This morning was our town's annual Santa Parade. Now, we have lived here for 12 years but, for whatever reason, we have never gone to the Santa Parade. Alison has decided that she likes parades again --as long as she is wearing her big earmuff ear protection-- so we decided that we were going to go this year. Since it was on the parade route, we decided to play it smart and park in the Kroger/Rite Aid parking lot and found a nice spot to sit right across the street. We weren't even thinking that there might be candy for the kids, so we weren't exactly prepared in that regard. If I had been thinking, I would have run into the store real quick before the parade got to us and bought something so that Alison would have had a bag for candy. It really didn't matter that much, though. We did have her backpack with us (and it's a good thing, because right after the parade started she had to go to the bathroom...so we circled up the chairs and pulled out the little potty and the crisis was averted) so she would just pick up whatever candy she could get and throw it in her backpack. Alison's friends from dance class were going to be in the parade with their preschool's float, so we were on the lookout for them. As luck would have it, they were on our side of the street so Alison ran out say hi and give hugs. There were some really creative floats, several equestrian teams, one of the high school's marching band (we have two high schools in town) and the usual police cars, fire engines and ambulances driving by with sirens blaring every now and then. And bringing up the end of the parade was Santa and his sleigh.

So we had a good time this morning. The weather was pretty good. It was cloudy, but at least it wasn't raining. And it was chilly, but at least it wasn't freezing cold or really windy. I'm glad that we went and we will definitely have go again next year. Alas, we forgot the camera, so we have no pictures. :(

There was one thing that bothered me, though. The whole candy thing just pointed out how rude and greedy some kids can be, and how oblivious their parents are, too. Alison still has enough Halloween candy to last her through Easter, so getting more candy wasn't really a big deal, but as the candy was thrown, the kids on either side would rush to get it and if they could get it all, they would, without even giving Alison, standing there in her braces and clearly having trouble picking up candy off the street, a thought. And their parents never said a word to them. We, on the other hand, are trying not to raise a greedy brat, so when a handful of candy landed in front of Alison, she would pick up a couple of pieces of candy and let the other kids get some, too. A couple of times she even went over and gave the little kid next to us some candy. She gave him her balloon, too, since she really shouldn't be playing with latex balloons