the dayton children's holiday light parade!

Year six of our annual holiday light parade!  I don't know what we'll do when we end up living somewhere without a Christmas parade!  It will be tragic.

This year was FREEZING.  Thanksgiving day we played outside without jackets- but on Friday the temps dropped 40 degrees.  Metta was perfectly happy in her giant snowsuit- but she did not like my big fur hat at all.

and this year- our "magic glasses" made all of the lights look like reindeer. Pretty nifty, huh?   Last year they were snowflakes.


Besides being cold- the parade was really fun.  Two of Zeb and Ike's favorite babysitters were playing in the marching band!

Even metta seemed to enjoy the evening and all of the lights and sounds.  She is such a flexible and happy kiddo.  and people tell me every day that she looks like a mini girly ike.  But I just see zeb.  look at those zebby lips!

Zeb's favorite part of the evening was the 'phone an elf' booth.  He got to call the North Pole and speak to one of Santa's elves.  When I asked about the conversation Zeb simply said: "we talked a lot about Christmas stuff.  And he said I have to leave a plate of cookies out for Santa when he comes".  It was pretty funny to see how serious Zeb was about the whole thing.

Then we actually got to SEE Santa.  I'm not so sure our kids are really into it.  The same thing happened last year.  They acknowledge Santa and understand who he is- but they don't really worry about him or want to send Christmas lists to him or anything.  I'm pretty sure they know their bases are covered by pseudo santas.  Zeb is far more concerned in knowing his Christmas list made it to gramps :)

We'll have to see if she's so smiley in next year's picture!