Santa Pictures | Quincy Visit

For the past few years, we have gotten our photo's with Santa while at the Christmas Tree Farm. This year is not different. There is never a huge line and Santa is great about taking time with each child and giving you time to get a photo.

My favorite.  Even if Santa moved his hand mid photo.

I have no idea who or what they were looking at.



Santa's perplexed look when Taft told him he wants an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas.  After I let him know that this was fine to bring, he told Taft that he cooks also. 

 

So - there you have it. Santa photos 2013.
Santa arrived in the afternoon and he must have brought Quincy with him. I think they had a secret meeting about Taft's behavior. Either way, we found Quincy in the pre-cut tree area. Taft thought it was awesome that he showed up there. He brought him a little activity book with crayons to use on the long ride home.

Christmas Tree Farm

Taft was DYING to go to the Christmas Tree Farm. We promised him that this year we would let him tie the tree to the top of the car. it's something that he has wanted to do for years and since his tree is usually about 4 ft tall (it only goes in his bedroom) we have put it in the trunk. Yes - we are bad parents.

So off we went for the hour drive. He was very excited to get there. We were excited that it didn't look like as many people as usual and they had parking directors.

What we were not excited about was the price change. You buy tickets for all the little things to do. Hayride, reindeer train, bounce area, horse ride, etc. Those were the same. So off we went for those....



Taft finally got on the bounce pillow without being scared.  He even figured out how to stand up this year.



The Reindeer Train is always a favorite of Taft's.

And so is the horse ride.  He is just happy he gets a "big" horse and not a pony.

We only get Taft's tree at the farm. We have a fake tree in the family room. Taft gets a 4 ft for his room for his ornaments. It has been $15 for the last two years. This year they wanted 435. That was not going to happen. I explained it to Taft. At first he was not too happy to leave without a tree. But then I remembered something.

Florida can not grow awesome Christmas trees. We just can't. I love a good Frasier Fir and they don't, will not, grow here. Taft's biggest complaint last year was that his tree was "prickly and pokey". Pre-cut Frasier's are not. I took him to the pre-cut area at the farm to look at a few. He loved them. Of course those were like $70. But we decided to do the hayride that takes you too the trees anyway.



On the hayride.



Shane and Taft with the saw that was not used.



This is what we found near the tree we cut last year.  A new little baby.
 

We also went to the petting zoo area. Taft was very excited to get to hold a little chicken, pet the bunnies, and feed some goats. The old white goat was a little too happy to see us. It also ate part of the cup in my hand.

We left without a tree. But we went straight to our local Lowe's and picked up a 5 ft Frasier Fir for $19. And yes - we tied it to the top of the car for the 5 mile ride home.





Santa's Christmas Tree Forest

On December 2nd, we went to the Christmas tree farm.  Last year we found out about

Santa's Christmas Tree Forest in Eustis, Florida, and gave it a try.  We loved it and knew we needed go back every year.  I think that it has started a great tradition for us.  

We don't us a live tree in our family room.  I fell in love with the ease of a tall, skinny, pre-lit tree.  I do love the smell of a real tree and the fun of going to get one.  One day we may go back to one but for now, just Taft has one.

When we arrived, the line for tickets was a little long.  Shane stayed in line while Taft and I got some cotton candy.  We then decided to go ahead and go to the petting zoo area since it doesn't need a ticket.   And who did we run into?  Santa. 

So we decided to have a photo taken and have a little chat before it got busy with other kids.

And here is Taft telling Santa about everything that he wants this year.

Once we got to the petting zoo, the first thing that Taft wanted to see was the bunny.  It was very sweet and soft.  He also got to pet and feed goats, a donkey, chickens, and ducks.  The pony wasn't really wanting to talk to anyone.

And one got a little too happy and knocked Taft over.

He also got to ride a horse and that was so much fun.  Taft said that it was "huge".

One of Taft's favorite things to do last year, and again this year, was the little Reindeer Train.  He rode it three times.

After all that fun, we all went out to find the perfect tree for Taft.  It really didn't take him very long.

And I was more than happy to cut it down for him.

Quincy went along for the day too.  He rode in the backpack and helped us collect pieces of all the types of trees at the farm.  Taft loved the way that they felt so we decided to let him take them into school for all the kids in his class to see.

We had a great time and got his perfect tree home.  Then all we had to do was get it up and decorated.

Elfcapades Day 3 & Santa's Christmas Tree Forest

 This morning, Taft found Quincy in his room with a tree stand.  He left Taft a note telling him that it was for his new tree and to tell his Mommy and Daddy to take him to the Christmas Tree Farm.  I guess that it was good that we didn't have any plans.

 We went to the Santa's Christmas Tree Forest in Eustis, Florida.  It was a little hard to believe that there was such us place in Florida.  There is not a lot about Florida that really feels like Christmas but this place did it's best.  All the buildings are red with white scallop trim and everything smelled like pine.

 We went to pick out a tree for Taft's room since his fake tree was going to be too small with all the ornaments that he has collected over the past few years.  He found this lovely tree and we all agreed that it was perfect.

 Taft and Quincy watching Shane cut down his Christmas Tree.

 Taft with some hay from the hayride.  They take you out and let you off to look for a tree.  Then they pick up the tree and you and take the tree to get shaken and bagged.

 Taft loves these "trains" made out of barrels.  We seem to see them at every farm we go to.  The reindeer's were so cute. He rode it three times.

 There he goes.

 After we got our tree, we headed over to the petting zoo.  Look who we ran into - Santa.

 Taft loved the animals.  He saw goats, a bunny, a horse, a donkey, and chickens.

 Taft even got to ride a pony.

 He did his best at the bouncy pillow, but was never able to stand up.

 Afterwards, we got dinner at Zaxby's.

 Our tree after we got home and got it into Taft's room.  Sallie aka Gilbert, came right in to check it out.

Taft putting the first ornament on the tree.  We finished getting the ornaments on but the tree is still not completely finished.  Once it is, we will post a photo.