Last year at Christmas time, we found this amazing family run tree farm. You did not need to previously tag a tree, you just showed up and walked among the trees until you found the one you liked, they cut it down and put in on the roof. I was halfway through my pregnancy with Will-little round belly to keep me warm. It was a cold but clear day. We had just gotten a new camera and captured some amazing shots of Jack running through the rows of trees. It was a magical place, complete with hot chocolate and goodies when you left. The magic ended as we pulled out of the long dirt road-we had to stop 5 times in 15 minutes to retie our tree to the roof. Instead of asking for help, Tom acted as if he had ever done this before and did it himself. As we pulled into the driveway we were just thankful that the tree was still with us!
Being in a new area and moving in the middle of the holiday season did not leave us a lot of time to research where to go for a tree. So, alas, we ended up at Lowe's and bought a tree from the garden center. Un-magical and super quick. Will and I didn't even get out of the car. I didn't take any pictures to remember the day by. And then the magic happened....Tom told me that they do not help you tie the tree to top of the car. I had flashbacks to last year (but this time we had much farther to travel home). He said he knew what he was doing. He tied and he tied, while I joked and joked about how the tree was going to end up in the middle of the interstate. We drove out of the lot, me cringing a little as we made the first turn. Two things happened next, one-we passed another family also buying a tree and being helped by a gentleman in a blue Lowe's vest-funny I was told they didn't help you tie the tree on and two-the tree didn't budge. We made it up I85 and home with out the littlest tug on the ties. I, of course, had to eat my words and taunts and praise my husband for his stellar tree tying skills. And so a little bit of Christmas cheer has started to creep into our home.
All along interstate 85 there are billboards stating "Clark Griswold would be SO jealous". I, of course, am instantly intrigued as to what this is all about. A quick google search revealed the Roper Mountain Science Center light display and winter wonderland. Found here: http://ropermountainholidaylights.com/ This is the 20th year and it seems like a great family centered, holiday spirit filled event. We decided, despite our last holiday light disaster (the Halloween jack o lantern unspectacular at the zoo), we would venture out to bottle up some Christmas cheer to bring back to our little house. We did a quick turn around from bringing home our tree and headed up to the Roper Mountain Science Center to see the lights. Jack was so excited. Will coughed and cried most of the way. Jack comforted him by saying "Don't worry Will, Santa will know what to do to make you feel better." Aaaahhh a pure little brotherly love moment! We entered and followed the signs. You turn your headlights off and drive slowly through this Christmas Light spectacular. It was magical. Jack was calling out all that he could see-elves, Santa skiing down a ski jump, teddy bears, reindeer, trains. We entered a part called Candy Land with a long straight path lined on each side with 10 foot high candy canes and lights connecting them over head. The pinnacle of the lights was a huge star at the top of the mountain (that we can spot when we are driving around at night now that we know it is there). There is a second part to the holiday lights that is called Winter Wonderland. You park for this part, get out of the car and can roast marshmallows, sit with Santa in his sleigh and see many more lights as you walk around. We skipped this part for tonight b/c of Will's cold. We are planning to return this week to do that part.
I downloaded Michael Buble's Christmas album and I am obsessed! I have been listening to it over and over. I am slowly letting go of the stress of the move and letting Christmas take over! Rhody has even rejoined us. Rhody is our elf on the shelf. He was sent to us from Santa at the beginning of November (when the terrible three's started to rear their ugly head) and I soon realized that finding a new and exciting or mischievous thing for Rhody to do every night for 2 months.....is a pain in the neck! HAHAHAHA So for the move, Rhody was sent back to the North Pole for a few weeks to report to Santa. Now that our tree is up, he has returned! Jack gets pretty excited to see where Rhody is hiding and the best reveal so far was on Jack's birthday when Rhody was found in a "bubble bath" of mini marshmallows in the bathroom sink. ( I had to clean it up with in a few hours b/c Jack kept "going to check on him" and leaving with a handful of marshmallows!) Thanks to Pinterest for the Elf on the Shelf ideas! :)
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