Kicking off the Holidays!

We decided to kick of the holidays by going to Pullen Park for the Holiday Express. I had heard about it through a friend, but that was about it. And I'll say we were pretty unprepared. First lesson, probably need an older kid to really enjoy it. Second lesson, that older kid, and parents, should have a lot of patience to wait in line. Pullen Park is a big park over by NC State campus that has a train and a carousel, playground, pond, etc. Every year they pseudo decorate the park with some Christmas lights and you can ride the train around and see the lights that have been put up every 20 feet or so. The line for the train was AT LEAST an hour long. And the train itself wasn't even decorated with lights. The line for Santa was at least 45 minutes long. Even the line for hot chocolate wrapped around the concession building. So need less to say, we walked around, took some pictures with some Christmas lights and then left. I guess it was an interesting evening outing. Our next Christmas Activity was taking Arden to see Santa! After seeing Santa at Pullen Park, but Dave not wanting to wait in the line, I decided that my Mom and I would take her when my Mom came up to do some Christmas shopping. Noani (my Mom) had gotten her a Christmas dress, and then we got her some tights and patent leather mary janes. I never thought I would put my daughter in something so stereotypically girlie, but it was her first visit to see Santa and her pink chucks would clash with Santa's red suit. Like a true non-girlie girl though, she instantly tried to eat her shoes and would not keep her legs together. It was hysterical to watch. Once she got up to see Santa, I handed her to him expecting a jolly, HO, HO, HO or something and he very quickly says to me in a very matter of fact, all business voice, "Fix her dress, stand to the right of the photographer and say her name to get her attention." Now, I know I'm older and everything but come on, the guy was bursting my Santa bubble. I was expecting some Santa jolliness and instead got Larry the accountant dressed up as Santa. He could of at least pretended to ask her what she wanted for Christmas or something. Anyway, she looked at him and was like, "Who are you?" then turned and looked at me and the photographer with a blank stare. Then she got overstimulated and started crying. Doesn't every baby? Need less to say we chose this picture as the cuter of the three options.