Okay... we saw Santa... can we go home now?

Tonight was the annual WC Santa Parade. Which means all day we talked about getting to see Santa. After naptime, I announced that Daddy was coming home tonight, early, so we could go to the parade, and we all needed to get dressed really warm.

Carson: No, Mommy, we can't go... Santa's coming!

So once I re-explained the parade, we got re-dressed. Spent a while sorting through the lonely gloves clubhouse in our hall closet, finally finding everyone, but Daddy, matching gloves. And Carson decided he needed a scarf. Good thing Daddy had 2, and my pink one was too itchy.

Wesley, happy as could be in his hood, refused, of course, to put a hat on.

And off we went. Steve found an amazing parking spot secret, and we made it to "town" within just a few minutes. It was empty. The streets were cleared, but with 25 minutes to go, you'd never know there was a big event coming. I expected people to be staking their spots an hour early. Don't worry, we found the parade crowds... in the new Peace a Pizza.

After a yummy, rushed and very tight dinner, we found a fantastic standing spot on the street and we were ready... for a very looooong parade.

Have to give the WC Chamber some credit. This parade has truly grown. Sure, it was heavily a Faulkner ad, and a chance for the local politicals wave. But we saw Miss Pennsylvania, Miss WCU and Miss Teen PA/Miss Congeniality (aka The Princesses: Three of Them!) There was a LARGE group of Bolivian Dancers. 3 high school bands, the college band and lots of "performers."

Local Celeb Adam Joseph was said to be there, we even saw him riding in a fancy car on the TV news tonight... how he didn't make from the spot he was photographed to our spot, just a half block away, we just don't know. But we didn't see him.

Of course, big celeb was the big man himself: Mr. Claus. After SC passed, we were invited to join the parade. But the 2 and 4 year old head shakers insisted it was too cold and that parade wasn't that fun. "Where's the car?" About 3 blocks away. "Do I have to walk the whole way?" Well, you could jump or leapfrog there. But I'm walking. "What kind of cookie do I get for dessert?"

Of course, lets admit that parades aren't all that fun. You stand. In the cold. And watch HS bands march and play. Maybe you'll get hit on the head with a candy thrown from a decorated tractor. And perhaps you'll see a neighbor Boy Scout and family parading. And then you wait to see what's next. And you wait. And you shiver. And you wait.

Despite the cold, despite the boredom, "Going to the Parade to see Santa Claus" was still Carson's favorite thing today. As for Wesley, he was dazed as he watched everyone walk by. But Santa was there. Period. And that was a big deal.