When the Little Sister started motor boating me as I carried her across the Victoria Bridge, I should have had an inkling that our outing to see the Brisbane City Christmas lights was not going to go as planned.
Mum and the kids watched a busker perform an amazing magic show. He made three balls turn into ten oranges Mum! Then we took the kids to the Myer Centre food court and told them they could choose anything they wanted for dinner. Predictably they requested “the meal with the toy”, so I found myself at the golden arches asking if they still made happy meals. The woman looked at me like I was daft and her look grew more incredulous when she asked me which toy I wanted and I didn’t understand.
Boy toys or girl toys?
Oh. Girl toys please.
The Big Sister did a little happy dance and showing off to her sister when she opened her happy meal and discovered not one, but two, plastic pink bracelets. Karma made an appearance, when the Little Sister opened her cardboard box to discover a doll – a Barbie doll – in hers.
The Big Sister’s reaction was instantaneous.
Wanna swap?
The kids ate the dinners and later a nice bloke let the girls sit on the ground in front of him, so they could see the Myer Christmas Parade. The parade far exceeded my expectations (which were low after seeing the Christmas windows).
The Little Sister’s new favourite doll was quickly forgotten as they gazed at dancers reenacting The Nutcracker, carollers, Joseph, Mary and their donkey and the three wise men atop camels.
The performers just kept coming. More carollers, strong men doing one-handed hand stands on others’ heads, a Christmas train and finally, Santa and two of his reindeer.
After the parade, we wandered into King George Square to admire the Christmas Tree. I was telling the Big Sister that King George Square was the spot that Bearhands and I met, when started making frantic hand gestures.
What is it mate? Use your words.
We only just made it to the garden, where the Big Sister deposited her now not-so-happy meal into the garden and onto her new white sandals.
Time to go.
I phoned Poppy and like a knight in silver Prado, he came to our rescue. But not before the Little Sister had a throw down tantrum on the footpath because I wouldn’t let her keep the ‘precious jewel’ of broken stubby she’d found in the gutter.
On the way home in the car, the Big Sister declared herself dehydrated. Mummy and Nan were pretty thirsty themselves.
The Myer Christmas Parade runs until 21 December.
I highly recommend it, although I wouldn’t suggest preceding it with nuggets and chips.
I have heard the parade and City Hall are fantastic but am going to miss it this year. Sounds like you had one of those nights. At least they saw all the parade. 🙂
Eeek! Glad it was fun otherwise!
Your family stories – and the way you tell them – always make me smile! Hope the little one recovered quickly 🙁
Oh dear….. a parade you won’t forget for a while!
Deborah
Poor little chicken!! But what a trooper for making it to the garden. She is her mother’s daughter for sure
Gotta love it!! I had a similar experience when we went into Sydney for the vivid light festival this year. Why do they need to spew when there are crowds!!! Hope you and Mausie got that drink x
Oh this made me LAUGH! I have a discarded barbie doll here too! And I just had a flashback to a small piece of beer glass that my daughter handed to me recently, can’t remember where we were, but long since forgotten. Obviously. My instant reaction “ooooh yucky put it down” but fortunately for me not in the witching hours or after Christmas parade stimulation overload. So no tantrum. This time. My first visit to your blog. I’m thinking I will be back! Thanks for the giggle 🙂
Hello, well, must say I’d have loved to see the camels and reindeer… but maybe not the end of the night. Merry Christmas to you and yours. xxx
Even though I don’t have kids I wanted to go see this parade but unfortunately didn’t get there. Your blogs always make me smile they are so interesting. Wishing you and the family a very happy CHristmas and all the very best for 2015.
Poor little thing! Love the way you write. The parade sounds fab. We’re hoping to hit the carols in my hometown this evening. Hopefully they’re at least half as good. No Macca’s beforehand. Check.
Merry Christmas x
Loved your post, loved that they made an immediate swap of the toys, sorry to hear she was sick, hoping it was just the excitement. Merry Christmas x