Celebrating Thanksmas

On Saturday night, after the movie and dinner, we celebrated Thanksmas! For the past years we've visited Aunt and Uncle on Thanksgiving, we've gone ahead and celebrated Christmas so we can be together to open presents. This year, we decided to do stockings instead of big gifts and it was really fun to shop for them and look for smaller items that they would enjoy. My Aunt is super easy and my Uncle is a lot like CK in that anything that he really wants he buys himself, but I was able to figure out a few things that I think were a good match. I also brought a lot of things for CK, with a bag of Swedish Fish as his favorite. I love Swedish Fish as a gift for him because I don't like eating it so he enjoys every fish, while sharing with the girls, of course.

The girls had a great time opening all their little presents and got a little walkie talkie set that sort of worked (I think one of them needs a new battery), two different springy toys that they love, books and wind-up toys. They loved it and I enjoyed how simple the gifts were to them yet they loved them. We went around and took turns opening gifts and had one of the football games on, which proved to be a distraction to CK and Uncle Steve. After we were done opening gifts, Sofia read Olivia's new book "The Princess in Black" to Olivia and Uncle Steve in about 20 minutes! It was a cute story and Olivia loved it.

We headed off to bed with two very tired little girls. The next morning, we packed up, said our goodbyes and headed to the airport. It was a clear and beautiful day and the flight back went by so quickly. We were landing when I thought we had at least another hour. It was lightly raining and had rained the entire time we were gone, with the area getting 8 inches in four days! It was also as cold, if not colder than Santa Fe! We had such a fun trip and loved spending time with Aunt and Uncle.

Aunt Shirl with her stocking

Aunt and Uncle (Uncle Steve is watching the football game)

CK and the girls

Opening her first present

Walkie Talkies

Trying to use them!

Sofia and her volcano that turned into a dinosaur. She said this was her favorite toy

Sofia reading

Goodbye Aunt and Uncle and Santa Fe!

Snow in the mountains

Sofia and CK reading on the way home....

Olivia took a much-needed nap!

Santa Fe Farmer's Market

On Saturday we headed to the Farmer's Market after eating cereal at Aunt and Uncle's. I really wanted to visit the Farmer's Market because I planned to buy Christmas gifts for my girlfriends while there and also wanted to walk around and browse. As soon as we left the casita, Sofia announced she didn't really want to go, so CK offered to take her to breakfast. He asked Olivia too but she wanted to stay with me, so I told her she would have to walk the entire way and wouldn't be getting a piggy back ride or be carried. We actually made it to the Farmer's Market without her asking to be carried - a first! Once inside, Aunt Shirl and Olivia stood in line for donuts and croissants at a little stand that we have visited before. Olivia wanted the Boston Creme which must have weighed a good 3 pounds while Aunt Shirl picked out an almond croissant, which ended up being one of the best I've ever tasted. We found a little spot on the communal table and they ate while I had coffee and Uncle Steve roamed around. Olivia actually ate some of her donut and announced she "loved" the creme inside before she started scrapping off the chocolate off the top of the donut. We actually washed her messy hands in the water fountain since I didn't bring anything buy my wallet and camera, so didn't have my usual bag of wet wipes with me.

After their sweets, we walked around and I went to buy the goat milk hand lotion bar and raspberry jam that I wanted to get. I was amazed at how many vegetable vendors there are with fresh veggies, but figure they must have green houses and lots of water. When I think of Santa Fe, I don't necessarily think of seasonal vegetables. After exploring for a bit, CK called and was ready to join us. Instead, he met me and picked up Olivia in the car and dropped Sofia off, while Aunt and Uncle headed back to the casita. We'd planned to go to a late afternoon movie of "The Good Dinosaur" and they wanted to get a few things done first. Sofia and I walked around together and it's always fun to spent time with just one of the girls. They act so completely differently when they don't have the competition of their sister and Sofia and I had a great time exploring the Farmer's Market. She really wanted to buy a toy or doll of some kind and had her allowance with her, but didn't end up finding anything. On the way back, we tried to stop at a book store that we've visited before but it has moved. We got back to the casita and suggested the four of us visit the mountains for a short walk in the snow, since the mountains had received a lot of the snow the night before. Olivia was really wanting to "eat" some of the snow and Sofia just wanted to explore.

Before leaving, I checked Sofia's temperature and it was 103! Her fever started the Saturday before, so I decided to take her to the Urgent Care instead. She and I had to wait a while to see the doctor, but once inside she fell asleep on my lap and he had to wake her up to look her over. He was a real character and had a great way of interacting with Sofia. Finally, he said he wasn't really sure what was going on but thought it might be a sinus infection, although rare in kids that age. He gave her a prescription for antibiotics and we left and headed to one of my favorite food places in Santa Fe, The Bumble Bee! Their Mexican food is so good and I love to visit at least once each trip.

After eating, we picked up Sofia's prescription and then headed to the casita where we relaxed a bit before going to see "The Good Dinosaur" which was a bit overwhelming with action, but Sofia loved it. We returned to the casita to eat a delicious turkey noodle soup Aunt Shirl made with the left over turkey. It was perfect and so delicious!

Ready to go but wanting to stay by the fire and read her book

The Farmer's Market

Enjoying their donut and croissant

Picking the chocolate off the top of the donut

Aunt, Uncle and Olivia at the Farmer's Market

The train leaving the Santa Fe station with snow in the background

Watching the train

Olivia

Sofia

Trying to replicate the mural

A Santa Fe door....Sofia wondered why I was taking a photo of it.

My lunch date at Bumble Bee

My food....YUM!

Visiting Santa

After our visit with Mike and Chris, we drove down to the Plaza and Aunt Shirl found parking spots for our car and theirs within minutes, which was pretty amazing. We actually arrived about 30 minutes after the official tree lighting took place, so as we walked toward the Plaza, there were groups of people heading home. It actually worked out perfectly because the Plaza was already lit with Christmas lights, live Christmas music was being performed and it wasn't too crowded. This was especially important since it was 32 degrees outside! We made our way to the Plaza and took a few photos of each other and as a group while waiting to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. As we got closer to Santa, we asked Sofia and Olivia what they planned on telling him they wanted this year for Christmas. Thankfully, our girls have never asked or expected a number of gifts and usually only talk about one or two things they want for Christmas. Sofia didn't have to think long before she said she planned to ask for "Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes" book, which she read while we were at the book store earlier today. A few minutes later she said she might also ask for a horse and foal set to play with. Olivia, also was quick to announce that she wanted a "gold spy glass" which she's been saying for awhile. The girls love to watch Octonauts and one of the characters, Kwaazi, has a spy glass, so we're pretty sure that's where she got the idea. We suggested asking Santa for a Razor scooter, since she's always having to borrow Sofia's while Sofia is at school and then uses her three-wheeled scooter once Sofia is home. She initially said that was a good idea, but then said she just wanted to ask for the spy glass. She then clarified that she wanted me to tell Santa that she wants a spy glass. I was wondering how shy and reserved she might be this year, since last year she was reluctant to sit with Santa.

Soon it was our turn and Sofia immediately greeted Santa and Mrs. Claus and sat on Santa's lap. She chatted away for a bit while I tried to convince Olivia she could go up and could talk with them without sitting on their lap. She finally got up the nerve to talk to Mrs. Claus and was on her lap in another minute. We took a few pictures and as they walked off, they were both given a small candy cane. Both girls love them, but Olivia is a huge fan of anything minty. They sucked on their candy canes as we walked around enjoying the lights and took pictures at the old fire truck. We had to convince Olivia to take a few more photos and I bought her a bag of star mints to give her one for smiling and cooperating in our pictures. After photos by the old fire truck, we started heading back to the car. However, Sofia realized that one of her gloves was missing, so we backtracked the entire area of the Plaza. We never did find it and I was thankful I'd packed more than one pair for the girls since I figured they would be lost.

We headed back to the car as we were starting to feel the 32 degree weather and it felt like it had gotten colder in the time we were at the Plaza. What a fun tradition!

Heading to the Plaza

The lights on the Plaza

On the Plaza

The girls with Aunt and Uncle, waiting to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus

Sofia isn't shy to talk to Santa

The girls with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Enjoying her candy cane

The Plaza without people....

With Aunt and Uncle on the old fire truck

The four of us and the old fire truck

A Second Thanksgiving

On Friday morning, we met up with Aunt and Uncle at 8am and walked up to the Plaza Cafe for breakfast. Almost as soon as we left the casita, Olivia was complaining that she couldn't walk and needed a piggy back ride. CK gave her one for part of the walk and then she held hands with Uncle Steve until we made it to the Plaza Cafe. Sofia walked with Aunt Shirl and I and looked for other rocks to collect. The girls enjoyed pancakes and I had their breakfast burritos, which are my favorite while CK had the breakfast sandwich. I love Pasqual's Cafe for breakfast, but it's always so busy. After filling up on breakfast, we walked around the Plaza for a while and browsed in some of our favorite stores. Sofia loved trying on the various fur hats and scarves and we looked at gorgeous but overpriced knives for CK. We ended up walking back to the casita and relaxing for a while before we got ready to go up to Mike and Chris' house for a second Thanksgiving. The girls played with magic sand that Aunt and Uncle bought for them and they had fun making "ice cream" and cupcakes. Although it sticks together well, it also got all over the dining room carpet and was a bit messier than expected. It did entertain the girls for a long time though and they loved it.

In years past, we've spent Thanksgiving with them in their house that overlooks Santa Fe and has an amazing view. However, this year they were invited to someone's home, so we did Thanksgiving at Aunt and Uncle's casita. We brought the left over turkey and stuffing and Uncle Steve made a new dessert of nut and brown sugar-stuffed apples, which he grilled on the grill outside. We were originally supposed to meet at their house at 6pm, but changed it to 4pm since we didn't want to miss seeing Santa in the Plaza, like we've done every year we've visited Santa Fe.

Despite her lingering fever, Sofia headed straight outside with Olivia and ran around their grounds. Mike and Chris' house is on a hill with a lot of area to run and no fences or anything that can get in two little girls' way. They loved it and explored for much longer than I could have in the 40 degree weather. While the girls ran around, we got the full spread ready for dinner. Everything was just as delicious as yesterday, if not even better and it was fun to eat turkey once again. As soon as she was done eating, Olivia came to me and climbed into my lap and was asleep within minutes. I transferred her to their love seat, where she slept without moving for over an hour while we cleaned up! It was just what she needed since she's been getting a nap every afternoon and missed out today.

We lingered for awhile after dinner before loading up and heading to the Plaza to see the Christmas lights in the trees and meet up with Santa.

Walking up to the breakfast on the Plaza

Breakfast at The Plaza Cafe

Aunt, Uncle and the girls - love this picture!

Sofia trying on all the fur hats

The four of us after breakfast

Love this photo!

Playing with Magic Sand

The incredible view from Mike and Chris' house

The girls at Mike and Chris' back patio

Exploring before dinner...

The Thanksgiving spread....

Happy Thanksgiving....again!

Mike, Chris, Aunt and Uncle

Olivia getting in a little nap before heading to the Plaza