What a fun Christmas we had this year, lots of fun, lots of food, and plenty of presents. The day actually started around midnight when we began putting the gifts out. The new “IT” movie was playing and it was dark and snowy outside which created a kind of aura in the house. Breakfast finally came and Mary made her famous chocolate chip French Toast, then we opened gifts and listened to Christmas music on Jame’s new stereo. After eating a beautiful ham dinner we watched movies including “This Christmas” and “Christmas Vacation” while putting together and playing with our new gifts. Many thanks for all the cards and gifts, James has special thanks to Grandma, Aunt Criss, and Uncle Kenny for their gifts through the mail.
Category: Christmas
Christmas
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Christmas 2017
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Santa’s Magical Forest 2017
Hard to believe its been a year since we last visited this wonderful Christmas display at Heritage park in Taylor. The weather was a balmy 18 degrees and their was about 4 inches of snow on the ground, so the stage was set for a very memorable Christmas visit. James got to see his friends from VIP camp (although one was absent who we all missed, Jame’s friend Sammy who he had known since Hoover Elementary, passed away unexpectedly in late November). -
Plymouth Christmas Tree Festival 2017
Plymouth is a fun place to be year round, but it has several reasons for making a winter trek out that way. Not only do they do the ice sculpture in January, but they have the Walk of Trees Festival in December! Tree’s are decorated for the holidays by various persons and company’s and they line the walk way of Kellogg Park in downtown Plymouth. James and his family visited there this day (the trees are constantly lit so if you have a dreary cloudy day they will surely brighten up your day) and had a blast visiting the shops and seeing the trees. James got a miniature Eiffel tower for his French class, Mom got chocolate covered potato chips, and Dad got a realistic battery operated candle that works for both Christmas and Halloween.After leaving Plymouth we stopped off at one of Mom’s favorite shops, the Town Peddler where James had his picture taken in their new photo op area. To top off the day’s activities we stopped in to see how Aunt Peg was doing. All and all a very active and fun day, although it was a little cold outside in the park.
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Hines Drive Christmas Lightfest 2017
Its been awhile since we went to the light fest at Hines Park, but on this day the conditions were perfect. 1st you need a while blanket of snow but 2nd, it has to be no more than an inch or two or the drive to becomes difficult. This day was perfect and was confirmed by the thousands of cars we saw going through. James had a blast and really enjoyed the “time tunnel” concept which dropped us off in a prehistoric time of dinosaurs. Mom and Dad enjoyed the Santa training center where reindeers are trained to fly by running up a ramp, jumping, and coming down softly in a parachute. Everyone enjoyed seeing the life size bumble putting the star on the tree. The Hines Park Light fest features more than 47 giant animated displays and more than one million lights; it is the Midwest’s largest and longest light show. The complete Light fest route is over four miles of Hines Drive. -
Manuels Taco Hut at Christmas
Each year we go to Manuels Taco Hut for their Halloween display, but this year we wanted to do something different and see their Christmas display. It was well worth it and at least as good as the Halloween one. Lots of decoration above us including a choo choo train that goes along the entire restaurant and plenty of “bumble” (the abominable snowman from Rudolph). James had a great time and enjoyed the food as well. All in all a very fun trip. -
Bronners 2017
Mom had a coupon for Bavarian Inn so on the trip back from Mackinac we ate a late lunch in Frankenmuth and then proceeded to Bronners to round out the day. Mom also had a coupon for 15% off anything we buy at Bronners so we checked everything out and saved a little money along the way. James saw a $4,500 Christmas tree he liked that he liked in the Christmas tree forest, the tree was taller than our home. On the way out we saw the Bronners parade float and snapped a couple pics there as well. It was a really great finale to a wonderful time up North. -
Christmas 2016
We truly enjoyed a wonderful and blessed Christmas this year, it began with breakfast at Cracker Barrel on Christmas Eve and a trip to Aunt Pegs (Richard was visiting). James opened a present early and we began watching our traditional show which included the movies “Dead End” and “Mothman Prophecy”, and the Xfiles “Post Modern Promethius” & “Ghost Who Stole Christmas”, which created the perfect “ghostly” atmosphere for Christmas eve.Christmas day James was up before the sun to open his gifts, lots of new clothes and electronic items for the most part. James now has a cell phone and number, which should make the upcoming year interesting for sure. James would like to thank those who sent him money and gift certificates including Aunt Criss, Aunt Peg, and Grandma. James bought Michigan football products, 3 Journals, and rolls of quarters with his proceeds.
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Santas Magical Forest 2016
VIP Camp teams up with the city of Taylor for this annual event, and best of all James gets to see some of the VIP Instructors and Campers again, some of them for the first time since August. As usual the staff outdid themselves with another awesome display, some of it Dad might have seen as a child at the old Hudson store in Detroit. In addition to visiting with friends, James got to sit down with Jolly ol St Nick himself and gave him a list of items he wanted, most being study books for school.
All in all a wonderful day on a cold December night in Michigan, it just doesn’t get any better than this. Big congrats to VIP camp for setting up this marvelous free event for the kids.
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Christmas Shopping With James
This weekend James wanted to go out Christmas shopping and he did a pretty good job. After picking up gifts for most of his friends and family at K Mart, Walmart, and Westland mall, we then went to JC Penny in Southland mall where he bought some things for himself with his Birthday money and Birthday gift certificates. James had a blast and had most of the items picked out before going into the store (thank you online shopping).James is very thrifty when it comes to spending his Birthday money and often it take till January or February for him to spend it so for James Christmas came a little bit early this year.
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Bronners Spring 2016
Our first stop usually when entering Frankenmuth is Bronners Christmas store. Bronner’s promotes itself as the “World’s Largest Christmas Store”. Designed with an Alpine architecture and operating year-round, the building is 7.35 acres in size with landscaped grounds covering 27 acres. Here is a little trivai – The electric bill alone is $1,250 per day – John Wayne ordered his Santa Suit from Bronners in 1976 – Over 100,000 ornaments are hand painted at Bronners each year. While primarily known for Christmas, they do have a large selection of the other holidays available year round which makes it a great place to stop for people who enjoy any of the holidays.
