It's a Parade!

Today we took the kids to their first ever real parade! The Chuy's Children Giving to Children parade in downtown Austin, which supports Operation Blue Santa. Blue Santa was started by the Austin Police Department to collect toys and provide holiday meals to Austin families who would not otherwise have those things for Christmas. The parade was tons of fun, so I have to share some pics. Ummm... LOTS of pics. Are you ready??

A couple excited kids waiting for the parade to start...


They moved to the curb to get a better view. And look, their sweet cousin Morgan was there, too!


Look what's coming!!


Its a bird, its a plane... no... its Super Grover!!


There were several cool balloons in the parade, I had never seen one in person. I felt like I was at the Macy's parade!



Of course a parade isn't a parade without flags... or bagpipes...

Or cheerleaders...

Or a marching band or two...


Or carolers (in a Christmas parade, anyway!)...

Here's some fine examples of why we love our WEIRD city...

This poor dog was holding on for dear life!

I always *knew* EMS were superheroes - here's some proof.

The kids got to shake hands with a REAL princess!

And there's Snow White!

Chewbacca!

Whoa, can you believe even SANTA came to our parade!??! So exciting.


And the reason for the parade - Blue Santa. That's our wonderful Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo up top, thanking the crowd for their support.

At one point in the parade (near the end for us since we were sitting near the start), the parade stops and everyone donates toys to Blue Santa - there were several pickup trucks throughout the parade to collect them. Here's Aunt Laura helping the kids give their toys.

The kids LOVED their first parade.


Hooray for parades!