Visiting Santa

This was our forth, and final year going to Lights of the South. 

It's been a really fun tradition, so hopefully we can find something

just as fun, up north next year. 

We always wait for Dmitri to bring the coupon home from school,

because he gets one every year, so we basically plan our trip around

that. But this year we went on the Monday after he got out of school,

which was the week of Christmas, and it was much busier than it had

been before! Luckily the lines weren't terrible, so we were able to do 

all the things we wanted to. 

The first stop was visiting Santa! The line was out the door, so Daniel

stood in line with Lydia, while the two older kids, and I, went to the 

play houses they have set up, and played there. 

Once he was inside the 'workshop' he text me to bring the kids over. 

Dmitri is always excited to see Santa! Well, at least for the past couple

years. Paige is still a little iffy about the whole thing, but this year she 

did it! She was stiff as a board though, but she did talk to him. Lydia

however.... she was a flat out no. Like clinging to Daniel for dear life! 

So for like the third time, Daniel got to be in our Santa picture. Better

him, than me.... 

I love this Santa set up, because they let you take your own Santa photo,

and you don't have to pay. I'm all about that! That's also how it was at

the mall in Hawaii. 

After Santa, we headed to the hayride line. It's a tractor that pulls 

a couple carts full of people, and takes you around to all the light displays

they have. It's a fun ride, and the kids always love pointing out the different

lights they recognize; nativity, Little Mermaid, American Flag, Santa's reindeer, etc

After the hayride, the kids played in the gingerbread houses, while Daniel stood

in line for hot chocolate. 

While we waited for him, we also sat in the carriage - which Dmitri didn't want

to sit in this year, he insisted on driving - and also played in the castle tunnel. 

The tractors drive through the tunnels, but usually it's every 5-10 minutes, and 

you have fair warning they're coming. 

This year they had some many going, that they were constantly coming through

the tunnel, one after another. 

Dmitri made me so mad, because while we were waiting for them to pass, he 

tried to grab some hay off of them, and got so close! Like one wheel was an

inch from his feet. I yanked him back, and he tried to do it again!! So I grabbed 

him, and scolded him for it. What they heck was he thinking, that that would

be okay to do?! 

Right after that, Daniel came back with the hot chocolate inferno. Seriously,

it was so hot!! Dmitri burned his mouth, then his hand when he insisted 

on walking with it, then it kept spilling on Paige, and Daniel, because he

was juggling them all, since they were burning the kids, and I had the stroller.

Once they FINALLY cooled off though, the kids loved them. 

The pretty princesses, and their dashing driver

We finished our night, with the kids playing in the play houses. They were

having so much fun, but we had to leave, since it was closing. 

We gave them a five minute warning, and once that was up, we headed to the

car. Paige was pouting as we loaded up, and wouldn't say anything when we

asked her what was wrong. 

She was still pouting once we got home, and she said it was because she didn't 

want to leave, and wanted to stay at Santa's house. We had a quick chat about it,

and I showed her the pictures of our fun night, that she can always look back at

as a reminder. So that helped perk her up. 

So long Lights of the South! Thanks for the memories, and fun family 

traditions!