Farewell Santa Fe!

We got up and packed up early so we could walk to the Plaza Cafe for breakfast. It was a relatively warm and beautiful day which was perfect for a short hike. Olivia was less than impressed by our decision to walk instead of drive, but once we were underway she was happy to walk and talk with Sofia. We stopped a few times along the way to take pictures as we walked and I was thankful I'd left my jacket at the house. We made it to Plaza Cafe and we were all ready for some delicious breakfast. I splurged and ordered a Mexican Mocha, which is so delicious! We enjoyed our breakfast and our last meal together and took a few pictures in the Plaza before we headed back to Aunt and Uncle's place. We'd brought grifts for Thanksmas for Aunt and Uncle and wanted them to open them before we headed home. There were stockings for the girls too with a few things and Olivia was amazed that Santa, who she just met the night before, had left her some fun things! Santa gave the girls some socks, bouncy balls, books and magnets. It was fun to watch Aunt and Uncle open their gifts and we hope they liked all their new things. Once we were done doing Thanskmas, we loaded up our stuff and Buddy and headed to the airport. It was a good visit and we had a fun time, as always, in Santa Fe with Aunt and Uncle. We looked forward to getting home on Saturday and having a day to get ready for the week ahead too.

Uncle Steve and Olivia

Sofia and Olivia making up stories while they hike up the hill

The gang and snow in the background

Sofia and Uncle Steve. Love how much she enjoys hanging out with her Uncle!

So true!

Delicious breakfast at Plaza Cafe

The girls with Aunt and Uncle

The four of us!

Opening presents from Santa

A book about bugs!!

Socks! Sofia LOVES cool, fun socks!

Uncle Steve opening his new books.

Aunt Shirl opening her gifts

Checking out one of Uncle Steve's gifts.

Santa Fe Tree Lighting and Santa!

We ate leftover turkey sandwiches, which were fantastic, before we got ready to head down to the Plaza. Sofia put up a monumental fight to "not take her jacket" since she "wouldn't need it." We tried to convince her she would need it and that it was going to be 30 degrees while we stood around at the Plaza. She was certain that she wouldn't need it, but we finally forced her to tie it around her waist. Of course, we didn't ever convince her that we were right, until about 9pm that night when she realized she would have absolutely frozen to death if she'd left her jacket back at the house. She did tell CK and me seperately that "we were right and she should have listened to us from the beginning." Of course, she won't remember this the next time we need to convince her to take her jacket or do something for her own good.

We all bundled up and walked down to the Plaza. Aunt and Uncle's new place is roughly the same distance away from the Plaza as their other casita, but it's all downhill to the Plaza and feels like it's a further walk. Plus, it's always a little confusing to me which road to take when we return to their place. But, it is such an easy walk down the hill to the Plaza. We arrived and the Plaza seemed more full of people than in past years we've visited. It's one of my favorite things to do the day after Thanksgiving and it's such a fun start of the Christmas season! There was a band playing music on the stage and everyone was milling about and trying to find their spot for the Christmas lights to be turned on. We found a good spot and CK and Sofia hunted down the free hot chocolate table. I wanted to find the end of the line to visit Santa, but it snaked every which way and went on forever! Plus, the girls were less than interested in seeing Santa! Sofia said she didn't really know what to ask him for, and Olivia was a little bit shy. So, I gave up trying to find the end of the line.

Finally, the mayor of Santa Fe arrived on the stage and after a bit of build-up, we counted down from 10 and by the time we got to 1, the Christmas lights on the Plaza turned on! Everyone clapped and it really was a beautiful sight! We got a halfway decent group photo of us all and admired the lights for a few minutes before we gathered up and headed back to the house. Just as we were starting to head back toward home, I noticed there was NO line to see Santa and Mrs. Claus! I was so excited! Far more exited than either of the girls, actually! So, I jumped in line and told everyone we were in for Santa! The girls were still a little worried since they had no idea what they wanted. I told them they could just tell Santa that you were still thinking it over. We only waited about 10 minutes and we were with Santa and Mrs. Claus. We were arranged around them and one of Santa's helpers took photos of us. The girls each got a candy cane and we headed out. Both girls were a little disappointed that Santa never even asked about what the girls wanted. I told them that Santa and Mrs. Claus were very tired and had seen a lot of kids already, so it gave her time to think about what she really wants for Christmas. She thought that made perfect sense.

As we were leaving, the girls starting clowning around on the chain and posts that separate the road from the sidewalk. Just as Olivia tried to do it, Sofia was sort of making fun while she wanted to "show her how to do it" by jumping over the chain without using her hands. Just as she jumped, her feet caught and she face-planted on the sidewalk! It was awful and shocking and I was convinced that she'd lost her front teeth and/or broke her arm! She had a horrible reaction, and she wanted to cry but couldn't since the wind had been knocked out of her. Everyone was stopping to check on her to see if she was alright! At first, we couldn't even tell if she was alright! Poor thing! Finally she got up and was able to croak out that she was fine but just couldn't get her breathe. Once she recovered, we continued walking back to Aunt and Uncle's place.

We got back to their place and stayed up and talked for a bit until bedtime. The girls had both had a big day and went to bed quickly (and quietly). It was such a fun day!

A few selfies of the girls and me on the Plaza

CK and me!

CK and Sofia

All of us...notice the jacket tied around Sofia's waist!?

Sofia dancing with Uncle Steve!

Olivia looking a little suspect

The mayor is ready to turn the lights on!

Boom! The lights are on!!

Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Group photo (and Sofia has her jacket on!)

The Plaza from the side! So beautiful!

CK and Buddy cozying up!

The Day After Thanksgiving.....

Since Santa Fe has already received a lot of snow, especially in the mountains, we planned to drive into the mountains and hike or sled. Of course, this meant carting a whole bunch of extra clothes, including snow pants, gloves, hats, extra layers, ski jackets, and waterproof shoes. However, CK and Olivia decided instead to go fly fishing on Friday morning, so we talked about possibly going up to the mountains in the afternoon, depending on how everyone felt. Aunt Shirl had already said she didn't want to go into the snow and I think Uncle Steve wasn't that keen on the idea either, so it would have just been the four of us.

CK got up at 7am and woke Olivia up and got her dressed. At first she said she wanted to sleep in and didn't want to go fly fishing, but Sofia talked her into it. I walked Buddy to the Plaza and got another cup of cafe au lait and returned to Aunt and Uncle's place. It had snowed over night and there was a good dusting of snow on the ground. It was really pretty! After CK and Olivia headed out, Sofia and I walked Buddy back down to the Plaza. We splurged and went to the Plaza Cafe and ordered to Mexican Hot Chocolates to go! They are SO delicious and warm and were just what we needed while we walked Buddy! It was just great to hang out with Sofia! She is always fun to spend one-on-one time with each girl and I can't believe how grown up and mature Sofia is getting. She is endlessly thinking and creating and I hope she never loses that as she gets older. We had a great time exploring the Plaza and looking at all the jewelry set out by the Native Americans. We had a great time.

We returned to Aunt and Uncle's place and hung out until CK and Olivia were back from their adventure. Uncle Steve decorated their pine tree in the backyard and Sofia was more than happy to help him put the lights and ornaments up. She loves Christmas trees and they had a great time making the tree ready for Christmas. By the time they were done, it looked ready for Christmas and very festive. CK and Olivia returned just as they were finishing the tree and told us all about their adventure. Olivia caught a fish and she had a great time! CK said she was really into it for about an hour or so, until she caught her fish, and then she ended up playing on the river bank. Of course, after their return they were both tired and didn't want to go up to the snow. Sofia, in her usual way, didn't want to leave the house, so she didn't want to go anywhere. She and Olivia had built a Lego set on Thanksgiving and she was busy playing with it and adding to it. So, we all relaxed, read, and played until it was time to walk to the Plaza for the Christmas lights and a visit to Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Buddy is thinking "What is that??"

The dusting of snow on our walk.

Uncle Steve and Sofia decorating the tree!

Uncle Steve, Aunt Shirl, Sofia and Olivia by the finished tree!

Olivia getting ready to go fly fishing!

Sofia on our dog walk, wearing my jacket and holding her dragon.

A "Dog Bar" for dogs near the Plaza!

The Native American artists at the Portale.

Sofia and a big dragon! She loves it, of course!

Selfie on the dog walk!

Sofia building the Lego set.

Sofia's flying dragon. She only took about 40 photos of her dragon....

Olivia with her fish! She's so happy!

CK and Olivia driving back to Aunt and Uncle's after their adventure.

Sofia and Olivia by the "Christmas tree"