Santa Parade

The boys and I got to do an amazing thing this week.  We got to ride along with the El Dorado Hills Fire Department, as they did their 47th annual Santa Parade.  They decorate one of the engines with Christmas lights and a sleigh complete with reindeer for Santa to ride and then drive through the neighborhoods with lights, sirens, horns, the works, collecting canned food, toys for tots and letters for Santa.  They have elves that pass out candy canes, and even the Grinch, who tries to steal them back!  My dad drove one of the engines and he reserved the 3 extra seats for us to ride with him.  I knew Danny would not last the whole time, so Taska and Tyler came along too, and we got to have the 2 little ones go on the first leg of the ride and then Taska and Austin got to ride for the rest.  The kids had such a wonderful time.  They got to wave and shout Christmas greeting out the windows.  Danny wanted to go up to peoples doors and go trick or treating!  It was funny to listen to Austin figure out how to work a manual window.  It warmed my heart when Austin turned to me and said how this experience gave his heart a warm feeling!

I was in a rush to get out the door that night.  I was so happy that I remembered my camera and good flash but then I realized that I had forgotten to put new batteries in the flash and to switch out my lens, so the pictures are not all that I know they could have been.  Ah, such is life!  I am still thrilled we got to be a part of the Santa Parade!

The kids got Christmas bears from Mrs. Clause

Tyler was sound asleep by the end of the first stretch - so cute!

 Danny did not want to get off!

 The kids, glowing in the light of their safety necklaces

 Austin loved shouting out to the crowds.  He was hoarse by the end of the night!

 The Santa engine

 Austin and Taska at the back of E-287, which was our engine for the evening.