!
Happy Patty’s Day from Jakarta Indonesia! š
awee this made me cry and i am a real hard*butt lol.
what a wonderful memory and the look on your mans face..priceless!
LOVE it all. I have tears from seeing the picture of J seeing you girls!! WOW!! Too cool! Thanks for sharing!
Oh my gosh! Loving all those little girls with bright red lipstick waiting to kiss their daddies!