Bentleyville

I am able to add pictures - at least for now, so I added two pictures to my Thanksgiving post a few days from a few days back.

Now, for this post.

You should all know by now how much I love a good adventure.  We were able to fly to MN and back because of my job at the airport.  Our last hurrah.  The kids got to experience what it is like to fly above the clouds. It was cold and gray in Muskegon, but above the clouds was a beautiful sunny day.  They thought that was cool.  I couldn't get us into Minneapolis because the flights were full, but I could get us into Duluth.  So off to Duluth we flew.  Our good friends met us there and we packed 7 kids into the van and off we went.  Adventures awaited.  We decided to stop at the end of the pier at a park I remembered from two summers back.  I remembered this really cool pirate ship park.  We drove for a long time and finally found the park, which was much cooler in my memory than in real life, but it did provide a place to swing and climb for a bit. It was getting dark so we decided to head out and find some food.  Crossing back over the bridge we saw all these Christmas lights.  A few of the kids asked to drive by it, so why not, another adventure.  Turns out we happened upon Bentleyville.  What is Bentleyville?  Well, I'm glad you asked.  I had to ask the volunteers myself. You pay $5 to park and then you walk through this lighted town.  Its along the bay in Duluth, right by the aquarium, along the walking path.  They have set up little houses to stop at and everything is lights.  There are bridges and dinosaurs, and lawn ornaments and you name it, they built it and lit it up. The centerpiece is a tower shaped like a Christmas tree and the lights are computer connected to the music that is playing.  The first stop along the path is for cookies and hot chocolate.  The next hut has popcorn.  The third hut gives you marshmallows on a stick and has several outdoor camp fires to roast them on.  Then you can visit Santa in his house, then you can visit Mrs. Claus and she gives you a candy cane.  We stopped at all the huts, except Santa, and all the goodies were free! =)  It was a great adventure.  We were cold, but it was fun!  Thanks guys!

The centerpiece tree

The bridge in the back ground

rockin with Santa