national harbor and ICE - Shrek

we decided to spend the night at national harbor to enjoy the gaylord hotel evening chritmas tree show and the dreamworks ICE event. we had a great time, and the show was excellent.  they had a lights and water show coreographed to the siberian orchestra's christmas song and ending with an indoor 'snow fall'.  haley was a little scared at first with the loud music and shooting water, but soon enough calmed down and really enjoyed it.  it lasted about 20 minutes. 

haley got to see santa clause and tell him that she was a good girl and exactly what she wants for christmas!  she did so good - was a little apprhensive at first when she sat next to him, but warmed up to him after about 1 minute.  :-)  luckily we had to stand in line a little, so trey took her up close so she could see him and get used to him.  the only downside was he was in 'pajamas' and not the normal christmas gear.  oh well, she was still super excited.  and she got a mini candycane from him. 

we also went swimming at the hotel's indoor pool monday morning, which she really enjoyed.  so, a fun minin vacation! 

here are some pics from around the hotel, the light show at the hotel, and the shrek ICE show.

it was 12 degrees inside the ICE tent, so we had to wear special blue jackets over our clothes (which were very effective!) about 98% of what was inside the tent was made of ice blocks or ice carvings. the first section was all about shrek, but the end had a beautiful nativity scene and angel carving out of ice with a nice christian message.

hotel lobby was lined with these trees

exterior of the hotel

national harbor tree was gorgeours

this gives you an idea of how big it was

these are pics from inside the gaylord hotel's atrium, during the christmas tree lighting show.  the great thing about this show is that it's indoors!

the tree was suspended from the ceiling

 

this pic includes some of the water fountains

this is a view from two stories above the atrium after the tree was lit

outside the ICE tent

the start of the ice show

everything was made of ice

standing in the ice outhouse

there were even 6 ice slides!

the beautiful ice nativity scene

the ice angel