Visiting Santa & Looking at ICE!

We procrastinated.

Each year we go visit Santa. Usually, we go in middle of the day, in the middle of the week to avoid the crowds... this year, it just didn't work out. (See posts from the previous week.) So today, we were determined...even though it is 2 days before Christmas... even though it is a weekend... to see Jolly Old Saint Nick. Also, we have been trying to go to a local resort hotel that decorates amazingly for Christmas all month. This hotel, The Gaylord Texan, also has an exhibit called "ICE!" that we have been considering visiting - we just couldn't decide between it and The Nutcracker. Today, ICE! won... and Santa was there too, so we killed 2 partridges with one stone. :)

I did not expect Cooper to stay on Santa's lap for more than a half a second, but miraculously he did! He wouldn't speak to him, but I helped him let Santa know that he has talked non-stop for a month about wanting a piano. Jack was brainstorming last minute about what he should ask Santa for, and finally came up with his 3 things (only one of them was one that I had not heard before), and Allie only told Santa that she wants an American Girl doll. Santa said, "Which one?" When she said, "Nicki", he said, "Oh! The 'doll of the year'". We were impressed with his doll knowledge. When we walked away, Cooper said, "Now I want to open my presents." He's still learning...


I'll post some pictures from ICE! later... I must get to wrapping gifts for now.