Christmas Tree Lighting...

Last night we took the boys to Fort Bragg's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.  It was raining off and on all day yesterday, but fortunately stopped right around the event start time… and even warmed up to about 55 degrees which made it nicer to walk around.

The kids got to hug scary animals Rudolph…

Santa and Mrs. Claus rode up on a firetruck to greet the children...

Last year we waited too long to get in the Santa line, but we learned our lesson and moved into line right when we saw him arrive.  So this year we were near the front.

Look how peaceful our time in line was...

That would be hot cocoa all over James. 

Even with only a 5 minute wait, it was clearly
beyond our children's ability level to move quietly and gracefully. 

Cort probably telling the kids to knock it off.

A great looking Santa and Mrs. Claus!

James looks unsure; Peter looks ecstatic; Henry looks scared.

Don't you love the "special shirt" Henry chose
for the occasion?  He put that on right after school to meet Santa.  

After meeting Santa, the kids ran around the different activities that were set up.  There were bounce houses, a cute little train…

… and a really cool sledding hill the kids LOVED!

Nicolas and James waiting their turn…
it was a man-made hill with steps on the side of it for
the children to walk up, grab a sled, and go down!

Frosty was at the bottom of the hill,
ready to catch the kids.

Okay.  Maybe Peter didn't love it quite
as much as the big kids... 

The big kids would've sled down
all night if we'd let them.  It was basically
all the fun of sledding without the work!

The kids had a really good time and I'm so glad we went!