Schulz Museum

After a lovely late Christmas with Doug's family we spent the night at Kevin's. We then had the entire next day to do as we please - I didn't have to work until 9am the next morning. So, being in Santa Rosa, we went to the Schultz Museum!!!
I was thrilled to death - it was awesome! They have a ton of original strips on display. Woodstock wanted to say HI and Snoopy offered a cookie.

As Doug noted, this ended up being a very Peanuts Christmas - our tree, the tv special I played over and over, the music, Knott's and, of course, the Museum. This display was right after you walked in the museum. I was too excited on the way in and missed it - I about screamed when I saw it on the way out.

Next door to the museum is the Redwood Empire Ice Arena, or Snoopy's Home Ice. We didn't skate - it was packed. This was really neat for me to see - I read all about the construction in the bio Schultz and Peanuts by David Michaelis. (The rink is empty because they were about to resurface it).

Next door at Snoopy's Gallery and Giftshop I did some shopping (suprise). This is cool, the barber pole behind me is the same barber pole that used to hang infront of Schultz's father's shop.

Railroad Square

We drove up to NorCal to have a belated Christmas with Doug's family. His sister and her boyfriend came in from NYC. His brother lives by his parents, so he and his girlfriend both came over. It was very nice. But, before all of that happened, Doug and I had the day to wonder about. We went to Santa Rosa and ended up at the Railroad Square. They have a little visitor center/railroad museum (it was very neat) and a statue of Charlie Brown & Snoopy!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!! We had a very quiet day here. Here are all the gifts around the tree - the most of the gifts from us to the MacPac - but the ones to the far left in the photo are for Doug and I! I cooked a boneless leg of lamb, roasted veggies, rosemary potatoes, and warmed up little prebaked rolls. It was a good meal.

After supper (and cleaning up a little) we went see The Princess and the Frog, the new Disney animated movie set in New Orleans. It was much better than expected - we both enjoyed it.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed BeetleBug

Saw this in the parking lot of Trader Joes. I thought it was funny. I love that it's complete with the red nose.

Festival of Lights

Riverside has a huge Festival of Lights every year. This year was the 17th Annual. There's lights, shopping, ice skating, and, of course, Santa!

The huge tree inside the Mission Inn- you can't see it, but it goes all the way up to the cathedral ceiling - like the 3rd story.

Right outside the main entrance to the Mission Inn are two bronze Spanish cannons from the 1700s. That's all good and well - but they decided to decorate them with creepy elves. Doug and I have decided they are the little-known, much-feared Artillery Elves!
Seriously, who decorates cannons for Christmas?

You can see the lights!

Another view of the Mission Inn:

I got you a little Ornament - it looked like something you'd like. It'll be waiting in Lafayette for you!

What's this? Oh yes, HI AMY!

Mice! Cows! Cannons! Shiny!

We met Christmas Mickey! I had just told Doug I wanted to meet Christmas Mickey this visit - and when we came out of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln there Mickey was!!! We slipped in line right before they cut it off - there was a few families behind us.

We then went back to Toontown to check out the decorations. Mickey decorated his house very nicely for the holidays - it's way more decorated than my apartment.

Doug saw Clarabelle Cow outside Goofy's house - complete in her Holiday Outfit! Neither of us have ever seen her out and about before - I was so excited. I must have looked pretty excited - the cast member working the line said we could be the last to meet her! The little kids behind me were upset - I was thrilled. (and she held the sign! I love when the characters hold the sign!)

Courage - the Luckiest Turkey on Earth at the Happiest Place on Earth. Courage is the pardoned Thanksgiving turkey from the White House. He gets to live out the rest of his life at Big Thunder Ranch. He's really big, much taller than I expected.

We rode the Sailing Ship Columbia, a recreation of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. It's fun - below decks is set up as a 'historical museum' to see what life would be like on the ship in 1787 (you see the bunks and the mess and the Capt's quarters ect). They fire the canon! Boom!

Later in the night we saw the lighting of the castle - they have a big ceremony/light show a few times a night. So Shiny!!

Knott's Merry Farm

We had the day off - so after stopping for coffee (and then eating lunch) we were in Knott's Merry Farm!!! It's decorated really cute - it's a completely different feel than Disneyland. This is Santa's Sleigh - he was on break at the moment, so we snuck in for a photo. Please notice both Gertrude the Cow and Gus the Horse have Santa hats on back there!
Waiting for the Christmas Show to begin. The climax of the show is the lighting of the tree!

A snapshot from the show. I find the costumed Peanut characters petrifying. Snoopy is ok - it's the kids (Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, ect) are scary.
This is random - and I still don't know why it was there, but the Official US Bobsled! It was right after the gate when you walk in.

Candlelight Processional

I had to work this morning, but when I got home Doug noted that it was the Candlelight Processional at Disneyland tonight and we had just enough time to get there. It's the same thing Jonah sings at at WDW. We drove up and parked without problem - and got a great spot! We had to wait for a little over an hour - but I don't think that's bad, some people camp out all day.
It was AWESOME! Jon Voight was the celebratory host.


This is right after it finished - all of those seats you see cost $275 a piece! Seriously, I can go ahead and stand for an hour.