Christmas-y stuff!

Last week we went to a place called "Lights of the South".  It is a really, really cool Christmas light display set out in the country.  They have tons of fun things to do there.  We roasted marshmallows in a huge fire pit, the kids played in cool two-story playhouses, took a hayride through the light displays and sat on Santa's lap.  Adria was beside herself with excitement.  She couldn't stop jumping and screaming!

It was about a 20 minute hayride through all the different displays.  They had the manger scene, Spiderman, all of the princesses, Dora, army men, a huge American flag, the Flinstones, Candyland, and a huge castle that we went through.

Troy is under there somewhere!

The kids also sat on Santa's lap.  Let me tell ya, this Santa was the real deal!  He sat and talked to the kids for awhile, took their lists and put them in his pocket, told the kids to make sure and leave cookies for him and asked them if they were being good.  The mall Santa ain't got nothing on him. 

Troy has not touched or paid much attention to the Christmas tree at all.  I was dreading trying to keep him away from it, but he's not even interested.  He likes the nativity scene people, but other than that he leaves the decorations alone.  Adria, on the other hand, is rearranging and redecorating everyday.  She will arrange the nativity scene a couple of times a day, arrange ornaments on the tree, move decorations around, turn lights on and off, and play with the advent calender. 

We decorated our gingerbread house this weekend.  Kids loved eating all of the gross, stale candy that comes with it.  I'm still not sure if you are actually supposed to eat that stuff.  But the house turned out pretty good!

Tate had a Santa's workshop at school this past week.  He could bring money and buy gifts for anyone he wanted.  It was $2.00 a gift.  He decided to buy one for Adria and Troy.  He came home with great selections for them.  I can just imagine him looking over all the gifts and trying to select just the right one for each sibling.  So cute.  He was so proud of the gifts he brought home and kept asking me if I thought they would like them.  Then he wrapped them all by himself.  Sometimes he is so sweet.

Joe had a successful 7 day work trip to India last week.  He was travelling more than he was actually in India, I think, but made it back safely.  He had some jet lag, but seems to be back on track.  And he didn't get sick, so that is a relief!

And just tonight, Troy walked across the living room floor!  He showed no signs of walking anytime soon, and then decided that today was the day!  We also had to put a gate up on our stairs because a week or two ago he figured them out and we can't keep him off them!

Let me in!!!