How to Do the Zoo

Our last hurrah in the south was Zoo Atlanta!

Here's how we do the Zoo:

1. 

Let the toddler direct traffic.  Just make sure the map is right-side up...you got it Layne!

2.

Do not be afraid to become one with the animals.  Monkey around a little!

3.
When your little legs get tired, be on the lookout for a free ride.

and then park the baby on your lap to draw attention away from the 30 year old dude being pushed around by his wife!

4.

Get the panda hand-stamp on both hands!  Way more fascinating than the actual panda!  Especially to the 2 year old!

5.

Pet the pot-belly-pig.

and the sheep and the llamas.  Just don't get caught downwind!

6.

Just wash around the panda hand stamps.  You aren't going to win this one.  And really, a little dirt on their hands just builds up immunity.  And those stamps will bring smiles for the next week.    

Santa's Lap

My 3 little kids know Santa.  They watch the Santa Claus 1, 2, and 3 movies numerous times each December.  They have it all figured out!  Abbey has taken a guess that the Santas at the malls are obviously not the "real Santa" but helpers or elves dressed up.  Because we have Buddy taking all our messages straight to the North Pole, she wasn't too concerned with seeing Santa.  But Layne is another story.  She has been begging to sit on Santa's lap.  She has promised me, in her 2-year-old language, that she won't cry...he's not scary.  She goes crazy each time we are at the mall and we catch a glimpse of his snowy white beard and red suit.  We have hit long lines and the dreaded "gone on break" sign each time we have attempted, so I thought we would just see the Atlanta, Georgia Santa.

This is as close as we got!  This 2 year old may never speak to me again!  As we practically skipped through the empty line dividers, I was abruptly stopped by the guy who was in charge, who was sadly not wearing the red suit.  I got up to speed quickly.  I had to have an appointment to see Santa.  The only "walk-in" days were Fridays and Saturdays, and I could expect to wait up to 5 hours on those days.  Every Santa in the state operated the same and I would have to go home and call the appointment line to have a shot at sitting on Santa's lap before Christmas.  Seriously.  I had no idea that Santa had gone union!  More importantly, I had no idea how my kids were going to see Santa with just a few days before Christmas.  Sean and Ashley thought the appointment Santa was as crazy as we did, so Ashley came up with a plan!  She works at the Forum and had spotted a great Santa there, with Mrs. Claus and a sleigh.  With no advertised appointments necessary we headed up there.

and this little one got to sit on Santa's lap!  No tears!  A little bit of a concerned look, but that didn't keep her from hopping in the sleigh!

and then we all really wanted to hop in the sleigh too!

Airborn

LAX to ATL

Early Gifts

Handmade.  Little treasures made with special care and given with enormous excitement.

I'm Getting Nothing For Christmas

Let the kindergarten festivities begin!

The decorations, the songs, the musical instruments, the smiles and giggles...there is nothing more fun than this little class of kindergarteners performing!  They just eat up the attention and applause, and we ate up their delicious personalities!  Landen has been singing bits and pieces of "I'm Getting Nothing for Christmas"...or maybe that isn't the real title...but that is what they love to belt out!  We have been hearing it for weeks, as a solo.  Today, we got the whole production!  Hilarious!  No wonder it was Landen's favorite tune.

The front row with bells in hand.  They were so cute concentrating hard to ring at the right times.  It was a huge hit!  The room was filled with handmade holiday decor...above is Landen's snow globe.  

Layne clapped and cheered for Landos and Royal and I grinned at our little guy singing his heart out!  Let the holidays begin!

Packing our Suitcases, and Checking them Twice

We are headed to Atlanta for Christmas this year.  We'll stay at Uncle Sean's house for 2 whole weeks!  We are so excited!  There have been a few concerns as to where our presents will go and how big they will be because we will have to carry them home on an airplane.  Abbey has written Buddy (our elf) numerous notes to explain the situation.  She has come up with many options for Santa, so I think we are covered.  Landen can't wait to play with Mimi and Mai Tai and sleep at their house, maybe even in Mai Tai's bed.  Santa baby, above, is hoping to speed things up a bit by climbing into the suitcase herself!  Perhaps she'll reach the east coast a little quicker as luggage!  Soon enough, this suitcase will top off at it's 50 pound limit and we will be off on our Christmas Vacation!

Christmas Jammies Have Arrived!

Around the House

Since we are spending Christmas back east this year, we almost skipped the tree.  Well, I guess I mostly dreamed of skipping the tree, the lights, the decorating, the stockings.  But, the kids.  It's all about the kids.  Funny how that happens.  Landen began begging for the Christmas tree to make an appearance on Thanksgiving Day, and it went up, on Thanksgiving Day!  In record breaking time, we had it decorated, along with the rest of the house.  We even strung some lights on the trees and bushes in the front yard!  There is something magical about twinkle lights all around the house and the sparkling reds and greens on every shelf.  I'm so glad we didn't miss out.  Even if Santa won't see our house this year, we enjoyed it.

decorating the tree

landen's boat tree

abbey decorating her tree

some sparkle