Christmas Lights!

This weekend was HARD at our house. Both kids were really fussy and not sleeping well, and Phil and I were super stressed out to say the least. Despite all of that, and maybe because of it, we knew we needed to get out of the house and do something fun. Saturday, we decided to eat an early dinner and head out to a big Christmas light display we'd seen advertised. It did not disappoint! 

We found two places right across the street from each other, where the homeowners go CRAZY with decorations and then open up their yards to the public.  The first place we stopped, Sowell's North Pole, was really impressive and had several trains to take you around to see everything, which Avery was really excited about. Claire was just happy to be out of her carseat. 

They said they spend about $2000 on their December electric bill. The train costs $1 per person to help offset their expenses, and we gladly paid it. There was so much to see that Avery didn't hardly know where to look. Claire just stared with her big eyes trying to take everything in. 

The next place, East Gate, had more inflatables in one place than I'd ever seen before, including in Christmas stores. The owner said he'd been buying things on after Christmas sales for 7 years to make up his collection. This was not a big house, and the owners seemed to live pretty simply otherwise, so I was touched that they would do this for the community to enjoy. He even gave Avery (and every kid) his first candy cane and a light up nativity necklace. This place was fun because Avery got to get out and run around to see things up close.

Avery was really excited to spot Thomas among the decorations!

He ran from one thing to the next yelling for us to "come on." It was all he could do to stay within the path and not touch everything, but he did a great job overall.

One giant reindeer!

I think that visiting both of these places will definitely become a Pensacola Christmas tradition.