Santa Visit 2016

On Monday, we picked the boys up from school and surprised them by driving to the Gaylord to see Santa.  They were pretty stoked about a "Fun Day Monday" that was a little out of the ordinary.

We got to the hotel around 4:15 and went straight to see the jolly 'ol chap!  There was hardly any wait, so we got to walk right up.  The boys told Santa that they would really love to have a trampoline.  Not quite sure how he would fit that in his sleigh, but we shall see if he is able to deliver.  :)  Clayton also asked for a drone, Drew said that he would like to have an electric scooter, and Owen mentioned that some Hot Wheels would be nice.  Santa said that he could tell that they were all good little boys, so he would do his best.

After wishing Santa a Merry Christmas and buying our picture, we walked around the hotel and took a few pictures.  The Gaylord is so very pretty at Christmastime!

Santa Visit - December 1, 2016

In years past, we have waited until mid December to wait in a long line to see Jolly 'Ol Saint Nick.  Well, not this year!  We started December with a bang by going to see Santa on a Tuesday evening after school.  We walked right up to see Mr. Claus - it was awesome! 

Clayton asked Santa for a hoverboard, Beats headphones, and an airsoft gun.  Drew asked for a wiiU, Skylanders, and Super Mario Maker.  Owen asked for a new bike, a Blaze the Monster Machine toy, and some books.  Santa was kind to talk to the boys and chat about their wishes.  :)

After our Santa visit, we walked around the Gaylord and looked at all of the decorations.  So, so pretty!

 After the Gaylord, we continued our yearly tradition of going to eat at Suchi Zuchi.  I am learning that there is always a dare on the table with boys.  Always.  This time it was Daddy daring the boys to eat a shrimp eyeball.  They took him up on the dare.  Of course.  ;)

Santa Visit

On the night of December 23rd, we made our annual pilgrimage to the Gaylord Texan to visit Mr. Claus.  With our trip and all of the busyness of December, we were kind of down to the wire.  We got to see Santa just an hour before he left for the North Pole.  Whew - hope we don't have to cut it that close in the future.  :)

We loved exploring the hotel while we were waiting to see Santa.  The Gaylord is always decorated so beautifully for Christmas!  My boys must have been feeling the Christmas spirit, because they continuously posed and asked me to take their picture.  Whoa!  I was soaking it in, for sure.

 The trains are always a hit with my boys.

When it was finally our turn to see Mr. Claus, the boys hopped right up there.  Santa talked and talked to our little crew.  It was so sweet to watch!  At the end of their chat, Santa said, "So, tell me, Boys, who has been the naughtiest?"  Without missing a beat, Owen pointed and said, "Drew!"  Ha!  Drew's face was priceless when he realized that his Baby Brother had thrown him under the bus.  Drew has been anything but naughty this year - he is as sweet as they come.  That is why the whole conversation was so funny.  ;)  As the boys were walking away, Santa said, "Hey, Drew..."  When Drew turned around, Santa motioned with his pointer and middle fingers from his eyes to pointing at Drew, then his eyes, then pointing at Drew - like "I've got my eye on you."  Drew's eyes were as big as saucers.  He didn't know what to think.  Wade and I laughed and laughed at the whole scene.  So funny...

I'm so glad that we got to squeeze in a visit to the Gaylord.  It was a precious night for our little family of five.  :)

Santa 2012

Last Tuesday, we took the boys on our annual pilgrimage to the Gaylord Texan for them to see Santa.  The Gaylord is always so beautiful this time of year!

Santa was sweet with the boys and they got to tell him all of their wishes.  :)  Clayton ask for the Batman 2 game for the Wii, an iPod Touch (we already told him that we had the power of veto on that one!), and a Go Cart (he has been warned that is probably a no-go as well).  Drew asked for a DS, some DS games, and a trampoline.

Santa spent some time with Clayton and Drew before he had me put Owen on his lap.  I gently placed Baby Brother on the lap of Jolly 'Ole St. Nick, and he.... screamed his head off!  He looked terrified in the first few pictures that they took.  Santa was sweet to talk to him and calmed him down really quick.  We ended up getting a couple of really cute shots.

We didn't buy any of the pictures of Owen screaming his head off, although, now I kinda wish we had.  It only lasted a matter of seconds, but Owen is our first baby to cry with Santa.  Clayton & Drew never did that.  I was glad that Little Mister calmed down and was able to enjoy his Santa experience.  Hopefully, Kris Kringle won't hold it against Owen and he will still get some good loot.  ;)

My beloved camera of 7 years that I have taken approximately a gazillion pictures with, has decided to act a fool.  Some of my pictures come out well and some have a dark shadow across the bottom third of the picture.  No bueno!  All of that to say, most of my pictures from the Gaylord are pretty crummy.  My photog husband did get 3 good ones.

After our time at the Gaylord, we went to a "fancy" dinner.  We took the kids for sushi!  It was their first sushi experience, and they loved it!  The people at the next table kept pointing and laughing at Clayton because he was trying and loving everything.  His favorite was the eel (which was cooked) and the tuna (which was raw).  He didn't care for the octopus - he said it was too chewy.  :)  Drew wasn't quite as adventurous, but he did like the eel and the "Samson" (aka salmon).  Ha!  Owen ate his weight in rice and liked the teriyaki chicken.

Too see past Santa pics, click HERE.

Santa Visit 2011

On Saturday we went to the Gaylord to see Santa Claus. It was so much fun!!! The hotel is decorated so beautifully for Christmas and Santa was so sweet to our boys. Love that jolly ole chap! ;)

We waited in line for about 30 minutes, but none of us complained because there was so much to look at. The boys just stood in bewilderment, pointing out all of the decorations. It was one of those moments where you can really see Christmas through the eyes of a child.

I waited until the very last minute to change Owen into his outfit, for fear of some sort of blow out/spit up incident. I changed him in his carseat and Wade died laughing at how I practically stood him on his head contorting him into his outfit. Sweet little thing never made a fuss - he just rolls with it. Third babies are crazy awesome!

As soon as they got all of the boys situated, the camera lady got their attention with a clapper thing. They all looked straight at the camera and smiled for the first shot. Success. ;)

Clayton in line with his list. He drew a picture of Santa and our fireplace. If you look closely, you can see that he drew in our Elf on the Shelf, Nick. Ha!

I snapped this one when they were looking at the tree. They had no idea that I was taking their picture. I'm so glad that they love each other. :)

Poor kid - practically folded in half! All in the name of a cute outfit... :)

I love our yearly visits to Santa. Such fun memories with our boys...

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