Last weekend it was pouring! Mark and I sat out on our porch and watched the rain for a bit. Might get to do some more of that this weekend!
Dinner with the family down south.
Funny face mask photos!
Mark built me a garden! Love him. 
Now we just need to plant!
One of the best things about my family is our complete inability to take a quality group photo. A fact that drives my mom crazy and prevents any sort of photo Christmas card. So running across this is fairly typical but makes me really happy.
Awkward photo
The Almond Blossom Parade is one of the highlights of Almond Blossom weekend. Ripon is a small town, so in some ways this is a small town parade. But this two hour visual feast of wonderment had quite a few gems. It may have been because they stepped it up for the 50th anniversary. It may have been because they moved the time back to the reasonable hour of 1:00. Or it may have been because I was sitting next to my husband, the peanut gallery, but I loved it and here are some of my favorite parts of the parade:
50 Years of Almond Blossom Princesses! Plus a crazy lion bicycle man and old men in little cars.
There were four of five propane tanks. Not sure why. But I am pretty sure the Rose Parade doesn't even have propane tanks so just think about that!
My mom loved all the names. The harder it is to say the more Dutch it is.
Taco Bell Hot Sauce Packet. Mark's mom gave him some of the jambalaya. He ate it through his arm hole. Awesome.
The Catholic church had a large painting of Jesus. I think that is the first time I have ever seen something this. It did feel a bit solemn for a parade, and I feel a bit sacrilegious posting this but it was too odd to leave out.
This is some sort of police helicopter golf cart. I don't actually believe it can fly. Prove it!!
My family thought this was pretty cool/ bizarre. A Ripon original. Totally fit with the propane tanks. You don't need music, flowers, or dancers if you have gigantic farm equipment!
This was fantastic. Giant grocery cart.
This past weekend was Almond Blossom. It is pretty big deal. Here are the photo highlights:
The whole reason for the celebration - Almond Blossoms!
Started the morning out with an 8K run - the boys went to breakfast instead.
Then it was off to the Legion Hall for a pre-parade drink
Parade time!
Jambalaya!!
And back to the Legion hall!
Love being at home for Mom's famous breakfast sandwiches!
Mark made the most amazing fried turkey for Christmas lunch
Little sister helping in the kitchen - she is the cutest!
Miniature Patron for Mark - the perfect stocking stuffer!
Best Christmas wrapping goes to Christy
Christmas family fun!
