Christmas Parade

This is the first year that Jack is really into Christmas.  Last year he was excited, but didn’t quite get it.  He loved the tree and the decorations.  We talked about Santa but he really had no idea what to expect Christmas morning.

This year is a different story.  He helped decorate the Christmas tree for the first time.  He rushes downstairs in the morning to see if the Christmas trees are on (for the record, the are because I go downstairs before he gets up and turn them on).  He talks about what he wants Santa to bring him.  And he is incredibly into Sugar Plum, his Elf on the Shelf.

I love seeing him get excited about Christmas.  I love seeing the joy in his eyes.  It brings a new  meaning to Christmas for me.  So this year we are really getting into the holiday spirit and doing some things that we haven’t done previously.  Christmas crafts, cookie decorating and the Christmas parade.

See, the thing about the Christmas parade is, well, I hate parades.  Not all parades.  Just the ones in the town where our daycare is located.  Once upon a time my husband and I lived in that town.  The town would close down during a parade.  You couldn’t cross Main Street for hours unless your drivers license said that you lived on the other side of Main Street. Problem was I was a college student who still maintained a legal residence with her parents so I wasn’t allowed to cross Main Street on parade days.  So I was basically stuck in my apartment.

After we were kicked out of that apartment by our crazy landlord, we moved into an apartment that overlooked Main Street.  The part right where the staging for the parades took place.  Oh sure, this doesn’t seem like a big deal, but did I mention that this particular town has approximately 294 parades a year?  Ok, not really, but they have A LOT of parades.  So now not only were we held hostage, but we had to listen to all the bands and other participants warm up.  I realize I sound like a total grinch here, but let’s just say it was cute and fun at first, but after a few years, I cursed every time there was a parade.

Last week my husband called and said that our daycare was going to have a float in the parade and did I want him to sign Jack up to ride the float.  I couldn’t say no.  I couldn’t let my dislike of the parade stop him from doing something that I knew he would love.

So on Saturday morning we bundled the kids up and headed off to the daycare.  Jack ran around with his friends for a bit, but eventually he got settled on the float.

Eventually he was coaxed into sitting between two of his teaches on the edge of the float.  He looked a little unsure of what was going to happen. I told him to have fun and where he would see us on the parade route.  He nodded and gave a tentative wave goodbye.

For the record, we tried to put Xander on the float.  His current teacher and the infant room teacher (both of whom he LOVES) were sitting in the middle of the float and offered to take him.  We passed him over and he immediately started crying. I wish I had taken a picture.  He looked pitiful.  So we took him back and told him that he could watch the parade with Mommy and Daddy.

My husband, Xander and I headed to the parade route.  Along the way my husband and I joked about how we used to hate the parades and now, not only were we watching one, but our kid is in it.

We hung out on the side of the street and waited to spot the float coming down the street.  As we saw the float approaching, I could see Jack motion that they were near the part of town that I told him he would see us.  I saw him look for us and then he saw us.  His eyes light up and he waved and yelled at us.

He says that he had a really good time.  He said he had fun throwing candy and waving, but he was disappointed that he didn’t get to see Santa. Good thing I got a nice picture of Santa for him.

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