Election Day at the North Pole.

With all the talk about the election, we thought we'd share how we spent the big day. We opted for mail-in ballots vs. having to stand in long lines with small antsy children, so our voting duties were checked off the list and we could move on to other things ... like celebrating Christmas. Yes, Halloween was last week, Thanksgiving is still weeks away, and today we headed to the North Pole. Well, actually it's the Colorado Springs version -- a Christmas-themed family amusement park. It's open from May to Christmas, and this lovely November day was our first trip there. A few funny highlights of our adventures:

• We picked the BEST day to visit the park because we had it all to ourselves (thanks to it being a weekday and Election Day). There were more employees there than park patrons, and we didn't have to wait in a single line. Actually the ride operators were sitting around waiting on us. When does that ever happen?!
  
• The tilt-a-whirl is the first choice of amusement rides with the Leahy crew. We laughed non-stop! 
  
• Reid's favorite thing to say on amusement rides is "Yeehaw! Yeehaw!" Apparently, we've got a cowboy on our hands.
  
• We visited Santa. Both boys were slightly scared of him. Nothing new from last Christmas. Same ol' story there. Maybe one day they'll actually talk to the Jolly Old Fellow.
• Every year the boys get a new ornament for the tree, and today they picked out a Grinch ornament for Luke (not because he's crabby but more that he's a big fan of the movie) and a little car one for Reid.

We think the cold weather is just around the corner, so it was good to celebrate Christmas now at the North Pole on a crisp fall day. All the Christmas music and rides really put us in the holiday spirit. Ho, ho, ho!

Beep, beep! Luke may not have his license yet, but he's a great driver of antique cars!

More driving. Motorcycles this time. And yes that's a brontosaurus with a Santa cap in the background.

If you are going to ride in a bug, make sure it's a smart with one spectacles!

Rudolph & Reid on the carousel.

All Aboard the North Pole Railroad!

Abracadabra ... waiting for the magic show.

If you sit on the outside, you get squished. Sorry, Reid.

Which way to the fun?