Flash and Dash
Posted By AmyD. on December 18, 2008
Last Sunday night we went out to drive around a couple of neighborhoods known for their annual Christmas displays. Not like the displays I do, these are the high-end type displays where they hire people to come out and put lights 30 feet up (and higher I would guess)in their trees and things. No way I could justify the expense myself, but Mike and I enjoy taking the kids every year to look at them.
We always start the evening off at a hamburger joint (not a chain) where we get burgers or sandwiches and eat them in the car. We eat in the car because usually most of the people in the car are dressed in pajamas and slippers so they can be comfy while driving around looking at lights.
Maggie happily ate her burger and then promptly dozed off.
She didn’t wake up until we were looking at the last house.
I took my camera hoping to catch some great decorations or just family moments, everyone enjoying each other.
Mike had other ideas. Like not pausing long enough for me to get a decent picture.
I had to shoot this one over his lap! Then he had the nerve to complain that the flash was bothering him.
We drove downtown to see what a certain house (well known for Yuletide decoration exploits) had gone with as a theme this year. In the years past they had gone with current Disney movie themes (Cars, Pocahontas, Toy Story, Aladdin) but this year they really went all out and a tad classic:
I present to you – the Griswold Family Christmas:
Complete with mannequins (one in a red bathing suit perched on a diving board above a “pool”), fried cat, and the RV!
Fried cat on the bottom of the chair.
“Merry Christmas! The shitter was full!”
Needless to say, I blared the movie theme as we drove by! Then Mike threatened to stuff my camera in a very UN-Christmas-like place and I stopped taking pictures after that.
About The Author
Bwhahahaha I love the Griswald’s Christmas house. That is just too much.
I really like your family traditions. Maybe next year Maggie will stay awake through the whole thing
Reply
Well, isn’t Mike just a big camera Scrooge?! I LOVE the Griswald house, but I would hate to have that electric bill! That picture of Maggie is so adorable. Hope you all had a wonderful time.
Reply
There used to be a family here that went all out like that for Christmas. It was so fun to go drive through all the lights. You could see them from about a mile away. They quit doing them a couple years ago due to age and money.
It doesn’t seem that many have the spirit around here this year. There are only two houses on my daily drive that are decorated.
Reply
We’ve had the same tradition here every year since the kids were babies. I love driving around and seeing all the lights and decorations. My hubby is the same as Mike though and does NOT slow down long enough for me to take decent pictures. Just check out my facebook page and you’ll see the lovely pics I was able to take this year. Ugh. Anyway, I LOVE the Griswold house, but like Becky said, I’d hate to have that electric bill. Yikes!
Reply
oh, those are pretty. mostly though the pic of Maggie is gold. and? and? i can comment from the shop!
Reply
I love to see people get in the holiday spirit like that!
Reply
What a fantastic display!! Our family tradition is to do the drive on Christmas Eve. It started out as a way to get the kids to relax and fall asleep and just grew!
Reply
Sandi – Here’s hoping! :martini:
Becky – Yeah, he complained about driving and the flash going off every so often. Something about making it dangerous to navigate traffic. Who cares about safety around Christmas!??!!?!?! :wha:
J.O. – That is sad. Although, I’m contributing to bah-humbug this year since I didn’t go all out in my front yard like I usually do. Next year though… I’m going to be back at it and totally make up for this year!!! :yep:
Lisa – Can you imagine that bill? I mean, I use a lot of lights and we don’t have a ginormous bill… but then again, our lights probably aren’t even 1/8 of what those people have!
Crys – NO! From the coffee shop? Are you SURE you weren’t some place else by mistake and just THOUGHT you were at the coffee shop? :smooch:
Crazy Lady – Me too!!! :love:
TrishK – That is a GREAT idea! I wish I had thought of it years ago! :doh:
Reply
Thank you for sharing your pictures and stories! Just beautiful! Hope things are going OK for you. Sending good thoughts and prayers your way, and good tidings of the season!
Love you!
Reply