ICE!

Over the weekend (11/20-21), we traveled to Dallas to spend some time with Tanner and his girlfriend Jessica who had been visiting for the week from North Carolina. My dad thought since everyone was home for the weekend and since Jed, Keller, and I are spending Turkey Day with Jed's family this year, we would have an early Thanksgiving on Saturday. Oh what a feast it was. The worst part is Keller did some pretty fun things at the dinner table but we were all too busy devouring the yummy goodness that we didn't stop to take pictures of him. Darn!
After our meal, the city of Southlake was having a tree lighting festival in the Town Square. There was an orchestra playing Christmas music, all kinds of activites for kids to do, store were open late to shop, and there was even hot chocolate (though we didn't need it because it was 70 degrees outside!). Children's Medical Center was even handing out foam reindeer antlers for people to wear, and well....why not?

Of course Jed had to sport them upside down. Even during the holidays, we hate Texas!

Tanner and Jessica

At 6:30 they lit the Christmas tree and all of the trees and buildings in the Town Square. It was really beautiful, but what I wanted most was Keller's face when it all came on.

He was really taken with all the lights.

Our neighbor already has his Christmas lights on his house; in fact, he has had them up and on for two weeks! Keller is absolutely in awe over them, so I am hoping I can put my men (Jed, Dad, and Tanner) up to work this weekend to get our house properly outfitted for the holidays.

Once we got home from the tree lighting festival, Keller decided he was hungry again. My dad had smoked a turkey earlier and I guess Mr. K thought it was really good. While I was fixing his plate, I left the fridge door open and turned around to find him elbow deep in the turkey pan!

To conclude the already awesome Saturday, Tanner, Jessica and I went to the Gaylord Texan to see ICE! A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The Gaylord has an ice sculpture event every year that is so cool. Words cannot even describe how amazing it is that everything you see is made of ice. Since A Charlie Brown Christmas is one of my favorite holiday movies I just had to go see it!

This giant Frosty was outside the actual ICE tent. I think he served as a warning for the cold ahead

Waiting our turn after the video presentation that explained how all of this was done.

How cool and beautiful is this? This was the very first thing we saw as we headed to ICE. I didn't need to see anything else. Was in awe just from this. Isn't it beautiful?

It was SO cold in the tent. They keep it at like 12 degrees to keep the ice from melting. It is so cold in there, they give people these special parkas that you have to wear all the way through it to stay warm. I was expecting cold, but oh man! not that cold! It was so worth it though.

Note: Everything you are going to see is made of ice! (Except us of course!)



T is as disappointed as Charlie Brown at the lack of Christmas cards.



A giant light bulb. Made of ice! Look how smooth it is! And how perfectly round. It is amazing artistry.

Entrance to the slides

Charlie Brown was "directing" people down the ice slides.

Once we got into the "auditorium" there were 5 slides made out of ice with lights and music. And we were able to slide. It was so much fun, and had it not been so cold we could have slid down those slides over and over and over...

Jessica

Meagan



Tanner


Watch this video of Tanner and Jessica sliding

After sliding it was time to visit the tree farm where Charlie Brown found his sad little tree.

I love this picture. It's from the scene where Charlie Brown lost the decorating contest to Snoopy.

Joining in the caroling.

While I was busy caroling, Tanner and Jessica decided it was a good time for a jig.

As we left Charlie Brown's world we entered into the nativity scene. It was amazing as well.

Those are real candles on the top of this ice sculpture

An angel

Here is video from the ending nativity scene. The audio quality is not that good but the Christmas Story was being told as you walked out of ICE! It was a really neat way to end the show.

And finally it came to an end. It was sad that it was over but on the other hand by the time we left that tent, I could no longer feel my hands and they were stiff from the cold. If you get a chance go visit this incredible ice show. There is a different theme every year, and I am already looking forward to next year.