Ready to scratch that Holiday itch just a little? Check out The Summit this Friday at 6:30pm as they light the shopping center with more than a million lights! There will be a festive parade with marching bands, antique fire trucks and decorative floats.

Santa will make his grand entrance after the 3-D fireworks show. So stick around for your free Santa Picture.

*** Santa will be back for Photos starting the Friday after Thanksgiving so stop by and see Santa on his sleigh, outside of Belk. You’ll even receive a complimentary bag of Bud’s Best cookies! Yum!

Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
9am-11am, Noon-4pm, 5pm-9pm

December 5-20 Saturdays and Sunday from Noon-4pm

We originally posted this last year 11/18/08, but it’s a tradition… so it comes around every year!

The holidays are just around the corner and it’s time to start pulling out the decorations! Having kids means passing down traditions, and even making some of our own. I want my children to have meaningful memories of their childhood.

Our newest tradition came from I’m a Mom!?!. It’s a book called The Elf on the Shelf. It is a cute book that comes with a little retro inspired elf that hides in various spots around the house. We start reading at bedtime every night just after Thanksgiving. We name the elf and explain that he isn’t a toy to be played with. The book explains to the kids that the elf sits in different spots around the house to help Santa see if they are naughty or nice. So every morning, the kids get up and run downstairs to see where the elf is hiding today. Here’s a description of the tradition.

It made my son so excited last year he was nearly jumping out of bed to go find “Bob” for the day! I think it’s something he will look forward to doing every year, and that he can look back on fondly. And it was nice for me to remind him that Bob was watching…

Seems like the time to get a jump on the Holiday Shopping! If you are out this weekend hitting the sales and markets, add this one to your list.

The 3rd annual Holiday Market this Saturday, November 14th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, in the gym. Oodles of handmade arts and crafts will be available to purchase for that special someone. In addition, baked and canned goods, candies, edible gifts, Christmas decorations, white elephant items, children’s items, and oh, so much more await you. There will even be a special booth, Everything’s $1, for kids to shop for their parents’ gifts.

Too tired to shop? Well, just sip on a bowl of homemade soup in the cafe or receive a soothing massage. All proceeds from the Holiday Market go to Saint Mark’s missions and ministries.

Going on now until December 24th, you can take the little ones out to Bass Pro Shops and explore the magic of the Holidays.

There will be:

Free Games and Activities

Free Crafts on the weekends, kicking off this Saturday, November 14th with a “Chirsmoose” Ornament… Very cute!

Free Photo with Santa and more!

Here’s the rundown on the when’s and what’s….

Or visit their site for more details

Members Get FREE Admission To The Auto Show This Weekend!

November 12 – 15, 2009

Present Member card at the East Exhibition Lobby entrance.

Think the kids will be bored at the Auto show? Guess again! Take them out to experience the Kids Fair going on the 13th -15th. There will be appearances by Scooby Doo, Aubie, and everyone’s favorite square sponge, SpongeBob Squarepants!
McWane will also be hosting Science Camps, so don’t miss out.

With over 400 2010 models of domestic and import cars, trucks, SUV’s, vans and Hybrid vehicles of all sizes, It sounds like this will be fun for the whole family! (or maybe a good day for BirminghamDaddy’s to take the kids out and give you a break, just a thought!)