Solvang Christmas Scavenger Hunt

Solvang is a fun town founded by Danish immigrants about an hour away from us. I had heard about their Christmas scavenger hunt, so the kids and I went up to explore the town. We started by heading to the visitor's center and getting all the scavenger hunt clues. There were 10 locations in walking distance in town that would have these niser characters near them. We had to show photos of the kids in front of each of the 10 nisers to earn the secret prize. After our picnic lunch in the park, we started off.

 

Cacti & Christmas trees - so novel to us!

 

We stopped for snacks partway through our hunt. This bakery is renowned for their gingerbread.

Success! And their prizes were these niser ornaments that were great quality!

We took the trolley tour of Solvang at sunset.

Eating a pre-dinner snack as we waited for the town's Christmas light show to start in their main park.

It was a fun day exploring a new place!

Christmas projects & Harbor light parade

We purchased a different advent calendar for each of the kids; Amelia's was a different tea each day. Austin had a unique Lego minifigure while Colleen had a miniature gem art painting project for each day.

The girls and I went to see a production of the Nutcracker.

Dad-son date to the beach

Dad disappeared for a few days for work, so we pulled out Christmas projects.

Working on a Christmas string/nail art project

 

 

Amelia & I made this star bread for the Homesteader's Moms' Christmas party.

Colleen asked me if she could learn how to sew. So we started with needle, thread, & fabric.

Austin continues to lead his sisters in making improvements to their fort space.

Christmas lights so we fit into the neighborhood

Harbor Christmas light parade with fireworks

Beach afternoon in December, just because we can

 

Pinewood Derby & Christmas Kickoff 2023

After we recuperated from the Kalahari plague, we started getting our Christmas decorations out.

Making foccacia

Afternoon hike and caching at Honda Open Preserve

 

Our homeschool co-op had a pinewood derby race. They held it in the youth room of a church; the older kids could watch from up in a loft while Patrick had been coerced into helping run the race.

 

Austin took 1st place; Amelia took 3rd. Colleen was in 5th.

Dandelions in December in our yard

Our church hosted a Christmas kick-off party where everyone could decorate cookies and cook s'mores among other activities. They also created a sledding hill with fake snow/ice on top of hay bales. Even though Amelia & Austin were not impressed after their first run, Colleen was just so thrilled to be sledding that she kept getting in line.

 

 

Austin thoroughly enjoyed the tent with snow for throwing snowballs.

 

After our pastor gave a short message, they lit up a Christmas tree and had foam coming out of pipes. Austin and Colleen enjoyed getting covered in foam.

 

We finished up our November art study of Gustav Klimt. Here are their art pieces inspired by his "Tree of Life."