Breakfast with Santa & other Christmas Happenin's

Lately, there has been a plethora of Christmas events going on in our area. Since its been busy, busy, busy around the house with Christmas decorating, gingerbread train making (or really eating, since the train never actually got made!) or Christmas shopping, we've really tried to do more fun things with our family rather than get wrapped up completely in the business of the season. Just this past week, we took our kids along with some friends to the 'Festival of Lights' in nearby Dickinson, Texas. The two big draws to the event--the holiday lights and the fact that it was 'free' (you can't beat that around the holidays!) Not only were there lights, there were a lot of fun things for the kids to do. The park had a train that the kids could ride on! Yes, that is a 'Thomas the Tank Engine' pulling the train. Let's just say that was the first thing we did since Layton absolutely loves 'Thomas'.


No, your eyes are not deceiving you--Layton and Ashlyn are actually riding the train by themselves! No tears! I'm not sure who was more surprised that they got on it without being scared--me or the kids! Layton was actually waving at people as they were coming back around the 'track'. Just when I think I've got them all figured out...


Not only were they having train rides, they were actually having a 'Blizzard on the Bayou' section of the park with snow (okay, it wasn't actually a blizzard, more like a 9' x 9' patch of manufactured snow--but hey, what do you expect in Houston?)

The kids had fun slipping and sliding in the snow. Here's Ashlyn doing just that.


Oh yes, and you can't play in the snow without having a snowball fight. Here's Layton throwing snow at some wandering bystanders. What's funny is that he's never played in the snow, but he instinctively knows how to make snowballs (and throw them). Ah, boys will be boys...


It was definitely a fun event to take the kids too, and with the 'free' pricetag, we could even afford to get more Christmas candy (not like we needed it!)

Speaking of fun events, our kids' Mother's Day Out program hosted a Breakfast with Santa this morning. It was such a treat! The kids all lined up outside to watch Santa arrive in style on a horse and buggy (which perplexed Ashlyn who kept on asking "what happened to Santa's reindeer?") It was really funny--you would have thought a rock star was pulling up with all the screaming going on! Layton and Ashlyn were excited (not as excited as some kids!), but it was really neat to see the wonder in their faces. Once he pulled up, the kids all went back inside to hear Santa read a Christmas story, and then get their pictures with Santa.

Okay...if your kids are anything like my kids in past years, the thought of sitting on Santa's lap would literally send them screaming. So, I kept wondering to myself, "Is this the year they will actually sit on his lap?" Well, this year we ended up getting both of them on his lap for a quick picture before Ashlyn darted off. Layton pleasantly surprised me (again!) by telling Santa what he wanted for Christmas. "Cars...(not one, but) two cars".

After pictures, the kids were off to the craft tables. Here's Layton and Ashlyn making one of three crafts. There were beads, glue and glitter--lots of it. Very messy, but oh so fun for the kids.


Here's Layton proudly showing off the beaded Christmas tree/pipe cleaner that he made.

After Ashlyn's (20th) time on the moonwalk, we finally went home. We had a ball!

What are some of your favorite things to do with your family around the holiday season?