December 1

Yes, I'm already behind. Very aware of that, but lets just carry on....shall we?

Last weekend the local church once again held sleigh rides in the park. And who doesn't love sleigh rides???? 

They take me back to my kid days, when the opportunity to actually go on an honest to goodness sleigh ride through the fields and around the farm was just that much more available than it is to my cityslicker kids. I'll be honest. I expected Mr.Mister to freak out. He seems to freak out at the weirdest things these days. He's a particular child and definately has his likes and dislikes. But I digress. My plan of attack on this particular outing was to get to the park as soon as the event started...if not earlier. Our community really does put on some cool outdoor events, and if the weather is nice, the community turnout can be phenominal (even when the weather isn't so nice, people still try to get out and participate) So the quicker one gets oneself to an event, the better chance you have of NOT having to stand in the never ending line-up. I had peeked out the window at about 1530 and noticed the vehicles that were beginning to line the street and figured it was time to get the kiddos into their winter gear and get them IN gear. Done and done. Even though she had been down with the stomach flu all day, Lil' Miss was raring to go...she knew what sleigh rides were all about (and it takes alot to discourage her from an outing to the park...). Mr.Mister left, fresh from a nap, and crying from being jammed into marshmellow outdoor gear and told to get moving or he'd get left behind. By the time we got to the end of the sidewalk he was alright.
"Oooo, whasts daaaaaat...." Mr.Mister's signature phrase at the moment.
So that was a good sign. No freak out yet.
And no line up. We basically walked ourselves right on to the sleigh ride. No waiting at all.

One sleigh ride down....and because there was still no line up....we went again!!!! And then we tried to sit on Santa's knee....I told Lil' Miss that Santa would be at the park and that she should think of one toy that she would like him to bring her for Christmas. I gave her lots of heads up that she needed to sit on his knee and tell him, in person, her Christmas request, then if she was a good girl it might be waiting under the Christmas tree for her on Christmas morning (my attempt to encourage her to be a good and obedient child). She was very receptive and very encouraged to go visit Santa (I think everyone knows Lil' Miss and her hesitancy about Santa). So we promptly got in the line-up (it was still small at this point).

And as we got closer and closer, she got quieter and quieter. Mr.Mister didn't know what hit him. It became our turn and I plopped him on Santa's knee. He was quiet for about 2 seconds.....then the crying began. Freak-out. I knew it would happen. So I took him and looked around for Lil' Miss. It was her turn....and she was absolutely no where to be found. She had been standing beside me at one instant, and the next she had purposely run away because deep down inside....she had absolutely NO INTENTION of sitting on Santa's knee! So I went and hunted her down and found her with tears on her face.  Yes, she was afraid and she just wasn't ready to sit on Santa's knee that day. But if I wanted to, I could take her to the mall and she would see Santa there.

This was the closest we could get to pictures with Santa (he is nowhere close!).

Enough of that now. We're off to get cookies and hot chocolate.