nutrackers

Samantha and Amelia have never been in to any type of show much (they only really ever care about the refreshments), but this year, I decided to take them to the Nutcracker. The show we went to was the perfect length for them and the kids in the show were so impressive! They laughed at Mother Ginger with all her kids running out from her skirts and they loved getting a cake pop at intermission. They had TONS of questions during the show, but the theater was packed with noisy kids, so I didn’t feel too bad about constantly whispering to them about what was going on.

Their friends, Parker and Maple, were at the same showing.

Later that evening, we checked out some of the lights around our town with the Nguyens. There was one house down the road from us who put together an actual ride inside their house!

Journey to Polar Point was very legit, complete with a security guard and roped line while we waited, moving seats, a lap bar, lights, sound effects, and amazing decorations… the whole deal. Apparently, the dad and his son spent $10k on this ride! And they also do one for Halloween!

Holiday ride built at Ladera Ranch house is part of plan to make Mystic City theme park

Santa was waiting to greet us at the end of the ride!

We stopped by some of the other houses to see the lights and grab some hot chocolate and treats people were selling for charity.

Another weekend of seeing the lights with Parker and Maple! We went to this same neighborhood last year and it’s always a block party there, with people selling hot chocolate and popcorn, and the entire neighborhood decked out. We didn’t see the guy dressed up as the Grinch this year, though.

This house was insane. Definitely a Clark Griswold-esque house.

The girls got out of the car and danced to the lights that were choreographed to Beatles songs at one house.

The highlight leading up to Christmas was Jake and I being invited to ride in the Newport Beach Boat Parade! Jake is friends with the husband of the Orange County Supervisor, Michelle Steele, and he invited us on their friend’s yacht for the parade. We’ve been to watch the boat parade before with the kids, but have never actually been in the parade, and it did not disappoint!

“Burning Daylight” (named after the Jack London novel, according to the yacht owner) was the lead yacht in the parade, so we had the MC on board our boat announcing Merry Christmas to the crowds on shore– it was quite the party. Hors d’oeuvres and dinner were catered on board and we tried to keep warm while we boated around for four hours. The night ended with fireworks, and it was definitely the Disneyland of boat parades! The other boats in the parade looked amazing and I was just pinching myself that we were onboard such a beautiful yacht as we waved to the crowds!

Santa driving the yacht.

This volcano-themed boat spouting fire was in the parade last time we took the girls. We also loved one of the boats that had a carousel and ferris wheel on board!