Monday, December 10, 2007

My Weekend Recap (otherwise known as "This is what I love about small towns")

But before I get to the recap of our weekend activities, I have an important announcement to make to all of you...

I have bought all but ONE of my Christmas gifts!!!!

Can I get a big "Woo Hoo!" from all of you?

I'm actually VERY excited about the fact that I have completed my gift-buying so far ahead of schedule. I have bought all but one gift--a gift for Delaney that I was unable to hide in the shopping cart on Friday night when she was with me at the store--and I am very pleased with everything I've bought. AND...our budget has stayed intact and we have not had to beg, borrow, steal, or put on credit to pay for it!! LOL

And now...here are a few pics from our weekend. (We actually had several more activities, but my camera batteries did after the first so I don't have pics of anything but the first here!)

On Saturday morning, we had our annual Christmas Parade in our town. And as my title said, it's one of the reasons I really like living in a small town. We get to have the parade complete with beauty pageant winners (I swear I saw a four-year old with a tiara on atop one of the floats!), various costumed creatures, and convertibles filled with people of various "prominence" (it appears, from the looks of it, that anyone can be in the parade if you pay the requisite fee! I'm seriously thinking of doing a float next year and claiming myself and my girlfriends as the Kudzu Queens or something equally as clever!)

Of course, the parade also is a great time to cheer for our high school football team, band, cute baton twirlers and cheerleaders, and the other people that make small towns so great! Loved it!!!

Of course, we were there primarily to see McKenna dance and march down the road...



But there was also costumed pieces of pizza...

A cute nativity scene followed by a giant cow (this just CRACKED me up for some reason!)...

The Golden Gopher (this is our high school mascot and I LOVE it!! We truly are unique! Who wants to be "normal" tiger or wildcat?)...

A woman with a big hat...

We had a piece of pizza. So how about a Subway sandwich?...

And, of course, the real highlight of the parade was the arrival of Santa Claus on the top of the city fire truck! Sydney was VERY excited about seeing him!! By this time, she had gotten completely used to yelling "Merry Christmas" to EVERYONE who marched down the road and past us. She was yelling, "Merry Christmas Santa Claus" VERY loudly and it was beyond sweet!!

The Christmas Parade was just one of the festive activities for the weekend! McKenna performed with the UAB Honor Band at a Saturday afternoon concert and then we had a holiday party with Delaney's travel softball team. It was a full, but fun day.

And then on Sunday, I had almost the PERFECT day! We had a wonderful church service (featuring "Breath of Heaven," one of my favorite Christmas songs), enjoyed lunch out with some friends, then came home and literally laid on the couch for three hours watching football and ignoring the rug that needed to be vacuumed below me (I also ignored the clothes that needed to be folded!). It was a very nice afternoon!

And now...it is Monday and the beginning of another week. I think I'm ready!!

23 comments:

Adrienne said...

The parade was fun! kayla was so tired when she got back to the beginning! LOL! Glad you got all your shopping done! YAY!!!

Josie said...

How fun...I wish we had a christmas parade around here. That sounds the perfect Sunday to me!! Really in the coming years who's going to remember if mom vacuumed?

Nina Diane said...

YEAH on your shopping!! I'm "almost" done....still have stocking stuffers and then that's it.
and oh boy....those Cowboys sure know how to make the fans nervous. Pulling out the win with 18 seconds left on the clock! But that's one thing Romo is great about, he really doesn't let you down. And only 2 wks left and I'm off of work for 11 days....woo hoo!

Anonymous said...

I loved your pictures of the parade! Looks like a lot of fun!

Gin

Linda said...

Love the pizza and subway sandwhich...that is so funny. Great pics of the parade, glad you got to go and girl....woooooooo hooooo to you. I myself am a little more ahead of schedule than usuall, although I still have a few left. Happy day

Monogram Queen said...

I love small town parades also and my post for today shows Maddie in her first one.

Cheryl Wray said...

Adrienne--I was hoping you'd have some pics out on your blog today! I kept looking for Kayla but couldn't spot her!

Josie-I totally agree!! I hate cleaning! I keep a neat house, but no one would callme Super Domestic Mom. I'd rather have fun with my kids!

Nina--Woo hoo!!! Go Cowboys!! You know what's funny, though? With that little bit of time left, I just felt like we'd score. I have that much confidence in Romo!!!! I love it!!!

Gin--Thanks! It really was fun!

Linda--Good for you on your gift-buying too! Yeah, some of the entries in the parade really cracked me up.

Patti--Ooh, I'm coming to check out your blog!

Theresa Tyree said...

Hey Cheryl! I'm so jealous! With Eric building the house, we haven't had time to Christmas shop. Now I fear we've waited too long as the weather is turning cruddy hence putting a damper on traveling the 50 miles to St. Louis to shop.
I need to find that "Breath of Heaven" song. I'm sure I would love it if you do.
I recognize the lady in the big hat. That's Martha Stewart, right?? LOL!! The parade looks fun!

Lynilu said...

Small towns are the best, aren't they? :)

Anonymous said...

How fun!

Unknown said...

Well I hope Monday treats you well :)
Love the parade photos, had a giggle at the woman in the big hat :)

Just Me Again said...

How FUN! Your weekend are ALWAYS fun! :)

Woo hoo on the x-mas shopping! I still need to finish about 25% of my shopping....but I'm getting closer and that IS a good thing :)

Nancywithajones said...

LOVEEEEEEE these kinda parades we had ours at night so it was hard to get good pics but it was fun

Wendy aka Cheeky said...

I love small town parades

Cheryl Wray said...

Theresa--That is SO funny!!! That chick DOES look like Martha Stewart! LOL Just search for it on youtube and you can find it. I like Amy Grant's version the best!

Lynilu-And what's so great about ours is that it's just 20 minutes from Birmingham. So, everything big is just down the road!

Marg--It was!!

Sharmaine--Wasn't that funny? :-)

Maria--Sounds like you are doing fine with your shopping!

Nancy--ooh! a nightime parade sounds fun!

Cheeky--They are fun!

Mz.Elle said...

Congratulations of your Christmas shopping successes!!

We have parades like yours too and I know just what you mean. My heart swells so much when I watch ours:)

Anonymous said...

I am so jealous! they cancelled our santa claus parade! Glad you guys are celebrating in style

Southern Heart said...

You are SO far ahead of me in your shopping! good for you! :)

You and I are on the same wavelength...I posted about our parade tonight, too. Your daughter looked beautiful! I'm glad you had a good time.

xo, Andrea

His Girl said...

That is one awesome parade! the cow cracked me up too!

glad I found your blog! can't wait to see what else you have to say!

Adriann said...

Woo Hoo!!!! I'm too impressed with the Christmas shopping. I'm going to finish this weekend.

Parades are fun aren't they...

Why am I not suprised that you are about tradition and family? LOL!

Marjolein said...

Wow, these photos are so cool!! Love the parade idea, we don't have that in our town, unfortunately... would be very nice!!

Oh, and please do make that gingerbread house, it is so much fun and the whole house smells like it!!

Dawn Bibbs said...

Ok,now how fun is THAT??? How cool to have a parade in your town? And with 2 of the major food groups represented, LOL.

Sounds like ya'll had a great time.

Susie Q said...

What fun it all looks! Gosh your girls are true beauties!
I just saw the one of Delaney in that purple dress at her pageant! Wow! Is Gary sharpening his boy chasing stick? Bill is keeping his Navy ceremonial sword sharp to keep those pesky boys at bay! : )

You being the wonderful mom that you are is way more important than having sparkling faucets! Gee, I HOPE so 'cause mine are definitely not sparkling right now!!

Love and hugs,
Sue