Sunday, December 11, 2011

What a great day we had today. We decided a week ago to enter the DeBary Christmas Parade so in the middle of everything else, we did a quick trip to Apopka to buy materials for a float. Glitzy fringe, international flags for the Christmas Around the World Theme, and Wal-mart for 2 yards of white vinyl to make a banner. I carefully measured and marked the banner with pencil and after only two goofs, was able to mark nicely on the banner with red and green Sharpies. It turned out pretty good for a homemade, $7 effort. All the materials together cost about $36.

Our wonderful neighbors came over to help Steve and I on Saturday morning and within a couple of hours we had the fringe on, a decorated tree up that the neighbors loaned us and it looked really cute!

Today, our kids arrived with their kids and everybody looked adorable. Jeans, red shirts, cute hats, jingle bells and even red and green painted fingernails! So fun. We loaded up and drove to the parade grounds in the back of the truck. Boy the kids thought that was fun. It was a reminder to me of some of the simple joys of life that we've lost because we're all so safety conscious anymore.

It's kind of sad. Turns out we could have waited a little later to get to the parade ground, because we had an optimum spot. It was a little sunny out and warm. But not bad. We really had fun walking the parade route, calling out Merry Christmas and saying hello to people that we knew. David pulled the float with his truck and blasted carols out of the windows. Nana was even able to join us and get up into David's truck for the ride. The babies were the biggest hit, with everybody oohing and aahing over our little cuties.

Afterwards, we came back to the house and grilled hot dogs. Part of the rest of the family was able to join us. We also had homemade baked beans, coleslaw, brownies and lemonade. It was a bit like the Fourth of July. The little cousins all looked so cute together. Four kids between the ages of 3 and 4, and they played outside for almost two hours! Overall, one of those idyllic days that you thank heaven for, when the stars all align just right! Love and family, part of the true spirit of Christmas.