Light tradition

We've done it two years in a row: Texas Roadhouse for dinner (and dancing, if you count Sydney joining the servers for a line dance) followed by Bentleyville for a big dose of chilly, but cheery, holiday fun.

 

So that makes it a tradition, right?

 

 

New this year: Sydney walked the entire way without once asking to be carried.

You wouldn't think in a photo of two kids and an adult that it'd be the adult goofing off for the camera.

Along the way, we (Jeff and I) sipped hot cocoa. The next opportunity to warm up came at the marshmallow roasting fire rings.

 

It was surprisingly easy to convince the kids that - since they've already seen Santa twice this year - we shouldn't wait in the long line for a photo opp with St. Nick. Sydney was more interested in seeing Mrs. Clause, who we had skipped last year.

 

And so we continued walking. And posing. AJ's actually getting pretty good at taking pictures with my camera. (And by "pretty good" I mean he doesn't cut off our heads anymore. Though there's still room for improvement because the backdrop for this photo should have been the Lift Bridge, not a trash bin.)

 

Sydney, of course, happily acts as art director for her photographer brother, instructing us to first smile. And then kiss.

 

At last we made it to Mrs. Claus' house. There was a line of about a dozen families ahead of us. We searched trying to figure out how to join them, but the metal railings had been brought together at the end. It seemed odd because there were no volunteers standing at the end. There were, however, a number of rowdy teenagers standing near the railings. And so, when we saw another family move the railings apart enough to join the line, we did the same.

 

The line moved slowly. Mrs. Clause apparently took time to talk with each child. And then, just as we were getting close, all of a sudden she stood up and moved rather quickly past us toward the end of the line.

 

Uh oh.

 

It wasn't the rowdy teens who'd moved the railings to prevent people from getting in line. It was Mrs. Claus who was nearing the end of her shift. She apologized to all in line and assured us she'd still visit with each of us, as long as the visit was brief.

 

If this lands us on the naughty list, I'm totally blaming Jeff.

 

While we waited in line, AJ looked across the path and got an idea for one last photo.

 

He's got the whole world in his hands. Can't you tell?

 

All things considered, it was an awesome night. Proof that the best traditions come from sharing simple joys as a family.