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Friday, December 29, 2017

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

It's freezing at home

A few hours of travel takes you from frigid temperatures at home to sunshine, warm air, and salt water that just makes everything better.


Now, THAT'S a reason to dance and leap!













We always look forward to seeing the Shanholtzers when we are in Florida for Christmas. It is so funny that we live 20 minutes away from each other at home, but we only get together on vacation. Maybe it is because back at home we are all so busy.



Monday, December 25, 2017

Merry Christmas to all



If this is Brooklyn, where is Norway?

Uncle Angelo and Cathy hosted Christmas Day at their house this year. Cathy did an amazing job with the food and everyone had a nice time.



Aunt Nancy knocked it out of the park with Calico Critters and a van.  These are Grace's favorite toys!


Grace was so excited to see their dogs, Brooklyn and Norway. In the end, though, I think she and Brooklyn became good friends...I'm not too sure about Norway.



Sunday, December 24, 2017

What did you do on Christmas Eve?

We did this...



And then this....



And, finally, this.


Thursday, December 21, 2017

Final curtain

After the final Nutcracker performance, the dancers celebrated on the stage by playing in the "snow"!



Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Kris Kringle Inventionasium

Eating dinner at Collision Bend was a nice, warm way for Grace to have her first experience of the Flats.  The restaurant is in an old warehouse right on the river with a beautiful view as the sun was going down. Grace took this photo and I took the next one of her as she did it!



We promised to take her back for a boat ride and lunch in the summer when it is warm and you can enjoy the water.

After dinner we went to Tower City for a different kind of Santa experience.


Kris Kringle's Inventionasium is an interactive theatrical performance that is supposed to be at Santa's workshop. You travel through different rooms, each with its own activity, and then meet Santa at the end.  Think of Willy Wonka or Alice in Wonderland crossed with Santa and you get the idea of what this was like - colorful, a little zany, silly, and imaginative.



You are greeted at the door where everyone is called a "Dreamer" and you take an oath. 



Everyone promised to be up for the fun and to be creative.  That wasn't difficult as you walked down this hallway to the first room.


We met the first elf who helped us all figure out our elf names - a word, and action, and a sound - based upon our real names.  After we "got" everyone practiced which was hilarious!



In the next room we mixed molecules to create the potion for "Joy".




We made Christmas cards with water and paint brushes, mixed water and a powder to create snow, and created ornaments from moon sand.



In one room we played with all kinds of blocks to make a toy creation for Santa.




You get the idea...Near the end while we waited to talk to Kris Kringle, we took a few photos and then the clock snuck up on Grace!






I was impressed how Kris Kringle talked to Grace and asked her first if she want to sit on his knee for some photos.  He gave her a lot of individual attention.  She said she wants a hoverboard but he said maybe he will bring her a surprise she didn't think of.  (BTW - she knows Santa is not real but she does want to believe in the magic of the season.)






It was definitely a fun experience to do once!