Cracker Christmas

We went to Christmas, Fl for their annual "cracker christmas". The town of Christmas was founded during the Indian war where the set up Fort Christmas. It's a very small town about 30 min. from us. The Fort Christmas and several Farmer's homes are replicated at the National Historic Park at Christmas, FL.

This is the storehouse for the ammo which was kept underground at The Fort.

There were several people dressed up like soldiers of war and pioneers.

Homemade Butter along with jellies, honey, ice cream are some treats they had...

Inside The Fort. Zander is really into posing for pics these days.

We got to tour houses from the early 1900's up to the 1950's

It's a play kitchen! It was close to their size...I think it would be a little difficult to cook on that.

One room school house. I want one! I need a one room school to homeschool my kids in. Daddy, you can start working on that if you want. You can just build it on your land next to our house your gonna build. : )

Zander had all kinds of questions as to why the cows skin was hanging on this building...

I would love to go back 120 years and live for a week in their shoes. Just like Little house on the prairie. Only a week though because I know those times had to be incredibly hard and I probably wouldn't survive. But it would be fun to go back to the roots of our country...

We enjoyed some Root beer

And some kettle corn

It was a fun festive old fashion Christmas day!

Christmas in the Park

Central Park is the heart of Winter Park. Art festivals, film festivals, and  holiday festivities happen here. We gathered to the park along with a couple 1,000 others to watch Christmas in the Park.

The Bach choir and orchestra plays as they light up Tiffany Glass windows from the Morse Museum.

These Tiffany glass windows were all over the park

They were very beautiful

We felt all artys fartsy I mean "cultured" and "sophisticated"

It's fun learning the Christmas tradition of another state and town...

Christmas Tree

We got a small tree this year. Its just their size for decorating. They were so excited about the tree!

Now, if I can just keep Truston's little hands off the ornaments! He has already broken two that I didn't even think were breakable!

Strollin

Taking a stroll down Caddy Way Trail

                                                    Just another reason to love Florida...

                                                           Sunny days in the late fall

Matt's Art class

One of Matt's classes this month is Art Theory. It's basically an art class on steriods that teaches you everything you need to know about how to create art the old fashion way...with your hands and not with the computer. His first project was to create a "name tag" for his desk. The only critera was that it needed to be a certain size, have your name on it, and it needed to represent who you are. He got a 100% on it. How cute is it? He hates it when I say it's "cute" but it is! He used a mixture of Zander and Truston's toys, and play dough.

Here Comes Santa Claus

Went to Bass Pro to see Santa and get our FREE picture. Here it is! As you can see Truston had a grip on his momma and was not about to make eye contact with Santa. Zander loved Santa and just smiled at the camera and didn't want to leave Santa. Matt and I did not plan on being in the picture but Mr. T left us with no choice. I think it turned out pretty cute though.

Family Fun Day

We thought we'd have a fun Family day today.

The day started with an outing to CiCi's pizza. This isn't usually my first choice for pizza but when a family of 4 can eat for only $13 then I'm in. After CiCi's we walked next door to Chuck E Cheese's to play. Chuck E Cheese's should be every mother's best friend! The kids love it and you can play any game you want for just 25 cents. If you sign up on thier website you will recieve great coupons too. Just a little plug for all you moms out there looking to save a buck!

We played hard so 45 minutes and only $5.00 later we were headed out to our next adventure.

The Bass Pro Shop! All month long the Bass Pro Shop has FREE picutures with Santa, games, crafts, face paint, etc. Every week is a different craft. This week is Santa  Bobbers.

Aren't they so cute?!

Looking at Fish

So, last year I took Zander and Truston to see Santa and Truston didn't mind it at all but Zander was terrified of him. Well, this year the roles have reversed. Zander was pumped about seeing Santa and  as we approached Santa Truston grabbed on to me for dear life and screamed! So, Matt and I sat in the picture with them. I will post the pic as soon as Bass Pro gets it up on their site. They give a free 4x6 while you are there and then you can pay $1.99 to get access to it on thier website so you can send it to all your friends and family. It takes about 72 hours for it show on the site. It's a great deal. I would highly recommend it!

Lots of Christmas fun to come!!

Some of us were worn out from our fun filled day.

Some not so much worn out as wound up!

Thanksgiving

The boys and I made some Thanksgiving crafts! I helped Zander and Truston trace thier hands to make a turkey and cut out pieces of tissue paper for the turkey feathers. Can you guess which one is Zander's and which one is Truston's?

We made a little pilgrim man to hang on Zander's door and one to hang on his door knob. We watched A Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving and learned all about the Pilgrims and Indians and the first Thanksgving. Zander thinks the Mayflower is a pirate ship though. Oh well!

We went to the Gomez's house in Tampa for Thanksgving lunch on Wed. the day before Thanksgving. It was great food and fun! I made Dressing (for the first time in my life) and it turned out great! I also made green bean casserole, brocoli cheese casserole and chocolate chip cookies.

We pigged out!

Well, everyone but Zander pigged out. He's such a strange child when it comes to food! Drives me crazy. He's picky and sometimes hardly eats a thing! I just want him to eat normal and make my life less stressful but he has been like this since he was a baby. I should be used to it by now!

Mmmmm....Dessert Time!

Silly Trivia game, which Anna and I kicked butt on, great food, great friends.

Thank you, Jesus for a great Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for this year!