Getting Festive

We have had quite the festive week. Monday evening we went Caroling with my family, and the kids loved it. Andi is quite the ham and loves to perform so every house was like a new opportunity for her to shine. Tuesday we went to dinner with Thads family for his Grandma's Birthday. And Thursday we took the kids to see the lights at CALM. They have been asking since Thanksgiving to go, and Thursday was great. We got there before the crowds so we were able to ride the train and the carousel with very little wait time.  And no that's not snow falling in the pictures, that's the dirt everyone was kicking up on the paths.

 This Carousel  is crazy. It spins faster than any carousel I've ever seen, you really have to hold on to the horse.

We even stopped in to see Santa and Andi kinda freaked out his little helper. The lady was asking her name and how old she was and all that while we were in line. So Andi walks up and whispers something in her ear and the lady's face went blank, total deer in the headlights, and then it was Andi's turn so she sat on Santa's lap and we took a picture. The lady just looked at me a little panicked, so I asked her what Andi said. Apparently she told the lady, " I know that's not really Santa, it's just a guy in a costume." And the lady couldn't figure out what to say in response, so I told her to go with Santas really busy this time of year so he has helpers to visit the kids while he gets ready for Christmas. She did, and Andi was fine with it. I was just impressed with the fact that Andi knew to whisper to the lady so she wouldn't ruin it for the other kids in line. She really goes back and forth on whether she believes or not. But here she is talking to Santa.

And this is as close as Sammy got, and only because he was holding out a candy cane.

Saturday my moms family came in to town and we had an early Christmas dinner with them, but I have no pictures of the event, as usual. We ate at the church building because there are just too many of us for one house, and while the girls cooked the boys played dodge-ball and volleyball in the gym. Thad always get a little too into dodge-ball and has been a bit sore since ;) The last of the gifts is finished and wrapped and we have a week to relax before all the fun begins.