Note to self: The starlighting sucks.

I knew it.

John knew it.

But still I insisted on taking the kids to the annual Castle Rock Starlighting.  It fools me every time-- small town gathering to usher in the holiday season.

Except our small town isn't so small anymore. It was a mad house. We had to park nearly a mile away (which was not too far from our house). Then there was a train stopped on the tracks between where we were and where the festivities were. If you know anything about railroad safety-- it is a crime to enter the right-of-way, let alone cross the tracks. So, as the consummate rule abider, we walked the four blocks around the train to get to the open crossing. There were groups climbing their way over the hitches on the train or crossing the track, it was anarchy at its best.




Whoomp. There it is.

Making the rounds

Chickie was not impressed.




John in his get-up.  He kind of likes to dress the part.



Kitty enjoying the fireworks.

Once we got there it was so crowded that we couldn't see any of the boring booths handing out pamphlets so we just walked the circuit.  The only booths we could see were the ones making a killing selling glow sticks.  Really? $10 for the one with a bulb on the top? I gave in (like always) and told the kids they could get one for $5 or less.  Kitty picked one and gave it to Chickie while John insisted he needed the $10 wand. So needless to say, the night ended with John screaming at me in a crowd of hundreds of people.  We saw a few of the fireworks on our way back around the train and up the hill to our car. 

Let the holidays begin!



John's highlight of the night.  Roadkill.