Thanksgiving Parade

We had an awesome Thanksgiving weekend here in the Hanks household.  Due to Dan's test, he only worked on Wednesday, so it felt like a super long vacation!  Well... maybe not for him.  But we did enjoy our super-long weekend!

Since we're in New York, we decided we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  We woke up at 4:45am (did we go to bed early to compensate?  Of course not), bundled up, and headed out to find a spot with our friends Kristy & Bryson.  

Dan entertaining himself, waiting for out train.

After a couple spot switches, we found front-row seats!  Not that we got to sit.  I swear the number of people quadruples once the parade starts.  And I tell you, you have to be tough to hold your spot.  It's one thing when little kids are trying to sneak in...they make you feel guilty.  (Though, not guilty enough to surrender your spot.  I may or may not have thrown a few elbows.)  But what about an old dude with a folding chair?  Oh yes, he squeezed through to the front 30 minutes before the parade was supposed to start and tried to park it right where we were going to be sitting.  And was insistent. Luckily, the guys (and the overprotective mothers surrounding us on all sides) were more insistent. 

Waiting for the parade to start.

Bryson & Kristy

Bundled up!

The coolest part, though, happened at the very beginning of the parade.  The very first person in the parade, a clown helping pump up the crowd, asked to take a picture with Dan!  Everyone was taking pictures of him, and he wanted one with Dan!  Apparently he is from San Francisco, and Dan was wearing his SF hat.  And he wasn't the only one who found Dan irresistible.  For whatever reason, every single parade walker decided they wanted to throw confetti at Dan.  Seriously, in his face, in his mouth, right at him, every time.  It would have been more hilarious if I wasn't standing right next to him.  You can see plenty of confetti on me in the picture below.

Lots of pictures of our favorite balloons and floats!

* "Hey Dan, I think Kermit wants to tell you something!" * Oh yes, that is Niel Diamond looking straight at us! * Dan, watching the smurf * 

The NYPD Mount, Band, and Motorcycles, along with Dan at the very beginning of the parade!

And of course, SANTA!!!  This was the "classic" part of the parade for me, since it's featured in Miracle on 34th St.  I loved the "Believe" balloons.  Perfect way to transfer from thanksgiving and usher in the Christmas season.