IT'S OFFICIAL!!!

Thanksgiving is over and so that means it's officially Christmas time! 

Yes, I know there have been songs playing on the radio, the stores have been selling Christmas things for months, Christmas movies have already been on the TV.   But, to me, it's not really Christmas time until after Thanksgiving.

That's when I can start to decorate, bake cookies, wrap presents and send out my cards.

Normally, I have everything planned out.  This year, I have not planned anything.  I have no idea how I'm going to decorate.  I think I'll do simple this year.  More child like.  With a touch of Disney style.
Or maybe I'll do gold.  Lot's of sparkles.  Though I have been thinking about doing red with the turquoise blue.  More retro style.

Who knows.  I guess I'll figure it out once I hit the storage area and start to go through boxes. 

Heck, I have not even picked out my wrapping paper.  I'll do that once I figure out what theme I'm going with. 

I can't believe in one month it will be Christmas and I have not started to plan.  YIKES!  I better get to work.

How about you?  Do you know what you are doing yet?  I know several of you already have your decorations out and everything. 

Well, one thing I have done already is, I've talked to Santa.  I was at the mall and no one was around him.  As I walked by the guy working there said my sister and I should go in and say hi to Santa.  So, we did! 

I have always had a soft spot for Santa.  Every time I see him I feel like a kid again.  I love Santa!

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

I love going to Tree Lighting ceremonies.  To me, it brings back memories of years gone by and also makes me feel like the Christmas season is really here now.

Tonight I went to Fashion Island in Newport Beach for their yearly tree lighting ceremony.

I got there just as the sun was going down.  The clouds were starting to come in and of course being right by the beach, it was chilly.  Perfect for a Christmas celebration.

Being nighttime, it made it hard to find the right setting on my camera so most of my photos came out blurry.  This one was actually much darker so I lightened it up so you can see the clouds and the tree before it had all the lights turned on.

The tree this year is a 90 foot tree and beautiful.

They also had about a 45 minute show before the official tree lighting took place. 

The cast from the Musical Theatre University sang several different Christmas songs.  Each time they changed into a different outfit.

Then some of the favorite Disney characters came out and entertained us.  Mickey and Minnie Mouse, along with Goofy, or should I say Santa, sang songs and asked everyone to join along.  The whole place was singing Jingle Bells and It's a Small World.

Then it was time.  The big count down to the tree lighting.  Everyone cheered when the hundreds and hundreds of lights on the tree lit up.

In typical Disney fashion, it started to snow.  It may not have been the cold snow that some of you are having, but it sure looked and acted like real snow and I can almost guarantee that it's the only snow that will be falling from the sky in Newport Beach this year.

So that's it!  It really is Christmas time now!  I know, I know, we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet but, now when I hear the Christmas carols playing on the radio at least I won't think "already!".