'Tis the Season

We decided to stay in Vegas this Christmas and missed our families, but actually went out of our way to do some Christmas-y things as a little family unit...and Nicola. She found some last minute tickets to Vegas and we were so glad. We tried a find a good balance of going out and doing things and holding down the couch. Poor Nicola needs about as much sleep as a newborn, so she and Mason got along swimmingly. 

We bundled up and walked around our neighborhood, delivering our Christmas treats. Yes, Christmas treats. It was our first year and after the first house, realized we needed to step it up. We handed our friends a small dessert plate of chocolate-dipped Oreos and came away with a dinner plate full of a variety of delicious cookies. Next year. Maybe we'll even do a Christmas card next year. But likely not. As we wandered the neighbourhood in search of our friends and acquaintances, we admired the handful of houses that put up Christmas lights and called it a night. It was a lot of fun and a good excuse to try to assemble some wintry gear we probably won't wear again.

 

What's better than a dazzling lights display in the middle of the desert? A dazzling lights display in the middle of the desert with dessert! We visited Ethel M's Chocolate Factory and went on the "tour" - that is, walked down a longish hallway, gawking at the oompa loompas factory employees working their delicious magic - and were rewarded with a piece of chocolate at the end, which my husband and daughter proudly displayed for the photo at the end. Charmed, I'm sure.

Nicola Picola even babysat for us so we could go out on a real live date. We went to see The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and really enjoyed it. Of course, as often as we get out, I would have enjoyed a drive around the block sans children.

 

We took personality quizzes during the drive home and were somewhat surprised with the results. We were a little disappointed when we read the characters' names, but were shocked at some of the striking similarities when the characters were outlined.

Our gift from Nicola was a night on the town, and we appreciate it very much. Almost as much as Teagan and Mason appreciate theirs. 

Santa Nicola showed up with a Lalaloopsy nightgown and Play-Doh ice cream shop for Teagan...and an apology for me. And Mason will the best dressed 3-6 month old around when he fits into the darling button up shirt, jeans and suspenders Auntie Nicola brought for him. Seriously adorable. We loved her presents and we LOVED her presence.

Apparently people take their babies to see Santa and make it a yearly thing? Well, consider this one thing that Mason, our poor second child, has on his older sister. Apparently we're terrible parents for not taking her to see Santa immediately after she was born...or the year after that...or the year after that. Oops. So she met Santa at 3 and did just fine. Based on the line (on a Wednesday night, no less) going nearly all the way around the store, I could have gotten in line when she was a baby and still be there. It took us nearly two hours to get to the front and at one point, I snapped a photo of Teagan with Santa in the background, thinking that would be as close as she'd get to meeting him before the store closed. But meet him, we did, and he was very sweet.

When asked what she'd like, she told him a teddy bear. I must admit to breathing a sigh of relief that she didn't list off a squillion different things that she wanted or request anything that may assist her in shooting out her eye. I didn't get in line as a proud mother (especially when they told me I could frame this photo next to the photos from the last three years) but her humble request let me leave as one.

And bless Santa's heart, assuming that I'd been the mother I should have been and taken my oldest child to see Santa by herself in years past, insisted that he keep Mason on his weathered lap for a solo photo. Presumably to hang beside the one of just he and Teagan. Oops. Very sweet, though.

Had she had more experience with Santa, she may not have FREAKED OUT at the Ward Activity when he showed up. Within a week of visiting him at Bass Pro Shops, no less. No amount of bribery (the paper bag was chock full of treats) could make her sit quietly on the poor man's lap. She wasn't alone, though. There was a whole line of children waiting to be traumatized while their parents documented the moment. He did not get paid enough. Or at all.

While we missed our families a ton, this was the first year that Teagan was actually cognizant of the season and what was happening so it made it a little more fun for as a wee family of our own. Unless you ask Teagan.