Night in Bethlehem

Last Sunday we, and our good friends the Fullers, drove out to Burnet, which is just an hour from here, to see Main Street Bethlehem. It was built by a Baptist church in the town and it was so cool! All the buildings were made out of stone, the streets had cobble stone, everything was lit with torches, and there were people dressed in authentic costume. They open it to the public for free the first two weekends in December every year. It's definitely going to be a tradition for our family from now on!

There were little shops all through the town where you could go inside to see how things were made during that time...Here's my personal favorite--the jewelry shop!
This poor freezing woman was trying to sell not-too-appetizing-looking produce
This guy is the rope maker. He's demonstrating how he lights the whole thing on fire to burn off all of the extra little hairs
Here's Alice the camel...she has one hump.
Stopping for a little refreshment from the town well
Wyatt liked petting the goat
This gal was demonstrating how to make pottery
Lance almost got thrown into prison for making fun of the Roman Guard...they didn't smile AT ALL...I think they were taking this whole thing too seriously...letting their "power" go to their head...sheesh
Here is the candle stick maker...now we just have to find the Butcher and the Baker...

Here we are all searching aimlessly for the Bread maker...we kept hearing everyone RAVE about how good the bread was!...How, they kept going back for more!...What?! You haven't had the bread yet? Oh! You MUST have some of that bread!!!...
FINALLY we find the infamous bread maker! Our mouths are watering, our stomachs anxious for the blessed bread of which we have heard so much of....they were out.
These people, we believe, ATE all of the bread...It's our Bishop and all of his family...pigs.
Guards! Man your chariots and seize them! THAT'S who you ought to be putting in jail! Forget the tax evasers...get the bread hogs!
This woman is weaving baskets to hold bread that no longer exists...
Here's the Synogogue,...I hope they're in there repenting for eating all of the bread..
Campfire chatter about how in all their years of business, they have NEVER run out of bread until this night...
And last, but certainly not least...the manger scene. It really put into perspective just what a bleak, humble place it was. Besides missing out on the bread, it was a really fun experience, and it helped us all put things into perspective....like, it's not all about the bread.

It was actually very cold! 30 degrees freezes us Texans! Thank goodness for Hot Chocolate and Wassail!
The boys weren't as cold...they were running all over the place....go figure....
Oh, wait, when it was my turn to get Wassail, they ran out...Steve took the last one....pig.