If you know our family and anything about where my parents and Bryan are from, you know that Neewollah is a big deal. Neewollah is a weeklong Halloween celebration in their hometown. They have a Queen Neelah pageant, a musical, fair rides, food carts, parades, and much more. It is actually a fun (and fattening) time. So, when we found out that Bryan's ten-year reunion was going to happen during Neewollah, we knew we wanted to make it back to Kansas for it.
This did mean missing Halloween at home (but don't worry, Pen, Char, and Abby got to do a trick-or-treat street together the Saturday before Halloween). But the Thursday before Halloween, we took the dogs to be boarded, packed up the car, and made our way to Kansas. We had been talking it up to Char for awhile. She was really excited to see Grandma and Papa (Bryan's mom and stepdad) and my parents had driven down earlier in the week, so she was excited to see them, too.
She did surprisingly well for the ten hour drive. We only stopped twice and that was enough. She also only slept for about a half hour. (Don't most children sleep on car rides? Because apparently she doesn't.)
Now, the last Friday of Neewollah is always the kiddie parade, but it rarely falls on Halloween - so it made it extra special that it was the case this year. I had gotten Char a costume on clearance last year and was thrilled it fit. So, we dressed her up like a little zebra. She loved it and was most excited about having a tail.
We had set up to have one of Bryan's friends from high school who is a photographer (Ashley Noelle Photography) take some photos of Char in her costume before the parade. Then we walked in the parade. As simple as that. Nothing exciting other than walking down the main street in town, but Char was excited to see that all her family was watching her in the parade (even if her hat kept falling in her face).
It actually ended up pretty chilly on Halloween, so even with her layers we decided only to go to a few houses for trick-or-treating after the parade. It worked out, though, because she LOVED helping grandma hand out candy to the kids that came to the door.
The last day of Neewollah is always the grand parade. Now, this is a big deal. You set your chairs up in advance. Get there early. Get some fried food and enjoy. Char loved the bands that came by and liked waving to the people going by. And, even with her ear muffs on to protect her ears, she got down to some of the marching bands.
After the parade and some lunch, we went back downtown to let Char go on the carousel for the very first time (she loved riding the "horsies") and play some games. Bryan played most of the games, but she got to play one. It was a pretty special day to share with her since it has always been a part of our parents' lives, Bryan's life, and even my life.
That night we went to Bryan's reunion and it was the very first time Bryan and I went out at night since having Char. The time difference and impending time change were both pretty convenient, because it allowed her to be up until 9 but still be going to bed at her normal time. We came back to put her to bed, and I ended up staying because she wanted me to (and I had a killer migraine). She had tons of fun hanging out with Grandma, Papa, and Cousin Bailey, though.
After Neewollah, my dad and Bryan drove back to Colorado and my mom, Char, and I actually went up to Lawrence for a few days. We mostly went up to Lawrence so that Char could get her very first haircut from my favorite stylist, Victoria. I always tell people I miss two things about Lawrence: my doctor and my hair stylist. So, I knew I wanted Victoria to cut her hair for the first time. She didn't get much cut off, but enough so that she could see and enough to tame her baby toddler mullet. I haven't had the heart to trim her hair since, though.
It was a pretty good trip and a memorable one for sure. Char still talks about the things she did at Grandma and Papa's like wear her zebra costume and play games downtown. We'll have to go back again one day - however, that will be hard with her starting preschool this year (what??!).
