A Dickens of a Good Time

 In the tradition of making new memories this year, I decided it would be fun to take the kids to the Dickens Festival. 

 We left 2011 behind and travelled back in time to jolly old England.

 Where we met Queen Victoria herself.

 And travelled in in a horse-drawn carriage winding our way down some cobbled streets lit with gas lamps.

 And enjoyed some chest nuts roasted over an open fire.

 They were yummy.

 Unfortunately the kids had to be reminded to say thank you.

 Morgan was so cute that I was forced to let him go free.

 Aidan and Morgan met Ebenezer Scrooge himself.  Lucky for them it came after he had been visited by three specters and had the Christmas Spirit with him.

 Scrooge gave Aidan and Morgan a gold Guinea

 Kelsey was busy wandering the markets.

 Aidan and Morgan met Mary Poppins. She gave them each some medicine with her magic spoon which she pull out of her equally magic carpet bag.

 We were fortunate to view a rendition of Oliver Twist.  One of Kelsey's classmates from school played the lead.  He did a great job.

 A kind citizen lent the kids some props for an authentic picture.

 Aidan is pretending to be old.

 Morgan wanted to give it a go too, and Aidan helped him cross the road.

 Ah yes, we found some lovely corsets and other delights in the market shops.

 One should be properly supported, don't you agree?

 Kelsey and I even found some cute skirts.  Very Fancy.

 We ended the night at the wooden toy store.  

Morgan's favorite toys were the spinning tops.  He literally played with them for about 40 minutes. They were handmade and beautiful so we got him one for one of his presents. One of the shop merchants (on the left) told us that spinnig tops with Morgan was the most fun he'd had all day.  Totally warmed my heart.

We had so much fun that we didn't even make it through all the streets and buildings.  The Dickins Festival is definitely on our list for next year.

Happy Christmas!