The girls and I met TubaDad after work for a Fun Friday teppanyaki dinner. You know, the kind where they cook the dinner right at your table? I’ve always been a sucker for those shrimp flying through the air, the onion volcano, and those yummy little dipping sauces. It was always my choice for birthday dinners growing up.
Afterwards we were just going to head home for a PJ night in front of the fire, but realized the skies were dry for the first time that day (and it was REALLY pouring earlier – I even kept the girls home from an outdoor field trip). Anyhow, thought maybe we should take advantage of the lull in storms to check out Christmas in the Park. Turned out to be a great decision. First time I’ve ever seen the place without mobs of people. We got to ride rides, check out all the animated Christmas displays, ice skate without waiting in line, and more.
This picture makes me laugh – it wasn’t until we were tying the fourth wiggly little girl skate that TubaDad said “Hey, I think they’ve each got one of the other’s skates!” Gah. There was no way we were untying then retying those dang things again, so that’s how they skated:
The girls started off slow with the skating, clinging mightily to the rail, but in a few minutes were whizzing (shakily) around and saying that they wanted to do this every week.
They were pretty proud of themselves.
We saw almost everything there was to see, but not quite all of it. Pretty much at one point we looked down at watches, freaked out that it was almost 10pm and abruptly dragged our still-totally-not-sleepy girls home.
This morning is starting slow... Everyone slept in late (TubaDad is still sleeping – he had a tough week), and now it’s pajamas, hot cider, warm blankets, and watching the old Rudolph movie (and a little blogging for me):
If we muster up enough energy, the house will be decorated for Christmas today. At the very least, we need to find the dang Elf on the Shelf in one of those boxes in the garage. Ro already informed us that he WILL be here tonight since it’s the first of Dec. Has anyone else decorated yet?
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Hi M3, we missed seeing you there (on the same block)! I brought the girlies to see the Nutcracker with the pre-performance backstage tour with the girl scouts ahead of time with a quick dinner at the diner across the street from those rides you were on - and we hustled right past. Also- a late night and a bit of a sleep in for us. The performance was lovely. Ginny
ReplyDeleteNo way!!! I am SO bummed I missed you guys. I should have put a message on FB asking if anyone was there. TubaDad is playing that Nutcracker on the 8th, by the way, if anyone is going to that one we'll be there.
DeleteAfter all the oh-so-grown up pics of the girls lately, i was very relieved to observe young girls in this post! Cuzz i'm weird about that growing up thing.
ReplyDeletedid you figure out something on the warm jammies front? A1
Absolutley adorable, does PanPan like to watch TV in bed? Maybe with a red cape he would!
ReplyDeletewela
Did not answer your decor question...does hiring someone to put up the outside lights and throwing a wreath on the door count? He also brought the boxes down from the creaky attic drop down stairs and plopped them in the LR where they sat for the last week. Again, does that count (mmm...I think not). :) Ginny
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely counts, and if I'd thought of it I would have done it too!! :-)
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ReplyDeleteTry again, hopefully without the typos this time!
ReplyDeleteDrinking cider? What's hot cider? In the UK cider is an alcoholic, usually slightly fizzy drink, like beer but made from apples, I don't think that's what you or the girls were drinking!
With love from Wales,
Kate
Oh I know what you're talking about - we have the alcoholic version here too, it's hard cider. Anyhow, the hot apple cider you see kids (or anyone) drinking around the holidays is kind of a mildly spiced hot apple juice. That doesn't sound very good, but really it is! Makes your house smell fabulous also.
DeleteYou make me feel better, I was feeling like the only blogger who hasn't decorated yet! and our "Elf on the Shelf" seems to be MIA...
ReplyDeleteThe frindged boots! Where did you get their boots?!
ReplyDeletePam in Indiana
They're Minnetonka fringe boots from Hanna Andersson. Avail in lots of colors but not on sale right now and kind of pricey if you don't get any $ off.
DeleteWe are decorated inside and out. The kids where SO excited last Sunday they were up at 6 am poking us. We worked all day long and got it done!!! The elf - FRED - has been visiting since the day after Thanksgiving. Today they kids went to see Santa - a Deaf Santa. That way both of my kiddos could tell Santa what they want. Nathan is Deaf and Emily is fluent in sign...was a good fit! Bring on December!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, we alway decorate right after Thanksgiving! Hope you find the Elf! Love the ice skating outside. How cool!
ReplyDeleteMostly decorated inside. DH might do the outside tomorrow. Tree is up but not decorated, but that's the worst of it. I will be in your area Mon thru Thurs for business, so just keep all that rain AWAY! Someday, when I travel to that area with my girls (younger DD6 is from the Jiangxi province), we'll have to try to meet for lunch. My Sophie LOVES "watching" your girls. She always says "let's see what the twins are doing!" I'm afraid to let her see your upcoming trip to China....she will be asking to go! Our travel group is hoping to do a reunion tour in a few years, maybe when the girls are about 10. We'll be following along, so please try to post while you're there! Have a great holiday...
ReplyDeleteI LOVE days like that. When everything goes well and is followed up by a good sleeping in! Totally Awesome! By the way, Austin still is serving in Concord. He hasn't left there since he has been there! Crazy.
ReplyDeleteWe got a chance to check that out last week when we were visiting my dad and step-mom in San Jose for Thanksgiving. So fun:)
ReplyDeleteLove those fringed boots! (Hint! ;o) (Hannah found Ro's student card in her new winter coat pocket and said, 'Mommy, One of da girls was in my pocket! :o) So cute!!
ReplyDeleteLaughed as I read the part about the skates. Until I saw the pic I imagined the girls skating with either two left or two right skates. Heh! Oops!!
Can you believe I've never tried teppanyaki? I've wanted to go but just never have. Maybe next summer you can introduce me?
Christmas arrived in our home today. Bobble Chippey set a cute breakfast table. We put the tree up and Hannah did the majority of the decorating. Love our tree that definitely has the 3yo touch! Haven't done the outside yet but that since it's been freezing on the weekends. Tomorrow is supposed to be warmer so hopefully I'll get the outside done soon.
Off to help BC find his home for the night.
Looks like so much fun! Our elf came out last night too...
ReplyDeleteWe decorated early because we spent this weekend in Chicago. I can't figure out this weather. Your girls are in heavy coats (and oh yes, we have those fabulous fringed boots too!), but in Chicago, where it should have been freezing and snowing, it was 55 degrees. We got so hot walking back to our hotel, we had to peel off the coats. I was sweating at an outdoor Christkindl market at 9 pm at night. CHICAGO. What's up?!
ReplyDeleteGreat casual, happy photo of the 4 of you !
ReplyDeletenice picture..
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