And although the day was cloudy and threatened stormy weather, nothing prevented the members of one Willow Glen Brownie troop, number 1284, from playing princesses for the day in their own fairy tale.

At the Dec. 7 event, the seven- and eight-year-olds, costumed in festive dresses and faux-jewel tiaras, dutifully stood inside a huge princess crown—their appointed float—and waved to eager crowds lining the streets.

The girls were excited to know that their experience was televised on NBC 11 and that they were also part of what is said to be one of the Top 25 parades in the country by the International Festival and Events Association and USA Today.

The troop, which is only a few months old—establishing its Brownie charter in October—has already picked up a variety of life skills, like cooking, to earn the coveted Brownie patches—symbols of their accomplishments.

"We've made brownies, painted with an artist and went to a haunted house," says troop member Kylee Kiesow.

And the girls caution that standing for an hour on the parade float wasn't as easy as it looks.

"I had to switch the hand I was waving with halfway in the parade because it was getting tired," 8-year-old Nicole Lim says. "I also blew kisses."

The Brownies in this newly formed troop come from Booksin and Graystone elementary schools. Kylee's mother and troop leader Dee Dee Kiesow decided to start the troop because there was a Girl Scout troop at Booksin, but not a Brownie troop.

"We don't want it to be an arts-and-crafts kind of thing," Kiesow says. "We will do goal-oriented activities and keep the group small, which gets us into many more places."

Kiesow was determined to get the troop in the parade, so months ago she began making calls to parade officials. Eventually, her persistence paid off, because another troop didn't follow through with its bid and the spot was given to Kiesow's troop.

Seven-year-old Sarah Pagan says she dressed up as Queen Elizabeth for the big day.

"It was special for us because not many people get to be in a parade," Pagan says.

Christy Pierce says the parade was fun for her because her family was there to watch her. And Kylee was proud because she had two of her cousins in the parade also.

Angelina Maciel, 7, was a little timid in talking about her parade experience, but announced that her favorite part of the event was "seeing all the people smiling."

After the excitement of this year, the girls hope they will be invited to next year's parade, so they can do it all again.