A true highlight of our Neewollah trip is the Saturday morning grand parade! It is an all-American family tradition! We meet the gathered family downtown that morning before the parade starts. The streets are already lined with cars, people and chairs. Kids sit on blankets on the ground waiting to catch candy. Vendors call out, selling bags of cotton candy. Uncle Danny & Aunt Ange always treats Kyrie to a bag before the parade begins!
Aunt Suzie stakes out our spot early that morning! She has the chairs and blankets and treats to share! Her turkey topped pumpkin is filled with "bacon & eggs" that she offers not only to the family, but to everyone around us and even passers-by. She's also got a stash of Halloween trinkets that she hands out to the kids in the crowd while we all wait.
Waiting for the parade to start is always a fun time for me. Everyone finds their spots and we get to catch up and recall the festivities of the past. Degen was ready for a nap, so he wasn't in any mood to socialize. He did sleep for part of the parade and perked up when he heard the bands.
Kyrie, however, really understands what's going on and she gets excited for the coming parade. Here she is showing off her best, cheerleading moves before the parade starts.
Everyone feels better after a few "bacon & eggs" or other treats. The parade begins near lunchtime, so a snack helps tide you over... at least until you can start catching candy. Kyrie & Degen have a Grandma Ida, Aunt Suzie, Aunt Ange and Mommy all hootin', hollerin' & waving to get them candy. This year, we really got some candy! Degen was handed a whole bag and Grandma had a whole bucket poured in her lap!
Kyrie enjoys the parade more & more every year, but she gets a little nervous about the loud noises. Grandma Ida promised to cover her ears if it got too loud.
I think our family is one of the most boisterous in the whole crowd. We are a friendly and oftentimes raucous bunch. Aunt Suzie leads the way with her duck whistle and enthusiastic praise of the passing bands. We wave and clap and call out our appreciation to everyone in the parade. There is a lot of laughter and good-hearted teasing. After the 2-hour parade, we're pooped and ready for a family lunch at Grandma Ida's.
See you next year!
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