A Visit To Santa's Village

Huntsville has the Alabama Constitution Village downtown which is a living history museum of a working village circa 1805. At this time of year they turn it into 'Santa's Village' for the kids and have characters around, reindeer, Mrs. Claus and Santa. We took a trip there last week with the Smiths. The only problem was that it was about 75 degrees the evening it went so it was a little hard to get in the Christmas Spirit for the grownups but the kids seem to really enjoy it. Below are a few shots of them with some of the characters, as you can imagine Frosty the Snowman was an immediate hit, almost couldn't get Dave to leave him alone and go see the rest of the place.

This picture below is the kids holding their hands out to catch some of the fake snow they were shooting out while it was 75 degrees :-)

They have a working blacksmith shop in the village which they were running as Santa's that night and there was a gentleman making shoes for the reindeer. Anna, Olivia and David were enthralled. The walked in, sat down on the benches and hung out listening for around 15 minutes which is as you know pretty long in toddler time.

For some reason they had to maul the inflatable Moose family.

They had different rooms set up around the village and I really liked this one, it was the elves room with this tower of running trains. Very cool for Dave since he has just recently become a big choo choo train fan.

Mrs. Claus was on had to tell stories to the kids and she was nice enough to let us snap a couple of pictures during her break time. They had a room with big postcards laid out where the kids could write letters to Santa, Olivia and I filled hers out with the 'Singing Belle and Singing TeaCup' request of course. They they told the kids to go put them in one of the mailboxes on site or give them to one of the elves in the village and they would make sure Santa got them. Pretty cool.

The got to ice a gingerbread cookie and they showed them off for me to snap a picture.

This last picture cracks me up, anytime I ask him to smile for the camera now this is what I get. It's also a bit funnier when you know that he had icing all over his face and hands. All in all the Village was pretty neat, they did a good job of coming up with different activities for the kids. I'm a scrooge and didn't want to stand in line for the 45 minutes it would take to see Santa so we didn't do that. It was already past Dave's bedtime and Livey had a 'bad grass tummy' too.

Sorry about the funky layout on this one, not sure what I did different, I tried to fix but gave up after a bit. It was difficult for me to get the pictures uploaded this time. Anyways, enjoy!

Catch Up

I know, I know, where are all the new pictures!?! I do have some, just have not had the opportunity lately to put them up. This is just a small attempt at trying to appease those who have been scolding me :-) More to come later.

This one of Dave was actually taken during Thanksgiving at Heather's. You know how girlie Olivia is? Well, the good Doctor is completely at the other end of the spectrum. Here he is above dressed up at Heather's in some football pants, fireman's hat and what tops the outfit off is the cowboy chaps on his arms.

This is Miss Olivia in her 'Christmas Dress'. She picked it out and has worn it just about every day since then even if it was just for 10 minutes. I think we had to take that to Heather's and I know it went to mom's house with us last time too. It is much like the American Express card, we don't usually leave home without it.

Typical shot here lately, Olivia in the dress, Dave in whatever and both of them with their eyes glued to 'Frosty the Snowman'. By the way, did you notice the new haircuts Aunt Heather :-)

This is also a favorite, every once in a while I wake up with company, 'Miss Feet on the Pillow' and Mr. Horizontal. It's not that I mind the company it's directionality that is an issue, that and the fact that I'm old and I get cold at night unlike the two little volcanoes seen above that keep throwing all the covers off.

Anyways, just a couple to tide you over. We've been doing some Christmas activities which I'll try to get posted very soon, BEFORE we take off for Mom's this weekend, I promise!!