Christmas parade

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Dear Holly: Helping Pack the Ramen and Oatmeal for the Parade

9 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

One night after dinner last week, I was working on some things on the computer when I noticed that while you and Mommy were in conversation catching up on the day, you were both multitasking.

I finally stopped to notice what the two of you were working on: You were both putting together “care packages” for the Christmas parade.

You and your cousin Darla got to throw old donated Beanie Babies from the Jeep.

Meanwhile, Mommy and I were dispersing Ramen and oatmeal to anyone we passed by in the parade and positively responded to, “Want some soup or oatmeal?”

It was interesting to see that most people got more excited about being thrown actual food than candy.

Your help made this possible!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Our Family’s Christmas Parade Tradition with Jeeps

15 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

Two things that are fundamentally a part of your identity are family and tradition. Once we do an activity as a family for the 2nd time in a row, it officially becomes a family tradition in your mind at that point- and therefore, the expectation is that we need to keep it going.

A year ago, randomly at the last minute, our family ended up in the Christmas parade, throwing candy from Papa’s Jeep.

This year, we decided to do it again; but this time Uncle Andrew drove you, your sister, and your cousin Darla in Papa’s Jeep, while Papa drove Mommy and me in my Jeep.

I could tell from the picture this year, that you really enjoyed being involved!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Our Whole Finally Joined the Christmas Parade!

8 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

Apparently the plan was for you and your brother to ride with Nonna and Papa in the Christmas parade last Friday, as Papa is part of the local Jeep club.

But the night before, there was so much logistical planning involved. I explained to Mommy, “Okay, so before the parade starts, we need to park one of our cars on one side of the town to pick up the kids once the parade is over, so we can easily get to the kids to take them home. It’s going to be so cold and they will already be outside for so long already.”

She simply responded, “Do we all just want to be the parade?”

And that is how our whole family ended up throwing candy in the Fort Payne Christmas parade. I feel confident that we have now begun a new Christmas family tradition here on our first Christmas as a family in Alabama.

Love,

Daddy