The North Pole

I guess I better finish off 2011, before I start blogging about 2012!!  :)  (Sorry for the million pictures!!! ;)  - - don't mind the random positioning either - - blogger makes me mad!!!  :(

The weekend after Madelyn's birthday, we went with Shayne's family to Greer!  As part of our Christmas present, we stayed in a beautiful cabin (actually a custom home), and went to the North Pole Experience!!  It was an awesome weekend!!  The North Pole Experience is like the Polar Express, (in Williams), but better!!  :)  First off - a little about the cabin:
5 bedrooms, 3 baths, laundry room, pool table, completely furnished, 2 electric fireplaces. . etc, etc!
This is the front & the walkway up to the cabin (looking down, obviously!)

The beautiful view from the balcony!!

The family room








Shayne making lunch in the awesome kitchen! :)








Madelyn & Isabela playing pool









Olivia - always ready to say cheese!!!  :)

Out on the deck - she couldn't wait to get in the snow!!  :)

 Olivia's first time sledding!  She didn't care for it - but was quite content eating snow the ENTIRE time!!  ;)

 Hunter didn't want to go sledding, but once he tried it, he LOVED it!! ;)

 Isa & "Steve" - - I was teasing Madelyn that she kinda looked like a boy & called her "Steve"! ;)

 Olivia, Deb, Shayne, Hunter, Rudy & Elena

 Noah had a string hanging off his jacket & by the time we were ready to leave, he had "icicles" hanging off of it!!  :)

 Saw an elk right on the side of the road!!  Of course, by the time I grabbed the camera, he ran!!  :(







The North Pole Experience:  Saturday night, we rode the "trolley" to the North Pole with a few of the Elves! We sang carols, went through a "magic portal", then arrived at the North Pole!!   We had to say magic words for the elves to open the door - once inside, we got a tour of the Toy Hall of Fame!!  Then, we met Alabaster - Santa's oldest elf!  He told us all about the North Pole!

 

 The kids got to help "make toys" for other kids (they dressed bears in clothes - Olivia was a little upset that she didn't get to keep hers!!)  :(

 They also got to shoot the elves with big foam dart guns!!  :)

 They had "Snowman Soup" (aka. hot chocolate) & cookies!  They baked them right there!!  The place smelled soooo good!!!

 Santa's bakery & the awesome Christmas tree!!  (My inspiration for next year!!!)  ;)

 Next, it was on to E.U. (or Elf University)!!  They learned all about being an elf!!  :)

The kids got to write letters to Santa while they were waiting to see him!!  The elf was so cute & talked with them!  Diego had been sick due to the altitude - well, the elf asked them if they had "Beiber Fever" (ya know - Justin Beiber ;). . . and Diego said, "no, I already had that & I threw up!!"   hahahaha!!!  So funny!!  ;)

After seeing Santa (so mad - can't get that picture to show up!!)  :( . . .  we went back to the lodge & listened to a story with Mrs. Clause!!

 The next morning, we saw Santa at breakfast!!!  :)


















Thanks, Deb - - we had a wonderful time!!!  :)