The Lee Family: 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