After a quick snack we hopped in line to go in a see Ice. This year's theme was Frosty the Snowman. I always enjoy walking through, but it just seemed extra crowded to me this year. Both kids were most looking forward to the ice slide. This was Evan's first ever trip on the ice slide and I'm so sad I didn't get pictures of him. The smile on his face was huge and immediately after he got off, he said he wanted to go again. Of course having waited 15-20 minutes just to do it once, we passed on the second time.
After the slide, Shawn and Evan walked through the rest pretty quickly, as it was just so cold and we couldn't let Evan walk around himself without him trying to run away. I stayed back with Em and my brother's family to walk through the rest.
When we left Ice, we wandered around the hotel for a little bit waiting for our dinner reservation time. Julie and I decided to get in line for Santa while the boys entertained the kids. Unfortunately, the Santa line wasn't moving fast enough, so we had to get out of line in order to make our reservation. That would come back to haunt us later!
We ate at the Mexican restaurant. It's the same one we end up at every year. It's just okay.
After dinner, we headed back to get in line for Santa only to realize that he was on break until 8:00. It was only 6:50 right now. :( The kids really wanted to see him and I had my heart on them seeing him, so we decided to stick it out (much to the dismay of Shawn and Kevin). Shawn knows that once I get my heart set on something, it's usually going to happen. . haha.
Me and Julie entertained the kids for a very long hour while Kevin and Shawn waited in line (with their cocktails in hand). Santa finally came back and after a short wait, the kids all got to sit on his lap. Em was so excited and couldn't wait to tell him she wanted a Barbie house. Evan was not sure about Santa at all. He sat in the chair quick enough for a picture and that was it. No crying, but just not at all sure about Santa. But don't worry, as soon as he was back behind the camera watching Em sit on his lap, he yelled to Santa that he wanted music for Christmas. . lots and lots of music.
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| Em pouting because she was squished |
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| Evan (2), Emily (5), Natalie (6) and Lauren (9) |
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| Strike a pose! |
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| Waiting in line for Santa |
I will admit that this trip is a bit of a beating between Evan wanting to run around and not listen, it being so cold in Ice, the hotel being so crowded and having to wait around for Santa. But as I said to Shawn, as much of a beating that this trip to the Gaylord is, I always walk out at night being so glad we did it. It's become a fun holiday tradition.
And of course I couldn't pass up a chance to look back at all our Santa pics. I'm not sure why, but apparently we only started Santa pics when Evan was born.
