Ashe, who cannot quite read, decided to help Becs check out the latest in early children’s literature. It actually looks like she is completely engrossed in the book… classic picture.

I know “mommy blogging” is blowing up all over the place, which is awesome. And, now, after about two years of poking and prodding, my mom has also started blogging. Mom is probably not in the aforementioned category because she is a grandmother (to our two children). So I will place her in the category of “grandmother blogging.”

Mom got her degree in English and she has wanted to write a book for a long time. The new blog gives Mom an outlet to begin writing on a more consistent basis until she feels ready to write her thoughts out in a more full-length manner. You can tell that Mom has an English degree. While my posts are more ramblings about the things that are on my heart, her posts are more well-written and in story format. A good example is her post titled “An Idyllic Evening.”

Please go by and check out her blog. Please also throw a comment her way. She is new to blogging and I know she could use the support.

As an added trivia bonus, the title Geriatric Thoughts came from my sister. Alicia thought it would be a funny name for Mom’s blog and it just stuck.

My buddy, JP, has been told on a few occasions that he favors Ponch from CHiPs. While I do not necessarily agree, we decided to have some fun anyway.

The only reason I am watching World Cup soccer right now is because Bechan keeps demanding that we do so.

Sure she is only five weeks old, but she is addicted to soccer already. She even has the whole WC schedule on her calendar.

Really… that is the only reason.

I think Bechan is beginning to hit the (milk) bottle a little too hard.

The warning signs are all there: late night milk binges, sleeping hard through the day and night, lack of productivity at work, occasional neediness.

It might be time for an intervention.

Kevin Cook’s Computer Controlled Christmas is probably the last house on our tour of Charlotte-area Christmas lights. And this is another great display of Christmas lights. In fact, I believe we might have saved the best for last. Unlike the house on Mammoth Oaks, Kevin’s house does not have the extra items like roller-coasting penguins. But what Kevin lacks in figurines he greatly makes up for in awesome computer-choreographed lights.

Kevin has seven songs choreographed with his Christmas lights. Most of the songs are catchy dance/techno versions of their traditional counterparts. A few of the songs on his playlist are Jingle Bells, Carol of the Bells, Music Box Dancer, and Amazing Grace. Credit also goes to Kevin for resisting the temptation to include the Christmas lights default song, Wizards in Winter by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

You will notice in some of the videos that Kevin is standing outside of his house while people are watching the lights show.  He seems more than happy to hang out and chat with the people coming to see the lights.  Each year Kevin takes donations for a charity and this year he is taking donations for A Child’s Place.

His house is located on Honeynut Drive in Charlotte, NC and the lights are on display until January 1.

Here are some videos that we took of his house. The videos do not do the light show justice, but I hope they give you a glimpse of what Kevin offers.

Choreographed Christmas Lights from Leo Wurschmidt on Vimeo.

Choreographed Christmas Lights from Leo Wurschmidt on Vimeo.

Choreographed Christmas Lights from Leo Wurschmidt on Vimeo.

Choreographed Christmas Lights from Leo Wurschmidt on Vimeo.

Choreographed Christmas Lights from Leo Wurschmidt on Vimeo.

The next house on our Charlotte Christmas lights tour is based on a recommendation from a friend that lives across the street from us. The house is located on Sherwood Forest Dr in Charlotte, NC.

You can see this house while driving down Colony Rd and it is amazing. I would dare say that almost every square foot of property is covered by Christmas lights. I was told that the owner dresses up as Santa Claus and sits in his sleigh handing out candy canes.

You will notice that another house is included in the photos. This was across the street from the main one on Sherwood Forest. Almost everyone on the street decorated their house in one form or another and it was really impressive to see. This street definitely takes the prize for most festive in Charlotte.

For our second outing around the Charlotte area, in search of Christmas lights, we decided to head to Belmont, North Carolina. Belmont is home to the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden (DSBG). Around Christmas, the DSBG displays over 600,000 Christmas lights and it sounded like an excellent option.

The DSBG provides three options for looking at their incredible light display. The first option is to walk throughout the gardens. Lights outline garden paths, highlight fountains, and create a beautiful color explosion all over the grounds. You can also take a carriage ride around the front side of the gardens. The third option is to take a tram along the left side of the gardens, which provides a view of the garden and lights as a whole.

Other activities include a model train display, which Asher loved; a 16-foot orchid tree; Santa appearances; and various holiday events, such as Christmas carolers.

It was a great experience and visiting the DSBG looks to be added to our annual list of Christmas events.

*I hope the pictures below give you an idea of what the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden has to offer around Christmas time, but I do not think they fully do them justice.

This year we are trying to get out and enjoy all of the work other people have done with their outdoor Christmas decorations. We are driving around the big city of Charlotte in hopes of finding some awesome Christmas light displays.

Since it is the Christmas season and a time of sharing, I will let you join us in finding the Griswaldiest house Charlotte, NC has to offer. No back seat driving, though.

Our first house on the list is probably the best. They have penguins on a roller coaster, a mega tree, lights operating in conjuction with music broadcast over the radio, and a bi-plane with lights all over it and a spinning prop. It is straight awesome!!

Info:
mammothxmas.com
501 Mammoth Oaks Dr
Charlotte, NC 28270 (map)

Enjoy!

Christmas Lights on Mammoth Oaks from Leo Wurschmidt on Vimeo.

Christmas Lights on Mammoth Oaks from Leo Wurschmidt on Vimeo.

Michele’s friend invited her to go see the new Twilight movie tonight. Four friends were planning on going to see the movie. Two are enamored with the movie and have seen it multiple times. Michele and another woman have not seen it and usually do not go ga-ga over movies like their friends.

Unfortunately for Michele, the other woman who has not seen the movie will not be able to come tonight. I joked with Chele about the fact that this creates an imbalance between crazed movie fan and not. It also reminded me of a quote I saw on The Office a few weeks ago:

Pam and Jim are on their honeymoon, so there’s not the usual balance between “sane” and “others.” Toby has mentally checked out since June. It’s a very dangerous time. The coalition for reason is extremely weak.

That kind of reminds me of my workplace environment.