Where Yankees and the Deep South Get Along Just Fine
Sunday, November 18, 2012 at 9:10PM What happens when you spend several hours in a wonderland store with several women, children, and even a Grandpa?
You end up toting just a few bags home from the shop which boasts "America's Best Loved Candle."
Whenever we visit Williamsburg, we visit Yankee Candle. It is a firmly established tradition now, and a trip to this area would not be complete without it. The kids actually really love the store, since it has goodies from Christmas tree ornaments to candy to toys to household decor to candles. There is something for just about anyone in this place.
One thing I counted on them wanting to do this year was make wax molds of their hands. There is a station set up at which you can make a shape with your hand, and someone helps you dip your shaped hand into wax in order to make a fun...well, mold of your hand. Michaela did this last time, and this visit Christian wanted to do it first thing.
The gentleman who helped Christian also helped Michaela two years ago. He is so pleasant! He had Christian put his hand in a very cold, soapy solution which prepped his hand for the warmer wax, and I think also aided in the wax coming off his hand when it was time to take it off.
Cold solution, wax, and then back again, and repeat, and repeat.
Christian thought it felt really weird. (Awkward may have been the word he used.)
After making a small cut somewhere, the man gently slipped the mold off Christian's hand.
Then he dyed it for him.
Fun!
Michaela went next.
She knew what to expect...a pro at it!
At first Eliana wanted to try it, but when she heard how cold the one solution was, and how warm (maybe even hot) the wax was, she changed her mind. She thought sticking a candle in wax was a much more appealing idea! She dipped two adorable sets of candles that we brought home. She could have dipped candles all day.
Well, she could have dipped all day, until she found out about making her own jar candle. All three kids wanted to do this.
They each had a jar; it was a good size too! They put their respective jars below a spout that would softly blow a scented powder in it. They could choose however many scents they wanted, and fill their jars up to the neck.
They were so funny to watch...so patient, waiting for each spout to finish, checking out the different scents.
They were also able to take sticks and make designs in the powder in their jars.
Eliana loved this activity.
She thought this was so cool! She made her own candle! Mom and I thought it was funny that it looked so similar to her sweater!
They had to give their jars to the folks who work there so that they could warm them up and somehow make them candley. When that was done, they got their jars back, and they were ready to light!
I have since discovered that my children very much like to play with fire. (They have been heavily supervised.)
The kids spent some time watching the fountain, and having fun trying to balance pennies on the metal fountain spouts, so that the pennies would shoot up when the water turned on.
And while the kids were doing their creating, and the ladies did some shopping, Grandpa just hung with the group. He watched Christian, Eliana, and Michaela make their candles, and he watched them check out ornaments. He walked with them through the toy store, and he sat with them while they messed around next to the fountain. He made sure they only ate half of their candy while the moms/Grandmas sought out any good deals on candles. His hat says it all: GRAMPS U DA MAN!
It was a fun morning! How could it not be: candles, lollipops, Christmas trees?!
I mean, seriously...who wouldn't love such a cute lollipop?
Reader Comments (1)
Oh. My. Goodness. I had no idea that existed. We have a Yankee store here but it's boring - what a fun place!