Zoo Lights & Christmas Eve

The night before Christmas Eve we went to the Zoo Lights at the Denver Zoo. We went once before a few years ago and have loved it both times. They do a great job with their lights displays and the kids like seeing all the animal shapes in lights. It was a cold night but we bundled up and had a great time. 

After seeing the lights we stopped at Cafe Rio for dinner. Gotta love their free kid quesadillas and Jack can't ever get enough of their tres leches cake. We ended up having to buy two. One for the kids and one for Jeff and me. It really is SO good!

The next morning was Christmas Eve so Jeff and Jack made a run for doughnuts for our breakfast. Delicious.  

That night we attended a soup party put on by one of our neighbors. They started throwing this party a few years back for all the people that don't have family out here and we've never been able to attend because we've always traveled to Utah for Christmas, but since we decided to stick around until after Christmas this year we were able to go. Addie liked the cookies best.

After the party we drove around Highlands Ranch in search of the best Christmas Lights displays. Every year there is a contest held so we looked up the top three houses and drove by to view all their glorious lights. This one, although taking third place, was my favorite. I must admit I was much more into the lights than the kids were. They just wanted to watch a movie in the car. At first we told them no, they needed to listen to Christmas music and look at lights. Then I got sick of the whining (Jack) and crying (Addie) and decided that if I wanted to enjoy the lights at all then putting on a movie was the best course of action. Sometimes I get these ideas in my head of how these perfect holiday moments are going to go and you know what? So often with young kids they just don't work out that way. So we roll with it and move on.

Next up putting on the kids Christmas jammies and letting them watch A Chipmunk Christmas with popcorn. Now this was THEIR idea of a good holiday activity.

I had to get a quick prego pick by the tree. I'm 23 weeks pregnant here.

Then I attempted to tell the nativity story using figurines and a few passages from Luke 2. (another brilliant idea in my head) Jack actually listened very well and was super into the story, but Addie was a disaster picking up and throwing pieces of my nativity around the room. sigh. Maybe next year. :)

Then there was a knock at our door followed by the sound of jingle bells and guess who was standing there when we opened the door? None other than Santa Claus himself! Jack was out of his mind thrilled! He jumped right into old St. Nick's arms and gave him a huge hug.

Then he sat on his lap and told him that he's been a good boy and he'd like it very much if he would bring him a blue car with a blue remote control and blue wheels.

Addie wasn't so sure about the bearded man in red. She kept her distance.

That is until mean mom forced her to sit on his lap so I could snap a picture. It went well...can't you tell?

Once Santa flew off we let the kids open one present. They each got an ornament. I wasn't sure if they'd care about them much, but oh my goodness they LOVED them! Jack got a monkey and Laides got an owl and they carried those things around all night making their respective animal sounds.

Then came my last and final attempt at what I thought would be a lovely moment...I read them the story of The Grinch. I only got through about 2 pages. Again, maybe next year.

We put Addie to bed and let Jack stay up just a bit longer so he could put out carrots for the reindeer (notice the orange thing sticking up out of the snow behind him) and a doughnut with milk for Santa.

Jeff also helped him compose this note to Santa.

Once the kids were in bed we enjoyed our doughnuts and then turned on A Christmas Story and began wrapping. This was actually the most enjoyable part of my evening. It was quiet and relaxing and I really liked wrapping and setting up all the presents. As I mentioned before this is the first time we've had Christmas in our own home...and I liked it. It was fun coming up with our own traditions.

Everything set up and ready to go for Christmas morning.  

Off to bed for Mr. and Mrs. Claus.