2022 Dec 4, Tinsel Trails, Christmas Card Lane Ditto Landing & Toyota Field Christmas Lights Huntsville, AL

 Sunday, we stopped in Decatur to walk through the Enchanted Forest in Founders Park, which is a tinsel stroll supporting Leukemia and Lymphoma.

We stopped in Madison for their Polar Express Christmas on Main Street, where their Christmas trees were displayed. 

We stopped at RSA to take coworkers' Christmas Present Presents.

We rode to South Huntsville to Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing. There, we strolled along the Tennessee River Greenway, looking at 4 x 8 plywood custom-designed Christmas cards. 

Grinchmas

It's Not what's under the Christmas Tree that matters. 
It's who's around it. 

We stopped at every card to get a picture, and before we returned, it began to sprinkle. 

We rode to Huntsville's Big Spring Park to walk through the Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail. 

Big Spring Park Tinsel Trail.

We were afraid of getting wet, but the rain had stopped.

Next, we rode to Toyota Field to see The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show and Winter Wonderland.

Which are a mile and half maze of bright dancing and twinkling lights. We tuned our radio to 95.5 to listen to Christmas music.

The North Pole Rocket City Christmas Light Show 

After the drive, we stopped at Toyota  Field and walked through Winter Wonder Land, stopping for pictures with Santa, Trash Panda, and Frosty. 

Picture with Frosty 

We had not eaten since breakfast and were not sure what we wanted. We were tired and didn't want to go into a restaurant and wait, so we decided to stop at Krystal. Believe it or not, their food was good, or we were very hungry. 

A picture with Trash Panda 

I ordered a double cheese Krystal and strawberry Milkshake. 

It was late when we arrived home, and we both were tired from the long day. Put my cameras away for another day to download and went to bed.

2020 Dec 21, Day trip to Franklin, Tennessee with Ava Grace

 Hubby and I took Ava Grace on a day trip. We stopped in Loretto to get lottery tickets and Ava a doctor's pepper and some gummy candy. 

We stopped at Murphy’s to fillip with gas and at Walmart in Lawrenceburg to get Ava a new car seat. Hubby had to put it together, which took a while. 

We traveled north up the Natchez Trace, stopping a couple times for restroom breaks. Several of the restrooms were closed due to the Coronavirus.

The trace was desolate, the trees necked, and we saw one bird, a buck deer, and a dog. We saw several motorcycle riders and several people hiking. 

We rode through Leipers Fork but didn’t see any or very little Christmas decorations. I think Ave took a nap while we were on the trace. 

Mellow Mushroom Pizza Restaurant

Cheese Pizza 

House Special Pizza 

We stopped at Mellow Mushroom for dinner. Ava ordered a small cheese pizza and hubby and I split a House Special pizza, and we ordered three drinks. 

Ava only ate one piece of her pizza we had the rest put into a to-go box, took it home, and gave it to her granddad.

While we were eating at Mellow Mushroom, we saw Santa Clause riding a Harley on the roundabout in Franklin through the large windows. 

Santa Clause on Harley (looking through the window)

Ava & Granny sitting in front of a very tall Christmas tree.

Ava standing next to a cannon

 

Ava and I walked over to the window she waved at Santa Clause, and He waved back and pointed at her. We finished eating, and I took pictures of Ava and the statues at Mellow Mushroom. 

We went outside, and Santa Claus was leaving. We walked across the street to the center of the roundabout, where Ava had spotted a very tall Christmas tree. We took several pictures of the Tree, Ava, and the cannons that were there. 

We walked back to our car, and by that time, Santa Claus was coming back down the road. He stopped, and I got a few pictures with Ava and Santa.

Ava and Santa Clause on his Harley

Ava had to hug Santa, and he hugged her back. She said he was the real Santa Clause, and she sang Christmas Songs most of the way home. 

We stopped at a convenience store for a restroom break, and we finished our trip home. We made a detour in St Joseph to see a house decorated for Christmas, you could see it from the highway but only from the backside. Her granddaddy was waiting for her. She gave us both a hug, Collected her belongings, and they went home. I gave her granddad the leftover cheese pizza. 

2018 Dec 2, A Visit to see Santa Clause at Santa Land Elgin, Alabama

Hubby, Ava, and I went to visit Santa, Mrs. Clause, and the Reindeer at Santa Land.
Hubby parked the car in the field, and we walked to the ticket counter. There, we purchased our tickets and were told we could take our time strolling the grounds before entering the castle. 

Entrance to Santa Land

SantaLand 

We saw Micky, Minnie, Winnie Pooh, Tiger, and many other Disney Characters.
Ava and I enjoyed listening and dancing to the music that was played at the Looney Tunes Area with Wylie Coyote, Road Runner, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird, Sylvester, Yosemite Sam, and Tasmanian Devil. 

Ava and I were dancing to the music, and hubby overheard a little girl say I want to go there and dance. 

SantaLand is home to Santa Clause, Mrs. Clause, Reindeer, and many other characters. 
Ava loved all the outdoor decorations but wanted to go inside because it was a bit chilly outside. 

Ava said, "I am Cold!" 

Once inside the castle, we saw a menagerie of Christmas Decorations. 

A couple of Puffins 

The Grinch 

Santa and his talking Reindeer 

We were greeted by Santa's helper and waited our turn to sit in Santa's lap and talk to Santa. 

Ava went right up and sat in Santa's lap, she told him what she wanted for Christmas.
She told Santa, and we continued walking through the Castle. 

Ava and Santa Clause 

Ava and Mrs. Clause 

Next, we saw Mrs. Clause. Ave went right up and sat in her lap, and she gave Ava a Candy Cane. 
We took a few pictures inside and walked outside.

We could hear the Chip Munks singing in the distance. Ava said they were singing too loud. 

Alvin, Simon, Theodore the Chipmunks

Ava kept saying I want to go back inside and see Santa Claus. So we took her back through, and Santa was going on break. He asks Ave if she wants to go see the Reindeer, and she says yes.
Santa took Ava's hand, and they walked outside, stopping to see the Reindeer. 

Ava and Santa visiting the Reindeer 

Santa holding Ava's hand 

Ava told Santa Merry Christmas 🎄
We walked around outside some more. It was damp and cold outside, so we
went back inside.
We bought Ava a gingerbread cookie and took it to a table to be decorated. On each table were three different colors of icing to be used to decorate the cookie. We used green for the eyes, red for the buttons, and trimmed him in yellow. He was yummy and sweet. 

Ava with her Gingerbread Cookie, we ate all but the head.

Gingerbread Cookie: I helped her decorate

Ava didn’t want to leave, we told her Santa Clause had to go to bed
She was okay then.