The Martin Family News & Notes

All the pics from the day…..

This year’s parade was longer than in past years, seemingly had a larger crowd than past year (maybe because it was 70 degrees out that afternoon) and looked more like a classic car show than ever before, but it was fun nonetheless. Both Brenna & Nicklas made off with a fair amount of candy. Everyone in attendance seemed to have a good time.

No one in the family had the slightest idea where they were going tonight.  They’d been told to be in the car ready to leave by 3:00 PM.  After a relatively short drive up to Bristol, TN we all got to see the Bristol Motor Speedway Speedway in Lights holiday show. We were able to drive on the NASCAR track and NHRA Bristol Thunder Valley drag strip.  The light tour took a little over an hour and fifteen minutes to drive through and was longer then other attractions we’ve attended in the past – like the Shadrack’s display at Smokies Stadium.  You enter the display at the start line of the drag strip, drive down the strip, then up to, around and under the grandstands of the NASCAR track eventually driving through the grandstands where you drop down onto the NASCAR track and take a lap of the World’s Fastest Half Mile.  At the end of the lap you drop down onto the infield of the track for a Christmas Village complete with Santa, roasting marshmallows, warming fires, concessions, and a group of carnival rides for the kids……all while Christmas music is played and lights on the grandstand seats are running in sync to the music. After the Christmas Village you exit by climbing up the banking and out under the grandstands to complete the tour of the Speedway in Lights. Here is a series of pictures from the night. A short video may be posted later documenting the lap on the NASCAR track.

I heard Santa exclaim as he flew out of sight,
Merry Christmas to all
All Spartys good night
Wolverines enjoy the fright
Spartan football still rules the night!

Saturday, December 10, 2011
US-11 / Mulberry Street through Loudon, Tennessee

We took the kids up to see the Shadrack’s Christmas display up at Smokies Park tonight. To see what one would see while driving through the display, watch this:

While there they have a small petting zoo, camel rides, and small amusement area. While everyone took turns feeding and petting the various animals there, one lama took a shine to Nicklas:

Inside the Smokies baseball park Hot Cocoa and treats were available for all as evidenced by Brenna who said thanks for sharing the funnel cake…now it’s time for a cookie!!!

But the ‘best for last’ is when Santa told Nicklas that he needed to do a better job in picking up that mess he called a bedroom: