(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday: Silver Balls

It’s been a LONG time since I’ve written. To say this time of year has been busy is an understatement. And to top it all off I have had an overwhelming crazy bout of writer’s block .

To my faithful readers…thanks for hanging in there with me and my blockage. And no worries. I’m back now with a whole bunch of posts in the works.

And if you’re new to my blog from one of the Wordless Wednesday linkys, welcome!

Today I’d like to share one of my favorite family holiday traditions. The Silver Balls.

Ok, it’s actually called the Silver Bells in the City festival and parade. But Silver Balls just has a ring to it, doesn’t it?

Every year, before Thanksgiving, and usually on an unbelievably freezing night, the city of Lansing hosts a parade for Santa and lights the big ole tree in front of the Capitol building.

Since living in Lansing we’ve always been pretty close to downtown and to the Capitol. Which is great cause we’re always within walking distance to several great music festivals in the summer and of course Silver Balls every winter.

But of course a tradition isn’t a tradition until you do it the same way nearly every time, right?

Well this our third year making the trek to the tree with our friends Leslie and Mike, otherwise known as Anna’s Mommy and Daddy (cause for some reason, though she knows their names Cedella still insists on calling them that).

The real fun of this tradition is an excuse for our two families to get together, share some food, a decent walk and a little bit of holiday magic together.

Cause what’s more magical than standing on the lawn of the Michigan Capitol with hundreds of strangers staring at a huge tree covered in lights and awaiting the next Disney channel sensation to serenade you while fireworks go off overhead?

That’s right. Disney channel sensation Koko Jones was in the house. Last year it was Justin Bieber Cody Simpson. Children I’ve never heard of, but I hear that quite the rage with the Tween set.

But I will have you (and my daughters if they ever need a reminder) that I sang every single word to ‘Call Me Maybe’ cover cause I AM cool and young enough to be down with the one hit wonder of the moment.

Every good tradition needs to be updated and adjusted and added to over the years, right? Well, how about physically adding two new little ladies to the equation. Both of our families have grown in the past year. Meaning that Isora and sweet Amelia got to experience their first Silver Balls extravaganza at the tender ages of 8 months and 6 weeks old.

And adding to the tradition? As in doing the same thing but doing things a bit smarter each subsequent time. Case in point, the first year we didn’t have drinks. Last year, coffee with pumpkin pie liqueur. This year? Adult Apple Ciders. There was vodka and whiskey involved. Believe me, it really did make the entire event better.

And for her little girls (maybe in their college years) your mom, Leslie, knew how to make any event a Par-tay, double-fisted and everything.

Because no tradition is safe for the Star Wars-effect…the Christmas light sabers were a hit with all the kids. Our kids were no exception.

We took our family pictures again, which are so cool to see year after year.

And so crazy to see how our girls have gone from babies with sweet round faces to big girls with big attitudes to match. So big in fact that neither would pose together long enough for a side-by-side shot. But that’s what Photoshop is for, right?

The only downside? Just look at this tree…Yuck.

Despite the hideous tree we had a really fun time once again. Going through all the ritual and fun of getting bundled, making drinks and taking a walk to see a giant tree lit up with some of awesome folks, well, that’s the way I like to start the holiday season.

How do you kick off the holidays?

Happy Wordless/Wordful Wednesday everyone!!