Kissmas t'wees and other adventures ~ December 14, 2013

Jamie surprised me with the suggestion of going downtown today to see the tree and maybe let her do Santa again. He knows what a Christmas dork I am and the thorough brain washing I have rendered on our child to be one as well. Why else would she look outside every morning and say with despair, "No snowmen." Our couple dustings of snow have been a big tease to not only myself.

After the failed preschool tour that morning, I was all in! (The tour consisted of us getting out of the car, looking at the building, and Jamie announcing, "No way in hell.") It was a quick walk to the Max stop from our car, Nora was already gussied up to see Santa (because I had been dressing her that way since Thanksgiving), and all of us had had enough sleep for once to have the energy for the outing. We were off.

Someone was very excited to be downtown. As soon as I mentioned that we were going to go see the
big Christmas tree she wanted to jump off the Max at every stop in hopes that it was our destination. Then again, a lot of people feel that way on the Max but normally not our daughter who loves riding trains.





Video:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/sptdesjt0d4cytl/2013-12-14%2009.28.22.mp4

Once we arrived at Pioneer Courthouse we realized the following: 1.) Santa on the Square should be called Satan's Samba,
2.) we would not be standing in that line, and 3.) our child was fully indoctrinated with my Christmas insanity.

She grabbed for our hands and began frog marching us up the hill as fast as her little legs could take her. She wanted to see the "kiss'mas t'wee!".

Jamie and I cracked up watching her race around the square hooting and shouting in excitement. We had trouble getting her to stand still for photos and even more trouble explaining to her that we didn't have to hurry. She was convinced that we needed to run and shouted, "Come on!"

She did her best to try and grab the tree while she was up on Jamie's shoulders, hammed it up for tourists and those waiting in line to see Santa on the square, and then bolted up the brick ramp when we mentioned that she could have a milk from Starbucks.

            

 

The barista at Starbucks was as unimpressive as they usually are now and tried to pass off leftover/tainted milk as straight whole milk. Nora got a big gulp of someone's latte before we caught the error. Which would explain her Energizer Bunny impersonation upon arriving at Macy's.

 

 

We took one look at the line for Santa at Macy's and changed our minds. Nora was thrilled just to mess with all the ornaments, watch the robotic reindeer, and write multiple letters of gibberish to Santa.

The fake snow was as big of tease as the dusting of real snow we had last week. She reached in to touch what she thought was snow and got pissed. "Not snow. No snowmen." We reminded her that maybe it might snow again and if not that there was always next year. She pouted her lips, "No snow." I totally understand, kid.

 

The highlight of the day for her was writing letters to Santa.

      

 
 

I'm pretty sure her letters were mostly scribbles but if they were to be deciphered they should have included the following that have been mentioned over the past week as her wishes for "Kiss'mas":

- a piano
- Elmo
- cookies
- cheese
- pasta

At least her demands are not unreasonable, if not, the most healthy. And by healthy I mean Elmo because you better believe I found her one that doesn't talk, sing, or vibrate...frightening.

As exhausted as I was, I knew Jamie really wanted to go to Virginia Café and how much Leah would love to see Nora so after a couple stops to shop for Grandma off we went for lunch, uphill.

Nora was easily convinced to go to lunch as soon as Jamie mentioned tatertots and I was looking forward to sitting down and the use of a clean toilet. (Side note, don't use the restrooms at Macy's unless you like the charm of the facilities at bus stations and airports.)



Nora calmly waiting for tatertots after speed coloring in the books Leah gave her. She was far more entranced by watching Leah move around the bar and interact with people. It gave Jamie and I a chance to chat while all of us took a much needed rest. I think the tainted gulp of milk had finally burnt out of Nora's system because she started to crash a bit right before the food. The photos pretty much cover her energy decline as her head got closer to the tabletop.

 

All in all, one of the best family outings we've had so far. No meltdowns, no fighting, no injuries, and Nora behaved too.

She stayed awake on the train long enough to see the tree again as we departed and then promptly fell asleep on Dada's lap.


 

And to all a good nap...which of course ended once we were home.