Columbia County Christmas Parade

Sunday, we went to the Columbia County Christmas Parade. I had some sample Christmas cards printed up and Evan managed to rip a string on his shoes, so we had to find him a pair before school on Monday, so we spent the entire morning shoe shopping for the boys. We ended up finding some and being able to get to the parade area about 1:30 and get a good seat. The parade started at 2:00, but people were already getting ready and holding their spots around 9:00am when Greg and I left for the day to start our long morning of shoe shopping.  

We started at Walmart to pick up my Christmas cards. There was a santa in the photo department taking free pictures with the kids, so the boys hopped up there and started talking his ear off.

After 6 stores, we finally found the boys some new shoes. We headed over to get set up for the parade. We got a great spot right before they closed down the street. It was 1:30 and the parade didn't start until 2:00. So, the boys finished up some leftover pizza that we got from Sam's for lunch.

I'm not in the picture much, but I'm trying to do better, even if it's a selfie.

The boys eating their candy canes that Santa gave them earlier.

It was pretty chilly out, but not miserably cold.

Some excited boys waiting for the parade.

Evan finally looked happy, so I had to include this one too.

The road was closed down to traffic, so the boys were going over to the white line and saying it was "hot lava" and they'd squeal and run back to their chairs. It kept them entertained until the parade started.

The police were going up and down the road until the parade started and the boys got such a kick out of him waving back and saying hi to them.

That serious face is Carter watching the Frozen performance, some girl was singing Let It Go.

The boys love "Let It Go"

My favorite part of the entire parade. That is supposed to be a motor home and that guy walking behind it, in the white robe is "Cousin Eddie"

The Griswold family car, complete with an enormous tree on top.

The parade was pretty long. It was after 3:30 before it was over, but the boys did really good.

They loved pointing out the different things they saw. They loved the marching bands and the ROTC troops--which were all referred to as "army mans" haha.

The boys stocked up on the candy the people in the parade threw. A lot of it was bubble gum, and because I'm a mean mom, that went right into the trash. 4 year olds don't need bubble gum.

The end of the parade with Santa on a fire truck.

The boys took off their hats in the car and they both had such "hat head". It had been too long since we had cut their hair, but I actually liked how Evan looked with some hair.

And this is the typical face Evan gives me when I go to take his picture, lately.

We really enjoyed the Columbia County Fair. I think next year, we'd like to check out another one,   maybe a smaller parade like the one in Harlem. But, I definitely think we should keep Christmas parades as part of our annual family traditions for Decembers.