Christmas Lights!

As I have said before, we take Christmas seriously in the Parkinson family! Kevin and I have always gone to see lights and this year has been even more fun because Clarita likes them so much! We started out the Christmas light festivities with the Reedley Parade. This parade is chock full of tractors and other farm equipment decorated with Christmas lights. It was freezing cold (literally), but we bundled Clara up in the bear suit that we borrowed from Sarah and braved the cold. Clara even got to meet Santa! She loved santa and was all smiles. Teagan wasn't so into Santa and cried. Tristan was a good big brother trying to get Teagan to smile for the camera. Santa loved Clara and said, "I think I'll keep this one!" Tio Chino and Tia Laurie met us at the parade as did The Miltons. Emily, Sophia, Kate, Christine, and Tia Laurie all took turns holding Clara during the parade and she loved every minute of it! She was awed by the floats and tractors and was pretty quiet with  a few squeals thrown in.

Watching the parade with Christine

Soon she'll be as big as Sophia

The weekend after the Reedley Parade was the Kingsburg Santa Lucia Parade. It was also freezing but we braved the cold and walked downtown where Kevin gave blood for the first time in three years before the parade! Kevin loves donating blood and is the universal donor so is in high demand. Since we lived in Honduras, a malaria zone, for two years he had to wait three years after our return to donate again. It has finally been three years and he donated at the first chance he got! Clara loved the parade which was similar to Reedley's (only much better organized) with the main difference being the Santa Lucia girls that led the parade. We learned that this Swedish tradition (we live in a "Swedish Village") takes place on the morning of December 13. The oldest daughter dons a white dress with a red sash and a wreath with candles on her head. She then serves coffee and bread to her family in bed (I think I like this tradition) while singing a special song. A giant tractor also spun circles in the middle of the road which Clarita thought was pretty funny.

Family Christmas picture

Our next light show was Christmas Tree Lane. Kevin and I both went to Christmas Tree Lane with our families as children and have gone together most years for the past 14 years! It is a two mile stretch down Van Ness Boulevard (aka some giant old houses) with around 140 homes and 300 trees which are decorated each year. It began in 1920 with the decoration of a single tree in honor of a child who had died. Some of the houses go all out and one is absolutely insane with giant wooden building cutouts and more lights than I have ever seen on one house. Most people drive, but Kevin, Laurie, Russell, and I always walk. There are two designated walk nights where the street is only open to pedestrians. The four of us went on that night once and it was a nightmare and we vowed never to do it again...however I decided that Clara is too little to breathe exhaust all night (she'll be big enough next year) so we decided to brave the walk night. Laurie and Russell could not make it so it was just three three of us...plus thousands of other people! Clara was absolutely silent sucking on her pacifier the entire time. She had wide eyes that took in all of the people and lights. I think that she was more in awe of the people than the lights, but she loved it either way! When we were done she "talked" up a storm probably telling us about everything that she saw!

It's warm in Dada's jacket!

We also went to Zoolights which is put on by the local zoo. We have gone the past few years either with Laurie and Russell or Alyssa, Rene, and Tristan. This year Tia Laurie joined us and we had lots of fun. There are quite a few lights, but most of the animals are sleeping. My favorite tiny cat (it only weighs two or three pounds) was up (I've only ever seen it out at night) so that was my highlight. Clara's highlight was pounding on the fence posts like they were drums. I think she also liked the lights. She wore a little Santa suit and was very festive. We went during the week when it was not crowded so Clara was not distracted by too many people. She squealed and laughed the entire time and slept the entire way home!

Riding the hippo!

We also took numerous walks around our town to see the local lights. Clarita loves walks so walks coupled with lights were even better!