Here we go a wassailing

Army of Dad never knew the exact lyrics of that song and was introduced to wassail for the first time tonight. Seems I've introduced this young man to many new things in our relationship *wink* ...

But, back to the subject at hand. We went to the city's annual Christmas tree lighting festival on the downtown square tonight. I really love our small town feeling here. We had public transportation taking us from downtown to the parking area several blocks over, so we're not in the dark ages, but it is still very small town. Stinkerbelle has been wanting to ride on a bus for a while now, so this was great treat for her.

Hot Rod wanted to sit in the back and look out the window.
So, after dinner at the little diner on the square (where we ran into some neighbors from down the street) we then walked to various merchants to sample the wassail. Pickle and I took a new teddy bear down to the Toys for Tots drop off location and then got in line for Santa. Stinkerelle was so excited that she didn't even mind waiting in line. "There he is! There he is! There's Ho Ho!" she proclaimed as we got closer. She calls him Ho Ho. I love it even though it makes Army of Dad cringe.

Pickle went first. The kids all ditched their coats for Santa pics. Next was Stinkerbelle. She dug Ho Ho a whole lot better from farther away than up close.

She was less scared and just more apprehensive after a moment. Is that not the cutest outfit in the world?

Then was Hot Rod's turn. Looks like he has a white feather growing out of his ... er, private places.

Then, we got the bunch.

Next it was on to explore some more. The kids were all thrilled to get mini replicas of our green city issued garbage cans. The boys even got their picture made with our recycling mascot dinosaur. Again, Stinkerbelle like waving at him, but that was as close as she'd get.

From garbage cans and dinosaurs to the Baby Jesus.

Yes, that is my daughter paying more attention to the trash can toy than baby Jesus. *sigh* At least my son was respectful enough to take off his Santa hat. I don't think that was conscious, but it was good. Next we saw Harley the Christmas Bassett Hound.

OH yeah and a fire truck. Is this really small town or what? I didn't get the Syncopated Ladies dancing. That was a hoot. All these seasoned citizens dancing in unison. Picture the Rockettes in 40 years. Great fun.

Within about 15 minutes of taking this shot, the fire truck was rushing off to an emergency call.

How did that get in there? *smiling*


Now that is a happy family and yes I am wearing Ho Ho on my head because I am THAT kind of a dork. adn, then my lovely daughter in her best Vanna White impersonation shows her new "mailbox" as she was calling it after we got home.

I really love this outfit. We had a good time tonight. I got some Mama Alone time, which I'm spending blogging and watching the making of Star Wars or something like that. Good stuff, though. Army of Dad is playing trivia with Gadfly. He is not going to work tomorrow because his car is in the shop. Yippee. One step forward financially and two steps back. *sigh*