We drove through rain and cold, misty weather all the way to the resort. When we arrived, we first went to Santa's Workshop where the kids stuffed their own stuffed animals. Honestly, Atticus was more interested in picking up tons of stuffing from the large bucket and just throwing it in the air. I think he learned this trick from Ana....she is always showing the kids how fun things like tissue paper are to throw in the air! haha! But, eventually his Gingerbread Man was stuffed and Beck's Reindeer was stuffed and we were on our way. We walked around the resort and it was just beautiful! Christmas trees, poinsettias, garland, Christmas ornaments, wreaths, and lights were everywhere, inside and outside. There were large fireplaces inside and outside as well. We walked outside while it was still kind of misting and let the kids play in Santa's sleigh and then eventually settled outside as the mist stopped. We sat in front of a beautiful and warm fireplace and let the bigger kids run and play while the littler ones crawled around. At exactly 6:30, the JW Holiday Illumination began with music and a light show. The entire outside was lit up and played to Christmas songs every 30 minutes or so. It would probably play for 10 minutes before stopping. Atticus LOVED it! He danced and danced. Eventually, we ate a delicious buffet dinner of buttermilk fried chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed corn and more at Cibolo Moon, inside the hotel, before retiring to the room to rest up for our fun-filled day we were expecting on Saturday.
At 8:30 on Saturday morning, we went to Breakfast with Santa. It was basically a delicious breakfast buffet in the restaurant 18 Oaks at the resort, but the kids could have unlimited one-on-one time with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This was good that we had multiple chances for the kids to talk to them, because Atticus froze up immediately upon arrival. It took a second time to convince him to sit on his lap and I had to lead the conversation. But, as soon as we left, Atticus immediately said "I need to see Santa Taus adin!". Grace also sat on Santa's lap but as soon as she did, she immediately began to cry. I was very excited for this morning because this was Atticus' first time to ever meet Santa Claus. I just haven't taken him in the past because he didn't really understand about Santa yet. And, let me tell you - this Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus were extraordinary! Their costumes were so detailed and nice and everything about them was real. I could just picture Mrs. Claus baking cookies for Santa and the elves up at the North Pole! I was extremely impressed! Of course, we all know that the real Santa is at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas Eve and this is just one of his many friends helping him out. But, his friends were pretty impressive!
During breakfast, the kids were also given balloon animals - Atticus' favorite! And Atticus ate 5 bowls of blueberries with whipped topping. Thankfully, Vic got the joy of changing that diaper later. After that, we spent most of the morning letting the kids play inside the hotel and walked around to some of the other things going on. There was a dinosaur display and someone talking about them and we went outside some more. There were some things we skipped because the kids were too young, but one day they can do those things too (making gingerbread houses, painting, ornament making). Instead, they played with their balloon animals until one of them got stuck up in the tree and the other two eventually popped. It was just very laid-back and the resort had so many places to lounge and we never felt crowded or unable to let the kids play. We had lunch at the hotel sports bar and then Atticus and Beck wrote their letter to Santa Claus and dropped it into the mailbox for the North Pole. Atticus hasn't really had true list for Santa this year. But, everytime we ask him what he wants, he will say "Jessie" which I assume means Jessie from Toy Story. I hope Santa gets that message. Then, we all took naps and woke up to head down to make s'mores at the fire pit. Atticus had two helpings of s'mores, although he wouldn't put his marshmallows in the fire. The first s'more was perfect and warm and delicious and while he took forever to eat it, he loved it. The next one didn't sit in the fire long enough and was more like a deconstructed s'more. He ate the marshmallows, then the chocolate, and then the graham crackers. But, he does love s'mores! It was a lot colder on this afternoon, although the weather all day was beautiful and sunny. The boys got giant glow sticks right as it got dark and played the rest of the night with those and during the next Illumination Light Show. It was spectacular again and we loved seeing all of the lights - me and Vic included! On this night, there was live music inside the hotel -- two guys singing and playing guitars to country music songs. We visited and listened while the kids danced and played. The nice thing about this entire experience was that most families had kids who were about 8 and under. So, it was a very safe, family atmosphere with lots of moms and dads and kiddos and it just made it very homey and fun! We ate dinner at the sports bar again while catching the Heisman presentation. Then, we headed upstairs to put kids into pajamas because Santa's elves were coming to tuck them into bed! Well, Santa's elves were running a little bit late. They showed up about 30 minutes late at 10:30, which was fine except Grace was EXHAUSTED! She fell asleep in my arms for a few minutes, which she rarely does anymore, until they arrived. Atticus kept asking where the elves were but then froze up again and didn't talk when they got there. They brought to each Atticus and Grace, Sparkle the cow, that would tell Santa if they were being good or bad and they told Atticus it was very important that he go to bed immediately and be a good boy. He liked it ok, but didn't really know what to do. It was still fun though!
First thing the next morning, Atticus found a letter from Santa that had been slid under the door. He was responding to Atticus' letter he sent to Santa the day before. Beck got one too, but the funny part is that Derek said he also got a letter slid under the door addressed to him: in the form of a bill for their weekend! ha! While the Powells decided to get on the road, we stayed for the morning to let Atticus decorate a rubber ducky and enter it into the rubber ducky race. It is setup so that the kids get a numbered ducky and they use magic markers to color it and decorate. Then, all of the duckys go into a big basket and one of the hotel employees takes them down to the end of the lazy river and drops them into the water. The ducks float down to the big finish line and prizes are awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place and then a prize to the last place duck, also known as the Slowpoke award. It's all just for fun and there is no skill involved. We decorated ducks for both kids and then Atticus and I walked around the pool area picking up acorns (very important task for Atticus - he was completely occupied finding every last one to throw off of the concrete and into the grass!) while Grace took her morning nap in Vic's arms. Finally, the race was about to begin. The ducks were dumped in and we cheered them on with Atticus throwing his little fists into the air and saying "Dough duckys!" over and over. Adorable. They get to the end and get scooped up and it's over. They bring them over and give out the awards. We are waiting just to get our rubber ducky back (I mean, Atticus definitely needs that duck to add to his ever growing collection!) when they announce the slowpoke award. And....ATTICUS WON! His little ducky got stuck and was very last place. It was just too funny because there were about 50 ducks in that water and he just got lucky! And do you know what is so pathetic on my part? I was so close to tearing up after taking him up to get his prize. Why in the world would I tear up over something like that? I have no idea except I was just so proud of him for winning and getting a prize...even if it was last place! How in the world am I going to handle the next 16 years of school contests, 4H banquets, and stock shows? I am going to be a constantly proud, tear-filled, mess!
After that, we had to load up to head home. But, it was just such a fun weekend! We love spending time with Derek, Mandee, Beck and Ben. Atticus and Beck get along so well - both laid-back and easy going (well except for the fact that they are toddlers who still have occasional meltdowns). But, they were so well behaved all weekend! And Ben and Grace were perfect angels as well going with the flow and being adorable. And Mandee and Derek like to vacation the way we do - easy going, fun food and drinks, and our kids in tow. We do tend to remember the days before kids and realize how much our lives, conversations, and bedtimes have changed. But, we are so thankful to have them as such good friends who we plan to still vacation with when we are all 75 years old!
It was also such a fun way to spend a weekend in December for the Christmas season. Atticus' only disappointment was that he didn't see any reindeer. He really thought he was going to see some real ones and asked about them a lot. And, while Beck and Atticus and Grace and Ben won't remember the details of this trip, I will remember everything! It was a very special weekend!
