Breakfast with the Big Guy (aka Santa)

I had one excited little girl on my hands from the minute we purchased tickets for Breakfast with Santa. She talked about eating pancakes with Santa, sitting on his lap and asking for a new kitchen, and telling Santa, "Ho,ho,ho" for the entire week leading up.
Breakfast with Santa was held at the Waverly Community Center. It was packed with little girls and boys dressed in their Christmas best and ready to share their Christmas wishes.
Carrington really enjoyed every minute. She ate a yummy breakfast, played games and most important, saw Santa for the first time this year.

All smiles!

Merry Christmas, Love The Sims!

Eager to see Santa...

Check out the concentration

Another Carrington favorite, Frosty the Snowman

"Oh my goodness, it's Santa"!!

Checking out Santa or the beard (which needs some serious work).

"This guy is just so silly"!

"The real reason I'm willing to sit on your lap...to make sure you know I'd like a new kitchen, please"!

"Ok, I've had enough"

Carrington is singing a lot of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and is doing a really good job of not pouting or crying. I think Santa is very happy with her!

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

We went for the "real thing" this year. It's the first year we have purchased a live tree for decorating and admiring. In the past, we've used a hand-be-down tree from Peepaw's parents. The artificial tree is nice but since we are all about new adventures, it just seemed right to try a fresh tree.
There is a side-of-the-road tree stand right down from the house so that's where we went. The tree came from a local farm so it's authentic PA Frasier fir (watch out now). Of course, the sub freezing temperatures made it a quick trip...hop out of the car, find the best looking tree, hop back in the car, and let the men do the rest of the work.
We let the tree sit over night and then went to work on it the following night. Decorating was a team effort as Carrington was able to help a lot more this year. Last year, she was more interested in pulling the ornaments off the tree than putting them on the tree.
I love the tree and may be hooked on a fresh tree for the next few years. It's just lovely!

Aaron and Carrington sizing it up

It's way too cold out there for her southern blood

Lumber Jack Sims

Tree Decorating Elf in her Christmas PJS and ready to get down to business.

Ok, so maybe she wasn't up for putting the lights on the tree. She gets it honest as I was on the couch watching Aaron string the lights. That's just not my favorite part.

Hard at work while the women kept their feet up

Lights up!

Time to get to work!

Stunning, at least I think so!

Also decorating the house are the Snow Villages

Santa will be coming down this chimney in a few days. I know one little girl who can't stop talking about the new kitchen she wants from Santa.

And, a look at the outside

Koziar's Christmas Village - Lighting up PA!

We wasted no time exploring the best of what PA has to offer, or so we thought. I found Koziar's Christmas Village in a local "Happenings" magazine and knew we had to check it out. After doing a little research and asking around at Aaron's work if it was worth seeing, we set off last Saturday afternoon for an adventure in lights.
It was a round trip of four hours so it was a little far but our other option was hanging around the house to unpack more boxes. The first two hours of the trip went smoothly, then we got within 6 miles of Koziar's and came to a DEAD stop. It's on a two lane road, in the middle of no where PA, so options of detouring were very limited. We started taking bets on how long it would take to go six miles. After passing our predictions on the clock three times we finally arrived in the parking lot at 8pm, six miles and two hours later we saw the "LIGHT". I had planned on us leaving Koziar's, full of glow, at 8pm. Not arriving at 8pm!
Bundled up, and trying to get back in the Christmas spirit, to the gate we headed. Only to get there and stand in line for 15 minutes to purchase tickets, and then another 15 minutes to wait for the restroom. Finally, at 8:30pm we were able to enjoy what we had come to see...LIGHTS, LIGHTS, AND MORE BRIGHT LIGHTS. But wait, it doesn't end with a warm glow but rather a wet soaker. By 9:30pm, the sky opened up while we were in the middle of the village and any last ounce of fun was washed away. There is nothing enjoyable about pouring rain and 30 degree temperatures. Especially, when we were all fighting colds and Carrington an ear infection.
You know the end of Griswold's Christmas, where Santa is flying off after the sewer explodes, and they all start singing the National Anthem, and it just seems so right. That's kinda how it was, nothing was right but it was. Merry Christmas!

Koziar up in Lights

Santa and His Little Elf

Do you see the traffic in the background?

My shining stars!

Mickey was even there.

Peepaw would have loved the Peanuts scene

Candy Store Window

The reason for the season!