Holiday Happenings!

After last year's holiday season when so many events, activities, and other traditions of ours were cancelled due to the pandemic, it has been so fun to return to some of these traditions this month.  This weekend, I took the three younger children on Friday night to the North Pole at the fairgrounds to play in the amazing play area for 1.5 hours.  In addition, I took all four children out on a very cold and rainy night to watch the Santa Parade downtown on Saturday evening.  Although the North Pole was still closed this year to the general public as only those who have reservations to take pictures with Santa are allowed in the play area, we luckily got permission to go in since the parents of one of Ella's best friends is in charge of the entire event.  This was a lucky break for us as we would have had to wait another year to go back and by then Logan probably will have outgrown the entire thing!  And although Ella and Logan were absolutely freezing cold and miserable at the Santa Parade, I was grateful that Lia and Emmett really didn't seem to mind and still seemed to enjoy attending the parade with me.  It is a small-town tradition that we have attended for over a decade and I love starting off the first weekend in December each year by going to watch it.  Although this pandemic is no where near being over, I am so grateful that some of our favorite, holiday activities have returned this year!

Logan and Emmett creating in the Lego Room at the North Pole on Friday, December 3rd.

The three kids posing in front of one of the many groupings of glowing Christmas trees throughout the play area.

Emmett playing inside one of the elf houses.

Ella meditating inside another house.

Mother and children picture in front of the beautiful entrance to the North Pole.

"My three littles."

Emmett and Logan rocking on horses.

Since Ainsley's parents are in charge, she decided to come down and spend the evening with us instead of staying at home with her babysitter.  Here are the two girls playing in the Lego room.

The two girls standing in front of the tree near Santa's photo studio after sneaking away with more candy canes from his basket.  Oh, the perks of knowing the people in charge...

Emmett pretending to climb out of the chimney like Santa!

Four wet and cold children posing for mom while watching the Santa Parade in the cold, wet weather on Saturday, December 4th.

A lit up and decorated racing car being pulled on a trailer.

A fun car complete with a Christmas tree cruising by us.

A cute dune buggy with "eyes" for headlights.

A lit up van with a glowing wreath on front.

Mommy and Emmy.

He made it!  Santa coming down the street on the fire truck at the end of the parade.

Four very wet children give me once last "smile" before we packed up and headed back to the car after the parade had finished.