The Manor House at Wildwood Preserve has one week a year that it's decorated for the Holidays. For those of you new to the area it's the first full week in December, Sunday to Sunday. I can't remember a time when I haven't gone. It's especially impressive since it's decorated by local groups, clubs and sometimes families. Our friends at the Garden Forum did a beautiful job on the enclosed porch this year. 
The turtles were a big hit with the Rapplings.
Kate always tries to guess how the kitchen will be decorated before we see it each year. This year's theme was Gingerbread. Lots of felt cookie cut outs. Miss Paige loved the candy canes and lollipops sticking out of the tree.
The room that is always tied for favorite is the upstairs bath. Santa was busy napping in the tub. Of course this was the room that Paige started to go under the roping to play in. The reindeer were to cute to resist.
Paige wants this tree. Chili peppers everywhere. It of course looks more amazing without the flash. Sorry snapping pictures on the fly. This is the very end of the house on the way up the back steps Kate wanted a Rappling photo on the steps but her siblings were done for the day. So another tradition over for the year it must be Christmastime.
Saturday involved a lot of errands. Not much photography though. I took Sydney, Kate and Paige over to the craft bazaar at Stranahan Elementary. Sydney bought a present for the last two people on her list...herself and her dad. We also bought a wooden semi truck with two cars loaded on the back for their cousin Logan's birthday. I love wooden toys. I've been buying handmade tic tac toe sets wood with marbles from this same amazing man for seven years. My girls have never been much for the whole car thing. Exception if it's a car mentioned in the Twilight Saga and then Kate's interested. So it was fun to have an excuse to finally buy a car or in my case a truck and two cars. The girls spent the afternoon at the birthday party while John and I stayed home to work on the house. We then went to our Ward(congregation) Christmas party. First we picked up Miss Esther and went on to church. Fun for all. The talent show was fun with two hilarious numbers courtesy of John and Christina Regan as elves and the Simons family as the people who ate to much for Christmas. Kate and I played a piano duet of Silent Night... then she also played a violin solo. That child has musical skills. Esther was thrilled she thought everything was wonderful and complimented Kate on her musical talents. It's fun seeing the world through Esther's eyes. She is so happy and joyful a blessing to have around. Wonderful job Marie and Reanna. The Christmas party definitely brought the spirit into my holiday season.
Home we went at 25 miles per hour. When we arrived home safe and sound I bundled them up and sent them outside. Okay so most kids are in bed at nine and not outside building a snowman, excuse me a snowgirl. I love snow. I couldn't let them miss it. I knew the rain was coming right behind so out they went. Lots of fun. Paige kept trying to take apart the snowgirl, she wanted to eat the carrot. I made the hot chocolate...Laura I must really drive over and steal my Cocomotion back. Here's the evidence.
Acorns for eyes, carrot nose, cranberries for her mouth and buttons, greenery arms and a hat, scarf, glove combo that all the other snowgirls will envy. Good times for the Rapplings.
The Toledo Botanical Gardnes are all lit up for the Heralding the Holidays. Staff and volunteers have been busy decorating and lighting. So if you have a few minutes stop by for a visit this weekend. 
Peter Navarre cabin in the Pioneer Garden.
Love the uplighting...went out after dark in the rain to grab a couple of shots. While there it started sleeting...in Rappling world it started "slowing", so some drops of ice are present on the first photo. Come out and have fun this weekend!
