December 06, 2008

The Spotsylvania Christmas Parade is...


...is a family tradition!


Every year we start preparation WEEKS before the big day...my local 4H group has ridden in the Equestrian Division annually, and it takes a lot of time to get all the decorations planned out and created for both our riders and our float kids....this year is very different tho...I handed over the reins for our 4H Group to one of our most senior families this past summer....for the first time in years, all we had to do was show up and watch! What a wonderful experience THAT was!


Little Brat, Middle Brat and I headed out in the freezing temps to downtown Spotsylvania....after finding a good parking spot, we walked down the Parade route to the Courthouse Cafe', where we sipped on some hot cocoa until the Parade was ready to start...at 2pm, we grabbed a couple hot cocoa's to-go and crossed the street for a front row view of all the cool Parade entries....


Here they come! WOOOHOO! Kicking off the show was the color guard and MIA/POW representatives....they were SHARP!



Then the JROTC marched by smartly...



We call this group the Karate Kids....they were ready to rock!




These girls twirling flags were spectacular....

















This was one of my favorite displays...ALL the local High School bands combined to play together in the parade...I think there were 4 or 5 in all! I t was grand, and although they nearly ran us over, they were our favorite entry!















What? No, I can't explain this one either......















And what parade is complete without an Elvis appearance?















This baton twirler wins TWO grand prizes for her talent...HOTTEST and COLDEST chick of the Day! Those are flames on them there baton ends! And she is wearing little more than underwear in freezing temps!!! Oh my! And did I mention the snow flurries?!?!? Someone get her a robe! A Fireproof robe, that is...














One thing about Spotsylvania is that we have a lot of pride....that includes pride in our waste management services....yes, that is a trash truck IN the parade....and the sign behind it? It says: "The Cherished Sounds of Christmas Morning"...really!















Here comes my ole' 4H club now, The Jolly Ranchers! Hi girls!














Here's there float....they are rocking out!















And here come their fearless riders! The parents walk between the horses and the crowd to keep the horses and riders safe, as well as the spectators, in the event they are spooked....




The llamas finish out the animals on display...SO CUTE!



Santa brings completion to the parade festivities...all-in-all it lasted about an hour...can't wait to come back and do it again next year!



Tyler scoops up LB and off we go to the warmth awaiting us in the truck....just wish we had parked a little closer!!!!
Happy Trails,
Leah
*sorry about the text/pic spacing on this post....it got whacked somehow, and would take too long for me to can and start over, so we'll just look past it this time...k? Thanks!*

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