HAMBURG, N.Y. — Many of us see the big Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade every year, but two Western New York sisters were part of it this week.
It's always been a dream for the Kubera sisters and they're turning that magic into reality.
"We're going to be balloon handlers in the Thanksgiving Macy's Day Parade," sister Mary Kate Kubera said.
They say every Thanksgiving, they would watch the 2.5-mile parade and knew "this year was going to be their year."
"What was so fun about being on Leo's tail was that sometimes people in the crowd would say, 'OK! Wag Leo's tail.' So, we would go back and fourth, pulling the string, not prepared, kind of hoping for the best," Mary Cate says.
In September, the Kubera sisters found out they would be balloon handlers. They were in New Jersey for balloon training.
"It was such a positive energy. We even met on our balloon a pair of sisters from Colorado; which was so fun," Caitlin says.
Early this month, they found out they'll be leading a Leo the Lizard balloon. It's a new animated motion picture of a 74-year-old classroom lizard deciding to escape his cage for good.
If you let Caitlin tell you, it was tough to become a part of the parade.
"The only way to get into the parade is you have to be directly associated with Macy's, so a Macy's employee or someone from Macy's needs to sponsor you," Caitlin said.
A an added surprise, the Kubera sisters met their brother Michael on the route.
"In this sea of people, thousands and thousands of people, to then reach a spot where you hear someone calling your name and you look out to see our brother Michael. Truly, we were getting choked up," Caitlin said.
It was a big check on their bucket list and a very Happy Thanksgiving.