The Santa Parade happens in our town on the first Saturday night of December most every year.
Many times we have gone as a family...
with all the kids and grands.
We would go early...
and grab some spots along the sidewalk
...and enjoy the bands and floats.
And mostly we would enjoy watching the grands!
Last week Emme informed us she would be marching in the parade this year...
with her skipping club.
Of course we would all be there to watch her!
It turned out that her dad couldn't come...
since he had a hockey game at that exact time.
Uncle Tim and Auntie Heidi couldn't come...
since they had a work banquet.
Uncle Kris and Auntie Lisa couldn't come...
since they had prior commitments.
So we decided we would invite Maggie and Ranen to join Grammy and Grandpa.
We were under the impression that the parade started at 6:30 and so we went in good time.
We got front row seats!
Of course...
since the parade actually only started at 7 o'clock.
since the parade actually only started at 7 o'clock.
So these two cousins had an entire hour to amuse themselves before the parade began!
They did that quite well!
At long last the parade arrived...
with marching bands and floats of every kind.
And clowns who threw out candies for the kids.
Do you know what that is like for a child who can't eat anything unless the label has first been read?
Maggie collected sweets...
and then promptly gave them to her cousin.
Finally...
the moment we all were waiting for.
Cousin Emme and her skipping team.
(No photos.
My camera batteries chose that moment to play dead!)
They came by and were gone in a flash...
skipping off into the darkness.
The parade lasted for well over an hour...
and I'll spare you the details.
But I will include this one float...
...since I know what lies beneath the decorated exterior.
It happens to be a hay wagon...
that normally sits in a shop at our farm...
and only gets called into action in the summertime when there is hay to be hauled.
It made a fine float.
And last...
but not least...
Santa made a quick appearance.
He'll be back in a few weeks...
I'm sure!
By the time the parade was over...
and we made our way back to the car...
it was late.
Then the girls were so very thirsty they would surely die if they never got something to drink immediately.
So we stopped at a grocery store and I ran in to buy them each a bottle of water...
the only beverage we allow in our car!
I unscrewed the caps and handed them their bottles...
in the dark.
The next thing I heard was...
"This water tastes like strawberries."
I grabbed for a bottle...
and sure enough...
I had bought strawberry flavoured water.
And given it to Maggie...
who is allergic to strawberries.
(I had no idea one had to read labels on bottled water!)
After a moment of panic...
it was decided that she had not started hers.
We eventually got them both safely home again...
none the worse for their late night out on the town.
Whew!
Let's just say it was a night to remember!
