Last night after dinner we packed up J and headed out to look at Christmas lights in West Seattle. I decided to cut it a bit short compared to last year because pulling J in and out of her car seat is not her ideal of a good time, but she did love looking at the two houses we visited. We picked the big two: the synchronized music house across from the water tower and the Menasches (of course). The music house is fairly new, but I have been visiting the Menasches' house for as long as I can remember. J liked the music house, but loved the Menasches. She just ran up and down their sidewalk screeching and pointing. I on the other hand was frantically trying to figure out how to take night shots of a running toddler without the flash.

By the way, the photos do not do the Menasches' house justice. It is by far the most intricate display I have ever seen. There is a life size nativity barn, a train table, a huge inflatable Santa helicopter and hot air balloon on the roof along with Santa and all his reindeer, a giant snow globe...I mean I could go on and on. They have even been featured on one of those TV shows about houses that go all out with Christmas lights. We chatted with another bystander who happened to be one of the workers that helps set up the lights. It takes eight men, eight hours a day for five days, and one enormous crane. Those Menasches don't mess around!

J attempted to hop the gate to get a closer look.

These lollipops changed color and J just loved them. She kept going back to them and trying to pull them out of the ground.