The christmas eve parade...a random, yet charming tradition in the Toluca Lake/ Burbank neighborhoods of Los Angeles. It has an incredibly small-town vibe to it as three or four vehicles all lit up -- including Santa's sleigh carrying Santa and lots of presents -- weave their way through the residential streets of those neighborhoods. There are carolers on the big truck that never stop singing along with the music pumped through some kind of loud speaker. There are Santa's helpers that dance and sing and are just generally merry. And then there are the crowds that build and follow the parade as it weaves through the streets --all ages, all types, all degrees of sobriety (or not). We attended this parade a few years ago when Jack was very small. I thought it was cute and odd and charming. This year it was downright magical for Jack. We followed it (on foot) along with the rest of the crowd for over an hour and anytime me or Rigo would slow down, Jack would yell "Quick!! Follow them!" He had words with Santa a few times and they were on a first -name basis by the time we left.
Christmas morning brought a bike (!) from Santa -- who ate BOTH cookies and drank the water and leche Jack left for him (much to Jack's dismay -- see below). Christmas morning also brought creative silliness and creative wrapping -- just as it should. We spent the entire day unwrapping, eating, playing, walking and riding that new bike and then unwrapping and eating and playing some more. It was a wonderfully lazy and cozy day.
(that smile? -- my best christmas present)
there it is again...
