On Christmas in Wisconsin (Part One)

This past weekend was the official kick-off to the Christmas season here in Wisconsin. Official tree lighting ceremonies were held, carolers sung and crafts were sold. In a whirlwind of activity my little clan attempted to see it all. To give you dear reader a sense of the activities I present for you the timeline of my weekend.

Saturday Dec 1 8:00 am: I do a web search for nearby holiday activities. After finding several, it is decided that we will take full advantage of the list and have a "Good Old Fashioned Fun-Filled Family Holiday Weekend" Looking back this was a mistake and i should have just slept for another few hours.

Saturday Dec 1 9:30 am: After a rush of showers, getting dressed and a few fights, we head to the hospital for "Breakfast with Santa"

Saturday Dec 1 9:45 am: We arrive and the Hospital to learn that every other resident of our town also intended to eat Breakfast with Santa and had managed to leave their homes a few minutes before us. Seeing the massive lines and the meager portions on the Breakfast plates we head to a local diner for Breakfast instead.

Saturday Dec 1 11:00 am: Snowflake Craft fair. This is a Yearly Tradition in our town. Many vendors selling items that are not to be found anywhere else. In addition food, carolers and door prizes. We spend quite some time here and spend more money than I care to think about. oldest Child won a door prize. this was a source of frustration as the youngest did not win a door prize and well I will let you imagine the results. The Carolers were nice:

Saturday Dec 1 1:00 pm : Cookie Decorating with Mrs. Claus. After misreading the time for this activity we arrived mere moments before Mrs. Claus packed up her table at the local grocery. The girls both managed to decorate a cookie with the Mrs. and spent a few minutes talking to her.

Saturday Dec 1 2:00 pm: Victorian holiday Craft Fair. What's better than a craft fair? 2 Craft Fairs in the same day of course. Unfortunately the second fair was filled with many of the same vendors found at the previous fair.

Saturday Dec 1 3:30 pm: Walking around Downtown of a neighboring city waiting for the parade of lights to start in a few hours. Unfortunately it begins raining and most members of the family decide they had had enough "Family Fun" for one day.

Saturday Dec 1 4:00 pm: we return home. prepared to call it a day and relax.

Saturday Dec 1 5:00pm: Certain members of the family feel we should have waited to see the parade of lights and convince this blogger to go back to the Parade. Fully half of the family rejects this idea and remains at home relaxed.

Saturday Dec 1 5:30 pm: The remaining half of the family arrives at the parade route. The rain has let up and it is now only mostly miserable. The parade begins passing our spot at 6:00 pm and lasts 9 minutes. Video can be found here.

Saturday Dec 1 7:00pm After securing an evening meal for all members of the family be purchasing food from 2 separate locations we return home.


Sunday Dec 2 830am: we leave for Sunday school and Church services. Sermon is good and is on the topic of "waiting" I think to myself that pastor must read my blog.

Sunday Dec 2 11:00 am: Pizza at the Church. The annual Pizza and Caroling party. the pizza is much less burnt this year than in past years. We are all grateful.

Sunday Dec 2 12:30pm: Caroling begins. 4 stops, 2 hours and 45 Christmas songs later we head for home.

Sunday Dec 2 3:30pm We arrive home. The weekly fight over homework begins.

Sunday Dec 2 8:00 pm: Homework is finished, baths are taken and it is the end of the Fun Filled Family Holiday Weekend.