First Santa Sighting 2010

Tonight we enjoyed some early Christmas festivities.
here are some background details---

When our congregation moved to new location, they were asked (i think by Chamber of Commerce) if they would host the community Christmas tree in our church's front "yard".
Having an annual tree lighting event has proved a fantastic way to meet more people in our community.

It is similar to an open house. (huh, that reminds me that reminiscing open house is a whole "nother" post i want to do later.)

anyway, for the tree lighting, there is Xmas music, hot beverages and one bajillion cookies (provided by church members) to be enjoyed inside the building and a long trail of paper sack luminaries leading to our tree. after the music, we all walk out to the tree and Santa rides up on a vintage firetruck covered in Xmas lights. it is a sight to behold. it makes me want to cry, its so magical, and i am 31 yrs old. Santa lights our tree up and then he is swarmed by children.

So anyway tonight, i arrived late for the music, which is for the best b/c when you are going solo with 2 tots you can't sit still and listen to anything. let me re phrase. you can't sit still, ever.
but also i arrived late b/c i was seeing the husband off to work. he only had about 30 minutes to spend with us, so that is how it went down.
when we arrived, we headed for the cafe--- Troy cruisin in his 2007 Graco. this is an "overflow" room with extra seating and a big screen displaying the music from the auditorium. also a room where people with small kids gather b/c of the previously mentioned issue-- "can't sit still"-- AND don't forget, the gigantic stash of cookies is in the cafe.
so we 3 loaded up on cookies and coffee, prepped 2 sippie cups with hot cocoa. chatted with friends and eventually made our trek to the outdoor tree.
as a mom of tots, there is a certain amount of time that i spend everyday calculating the most miniscule, routine tasks. these are actions that alot of other people perform without even noticing or knowing that it could ever be a complicated fiasco. i will think about a problematic issue and have to create a solution.
of course a critical mom skill is creatively solving surprise problems the instant that they are presented.
But i am talking about realizing that in a couple of days or even weeks there is gonna be an issue, and spending time solving that problem in the back of my mind.
one example of this being--- me tonight with Troy in his stroller and Jenny on foot. headed to the crowd at the tree right next to road (busy hixson pike). knowing from experience that the stroller did not agree to going off road onto the grassy lot where the tree was.
so days ago i knew my solution was to unfortunately abandon stroller at that point and carry Troy with me to tree. small potatoes for some people, but my boy is a BIG UN. and there's no husband with me, with big arm muscles to pawn big boy off on. also remember that i must keep close tabs on Jenny. also she can't see much b/c she is short. Can't really have her on my shoulders like Will did last yr since i am holding big boy in arms.
Enter a super sister who grabbed my girl and got her front and center to Santa and the tree also.

This is the way God intended for us to behave.
Seeing another person's need and taking care of it on the spot.
just one more thing to love about God's plan.

When the tree lit up both of my kids had stars in their eyes. Troy is speechless every day, but he was extra speechless. HA. he kept pointing to the tree.
This was the first time for Jenny to visit with that Santa. She has only been to our mall Santa until now. She stood in the swarm with me and Troy and waited her turn. it was major attack on St. Nick, so i told her to pick one thing to tell Santa that she wanted. All this time she is quiet as a mouse. when it was her turn, she reached out and wanted him to pick her up into his lap. of course this is the moment where i strain to hear, like all parents around me, what my child tells Santa. no success. Santa didn't reveal either, i suspect he could not understand her.

as we walked away i knew why he did not understand b/c when i asked what did she tell him, she said she asked him for "princess roll the dough". its the disney princess magic rise oven. so now i know what she wants the most. she informed me that she made that rational decision over the "baby kitchen" she has also been obsessing over b/c i keep telling her Santa probably doesn't bring baby toys to big girls. she wanted to make sure she told him something valid. also she rationalized that princess roll the dough is a big girl oven, and ovens are part of a kitchen.

Princess roll the dough, in the oven ready to go

Jenny talked non stop about Santa after that. Walking back to car, driving home, winding down at the house before bed.
Here are some of the statements that she made related to Mr. Claus:

• "Momma, I told you Santa was gonna come tonight, didn't I?!"

• "my wish is gonna come true!"

• "Momma, i loved seeing Santa. he is my most favorite guy" (oh boy. Daddy will love that)

• "I'm gonna be a good girl for my naps so i'm not on naughty list"

However this did not deter her from coming home and scribbling green marker all over top of her princess table (not a big deal b/c it wipes off, but it was a no no and she has never done it). after committing crime she quietly ran to her room and shut the door, and that is when i knew something was up.
and also, after lights out, tonight's shenanigans included slurping water from her nightstand sippie and spitting it all over her sheets and down onto carpet. a standard tactic for her. then proclaiming to me that her "bed is ruined!" and expecting me to change her bedding.

i guess tomorrow i'll go look for some lumps of coal.........heh heh

p.s. i was unable to take pictures tonight, but maybe i will try to bum some pics of the event off of FB friends later