Seeing Santa for a second time at Santa's Village in Bridgeport Village

After we went to the zoo with the Mowery's the Wednesday before Christmas, I took the kids to Bridgeport Village where we got to visit with Santa a second time!  We only had to wait in line about 20 minutes luckily.  Santa's village was decorated all nicely for Christmas and there was a big beautiful Christmas tree just outside of the village.  I like the Bridgeport Village location because you do not have to buy ridiculously expensive pictures and they let you take your own pictures.  I bought one of the cheaper photo packages and then also took some photos myself.  The kids had fun talking to Santa and he gave them each a flavored candy cane which Brandon liked.  After we saw Santa, we went to Peachwave to get some frozen yogurt for a snack.  Then we headed to get Brandon's hair cut. It was a fun and full day.

Visiting with Santa  

They look so cute and happy!

Out in front of the giant Christmas tree at Bridgeport Village

Awe forced hugs

Letters to Santa and mailing them!

This year the kids sat down and wrote their letters to Santa (well Brandon wrote all of his with just a little bit of help on the spelling) and Olivia wrote about half of her letter.  I took photos of their letters because they were so cute.  Brandon told Santa he wanted a Nintendo Switch, Mario Odyssey, Hatch twins, and a drone so he could spy on Livy!!!  Olivia said she wanted a Big LOL purse, Glitter My Little Ponies, and HatchAnimal twins.  Then later that week on Thursday Olivia and I took the letters written to Santa to this cute gift shop in King City where we were able to mail to them to Santa.  Olivia even got a yummy candy cane!

We played at unplugged before mailing the letters 

Olivia with the letters and a yummy candy cane

ZooLights 2017

We choose to go to ZooLights one Sunday before winter break started in hopes that it would be less crowded.  There had been little rain that day so we had hoped that the weather would stay good.  However, we did not realize how bitterly cold it was (there was a strong cold easterly wind that made the wind chill about 10-15 degrees colder than it was outside).  My sister Rachel was going to meet us at the Zoo with my nephew Jasper and we were all going to hang out.  My sister ended up getting to the zoo about twenty minutes before us.  We got there at about 4:20 and were able to park at the zoo.  Then we headed to the entrance.  I brought the stroller as Olivia often times likes to rest but did not have a blanket (much to her dismay later).  Despite bundling the kids up it was still freezing and got even colder once the sun went down.  The lights were very pretty and we had fun looking at them.  Poor Jasper was really cold and getting over being sick and did not have the greatest time.  We tried to get food and the line was forever.  We ended up going on the zoo train which the kids enjoyed and then Rachel and Jasper decided to leave since he was miserable.  We stood in line and I was able to get the kids some Cosmic light up cotton candy and hot chocolate which seemed to make them both happier.  We walked around a bit and then went on the carousel and then decided we should head home too.  It felt so nice and warm in the car!  I decided that next year perhaps its better to go even when its raining over that frigid cold!

Brandon in front of the zoo lights display

Brandon and I on the zoo train

Me, Brandon and Auntie Rachel with Jasper on the train

Unicorn!  One of Olivia's favorites!

Lights everywhere

Cosmic cotton candy!

Glowing cotton candy makes everything better

The fun stick!

Riding the carousel with cotton candy all over her face

Brandon riding away

Santa Breakfast at the YMCA

In early November I tried to get into the McMennamin's Santa breakfast at one of the 5 McMennamins locations that were doing them around the Portland area and they were all sold out.  I found out that our local YMCA which we are members of was having a Santa breakfast and the tickets for the family was only $20.  It sounded like fun and was not expensive so I jumped on it!  We ended up going to the breakfast at around 9:30 AM.  It was not very crowded which was nice and the kids were able to walk up to Santa.  Santa was very loud and friendly and talked to both kids for a while.  I got some cute pictures including a cute family picture of all of us with Santa.  Santa gave the kids some little toys.  Then we got to eat some yummy pancakes, sausage, and bacon.  It was a great way to start the day!

Brandon and Olivia with Santa

So cute in their matching plaids! 

Olivia talking to Santa 

What can I say-he was animated!

Family shot with Santa at the breakfast

 After the Santa breakfast, Brandon had a basketball game at the YMCA and Olivia had a make up gymnastics class.  Then we headed to our good friend the Mowery's house for their youngest Luke's 2nd birthday at their house.  After the party, we had decided that this year the kids were old enough to pick out gifts for each other and to help Mommy and Daddy pick out gifts for each other.  Sean took Olivia out to the mall and Toys R Us to go shopping for Mommy and Brandon and then they got dinner.  Brandon and I went to Wal-Mart and Target and then we went out to dinner.  It was really fun having some one-on-one time with Brandon.  He took his time looking for a present for Olivia and finally settled on a fun Barbie swim Dolphin set and a Pooping Kitty!  We found both items cheaper on Amazon Prime so just ordered from there.  We found Sean a nice silver Apple Watch band and then ended up ordering bluetooth headsets for him on Amazon Prime as well.  After we finished shopping, Brandon and I went to the Vietnamese restaurant nearby and had really good Pho.  We brought home ice-cream from Baskin Robbins to share with Sean and Olivia.  It was a really fun evening and a tradition we will do for years to come.

Brandon enjoying some Pho with me after our shopping

Getting our Christmas Tree!

I wanted to get our Christmas tree earlier in December so we could enjoy it longer since we were going to be in Corvallis for Christmas and almost a week before.  I didn't want to get it too early (the weekend before just after Thanksgiving) because we wanted it to survive until New Year's Eve when we were going to have Sean's family come.  I wanted to go to Sleighbell's and cut down our Christmas tree but we had limited time as Olivia had gymnastics and Sean didn't want to do that since we were not going to be home for Christmas.  I compromised and we ended up going to Al's Nursery right near our house. Sean promised next year we could do a Christmas tree farm.  I didn't know this but apparently there was a shortage of Noble firs this year (apparently due to the recession they didn't plant very many) which raised the cost of the nobles this year.  Luckily, Al's happened to have just gotten a shipment in so we had a lot to choose from.  Brandon and Olivia both settled on the perfect tree and we got it.  We had fun as always looking at all the cute Christmas decorations and the train.  Then we headed home with the tree.

Brandon being silly at Al's

Looking at the tree at Al's

sweet Olivia

Our tree!

Enjoying the decorations

In front of the train 

Such a pretty tree

I had already decorated the inside of the house with all our Christmas decorations several days before so at least that was done.  After Olivia got back from gymnastics we all started decorating the Christmas tree.  It is always so fun to get out all of our Christmas tree ornaments and to see some of the new ones.  The kids helped me and we all had a blast.  I love getting our house all ready for Christmas, it makes me feel so warm and cozy!

Olivia decorating the tree

Olivia helping me decorate the tree

Brandon helping

A fun trip to the Zoo in mid December

I ended up taking the Wednesday before Christmas through the Tuesday after Christmas off.  Brandon was off that Monday before I took time off but went to Gymnastics day camp for two days.  Anyways, Brooke was off with the kids for the entire winter break since she was a teacher.  We made plans to go to the zoo for the day since we are both members.  We lucked out that it rained really hard that morning but then ended up being a nice day once we got there.  It wasn't super cold outside unlike it was about 10 days ago when we were at the Zoo Lights.  The kids had a blast together running around and it was fun seeing Brooke's kids' favorite animals.  It was a really good and fun day.  We brought a picnic and ate it inside the zoo.  It was a great way to start my week off!

The kids with the bald eagle in the back 

The gang minus poor Luke in the back

Seals they were active 

Addie and Olivia on the horses 

The leopard was very active 

Running in the December sunshine!

Besties on the lion together