Meadow Lights

We drove out to see Meadow Lights one night. We stopped at the Waffle House for dinner and the kids were so excited for chocolate chip waffles. At Meadow Lights, we took the train ride to see all the lights and Oliver couldn't stop excitedly pointing out every single light display. We also rode the carousel and warmed up with some hot chocolate.

Grumpy Elsa.

Christmas hayride.

We drove out to Boyette Farms one night for "Lights on the Neuse" which is a big Christmas light display seen while on a hayride. The kids loved the hayride. Oliver was really into all of the light displays and it was fun to see his excitement. It was also fun to explore a new place after years of doing the same Christmas activities in D.C. 

Excited kids in line for the hayride.

They also had a "3D Christmas barn" which was basically a maze through a barn that was covered with Christmas murals you could look at in 3D. Interesting.

And we finished up the evening with hot chocolate and marshmallows around their bonfire.

lights!

We were able to meet Ben's parents at the Temple a few weeks ago to see the lights and the other Christmas displays. The girls loved looking at all of the nativities from around the world and the fancy Christmas trees.

It turned out to be a rainy evening but we continued on to nearby Brookside Gardens for one of our favorite light displays. They also have a fun train display there which was the perfect spot to warm up and take a break from the rain. It didn't rain too heavily until we were heading out and it kept the crowds away which was nice.

national harbor

Ben flew back into town Friday night and wanted to do something Christmas-y so we headed over to National Harbor. It started to rain so we only stopped briefly at the big Christmas tree and then took cover inside the Gaylord Hotel. It was decorated the same as it is every year. The kids like to ride the glass elevator to the top and look down on the glass roof (although Elsa was scared to death this year of the whole experience and couldn't wait to get back down on the ground). We stuck around for the fountain show which was amusing...basically the nativity story set to lights and fountains in this massive commercial space. Oliver was completely fascinated by the fountains. And all the kids loved the fake snow that fell inside.

We wandered into the convention center inside the Gaylord to find a restroom away from the crowds and the kids were completely fascinated by the carpet and long empty hallways. It was hard to drag Oliver away.

meadowlark gardens.

We picked up my mom from work one night and went to Meadowlark Gardens to see their light display. It was an incredibly warm evening (temperatures had reached nearly 70 that day) and so nice to walk around without having to bundle up. The kids loved the lights. My friend Jessica was there with her kids and even though they had just finished walking through the gardens they walked through again with us, which my kids loved.

The kids had fun climbing around on this sleigh. Although Oliver and Maeve could not be contained for long.

Coloring Christmas pictures inside.