On December 1st we let the kids open their advent calendars from Grandma and then they each got to open two Christmas picture books from us. Belén got Pete the Cat Saves Christmas and Shae got the 12 Sleighs of Christmas--and then they each got a Christmas Seek-and-Find. They were ecstatic to get in Christmas jammies from last year and open a couple early presents.
December 1st was on a Friday this year which was perfect since we do Christmas movies and pizza every Friday in December. It was the perfect way to kick off the season.
The next day was the Ithaca Welcomes Santa event at the Commons. Darin was going to be gone all day working on his Dissertation Prospectus, so I took the kids down alone. Ithaca, oh Ithaca, your uniqueness never ceases to amaze me.
Santa and his elves didn't just walk in to the Commons, they repelled down the City Center building. It was so fun. We all hung out outside waiting for him to show up, all the while there were people dressed up as reindeer and snowmen walking around giving out candy canes.
There was also this really cool band playing Christmas music.
Then people started to see elf heads peek over the building.
And the next thing we knew, they were coming down the building. It was really so cool.
I thought I got a picture of Santa coming down, but I must have been taking video instead. He stuck his foot through one of the screen windows which was hilarious...and his beard was totally falling off by the time he was at the bottom. Oh man, it was great.
The kids patiently waiting with some friends to see Santa.
They had little crafts out on the tables for the kids too do while we moved through the line which was really nice.
You probably can't see really well from the picture, but this lady stood in line for who knows how long to have Santa take a picture with her guinea pig. I was dying. Here he is holding it up for the picture.
Not the best Santa (that would be my grandpa), or backdrop or anything, but it wasn't professional in the slightest so that was to be expected. It was all set up for families to take pictures (no professional pictures) and to give the kids an opportunity to talk to Santa which is just what we wanted so it was perfect and magical for the kids which was great.
Shae asked for Legos and the PJ Masks Headquarters (which I'm pretty sure he just saw on some commercial while at my parent's house over Thanksgiving, and will not be getting. Sorry bud.)
I tried to encourage Belén to ask for a cash register since that is what I wanted to get her (please tell me I'm not the only one who coaches their kids before writing/talking to Santa), but she was adamant that she wanted to ask for Skye and Rubble from Paw Patrol--which I think she just asked for because that is what she got from him last year and what she associates with Santa. Not sure if she said anything to him in the end.
I was sad Darin had missed this event, but knew he would get a Santaish experience with the kids when we went to Dicken's Village later in the month. Sadly, that experience never happened since we ended up on the side of the road stuck in a snowy ditch instead.
A truck full of young country dudes pulled over, went home and grabbed their chains, and then pulled us out. We have been calling them our four angels. They were seriously amazing. We had some cash that we handed to them afterwards and wished them a Merry Christmas. It was clear they were unsure what to do as the guy took the money slowly saying, "We don't usually do this..." but took it nonetheless. haha. It was great. I mean, besides the fact that the front of the car got smashed up under the car and filled with snow. But we were all okay and Darin fixed up the car (we think) so all is well. One of these years we will make up to Dickens Village.
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