We have been anticipating today for a few weeks now. We were all going to be home on the same Saturday, right before Christmas! Jake and I really wanted to do something fun with the kids that they hadn't done before.
We rode the Frontrunner train to Salt Lake for a day of fun. We ate at the Lion House Pantry, checked out the magic of the Disney store, looked at every calendar in the other toy store, then ... we met the Big Guy, Santa, himself. I sang and quoted our favorite movie, Elf, while we trudged through the crowds. Abbi (who is only 8 years old) kept her head down and tried to hold my hands down. She also pretended not to know me when I elfed it on the escalator. If she's already embarassed by me she has a long life ahead of her.
Abbi jumped right up on his lap and asked for a telescope, and Easy Bake Oven, and earrings. Then, she asked Santa to "Please split our presents because me and my brother have two houses." Santa assured her that he would do that so he is coming a day early to our house!
Noah quietly (oddly) sat on Santa's lap and asked for a toy truck. He gave all the right answers about being a good boy and jumped off as soon as he could.
I loved the way that City Creek had the Santa business set up. We got to go into Santa's lantern without any other kids and have his, and Mrs. Claus's, undivided attention. It was awesome!
After our visit, we ran through the revolving door and rode the elevator to the the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. I told Abbi that Grandma and Grandpa Hansen got to walk out on top of the temple before and instead of being awed she was just happy they lived.
We took them into the tabernacle next. Abbi loves to hear the odd bits of history Jake and I could pull together to tell her about Temple Square. I told them how, once, my face was broadcast onto the ceiling of the tabernacle during Young Women's Conference. Instead of being awed, they tried to figure our where the men and women sit in the choir seats. Oh, well.
The horses pulling the carriages were a hit so we ran to catch one. Unfortunately, forty other people had already thought of it. Noah begged for ice cream for dinner. I would have obliged but Jake is a little more sensible than me. There was exactly no where to sit to eat anything due to the ginormous crowds doing last minute shopping and sight seeing. I dare say downtown Salt Lake City hasn't seen a Christmas season like this in a long time. Thank you, City Creek.
My country boy husband wore thin among the people towards the end but assures me that we will be doing this every year because of how much the kids love it. I love it too but I certainly will be wearing better shoes next time.
This has to be the best Saturday of the year. We have had a lot of good ones but the Christmas atmosphere trumps everything. I thought about how, for the last eleven years, I have been scheduled to work every Saturday. I feel so lucky to be at home now to take advantage of these good days and to make memories with my little family. Man, I'm one lucky girl.
Christmas is love.
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