It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I seem to have a thing for parades.. live ones, not so much the ones on TV. I just love them, probably twice as much now that I'm a Mom, and conveniently our town seems to love them too. I'm not sure if it's the cheesy local traditions that draw me in, or if it's just the fact that I'm cheap and appreciate the free live entertainment, but I like planning my schedule around Marblehead town parades. This weekend we stayed in town to enjoy the Marblehead's annual Christmas Walk Weekend, which featured the Abbott Hall Tree Lighting, local shops with fun sidewalk sales, Santa & Mrs. Claus' arrival by Lobster boat, and of course, the Christmas Parade along Washington St. and Atlantic Ave. Although Griff is just turning the corner into his 11th month of life and won't even remotely be able to comprehend or remember this, what a better way to spend a weekend together as a family.

Friday night: Abbot Hall Tree Lighting.
Griff was more interested in the random street vendor selling balloons and glowing/light-up "bauhhhllllss" on sword sticks rather than the actual lighting of the tree. I don't think he was even looking remotely in the right direction when the tree actually lit up.

Saturday: The Christmas Parade.
Griffin was dazed and half asleep in the backpack while the vets, scouts, antique fire truck, North Shore swim team, "Woman of the Year", random town political figures, large group of girls all wearing Uggs, Santa & Mrs. Claus, Buzz Lightyear (the highlight), and some other brown fuzzy Disney character paraded by.

Sunday: Griffin's 1st Picture with Santa.
Donation to Joseph's food pantry, $20. Nice guy from the north pole dressed in a big red suit sitting patiently in the back room of a local stationary shop with a small half Asian baby on his lap giving him the "Stressed eyebrow/I don't know whether to trust you and your big jolly beard", priceless.