This year we tried something new for Christmas Eve. We went to Thanksgiving Point. This may become our new Christmas Eve Tradition. We started at the Children's museum and went on to every single museum that day plus ate at our favorite café. Ellie has gotten so fun to take places. She now likes to play in both the big and little kid areas. She loved stomping on the frogs and dragons in the interactive floor area.
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Miles and Ian were inseparable climbing and clambering throughout the whole jungle area.
Liam went into the dark tunnel of courage...that is when we realized that he'd brought a flashlight.
At kid city the kids ran around having a great time. Ellie broke away from the toddler area for the first time and went around to all the different kid city rooms.
Ian and Miles first robbed the bank...as usual. Afterwards they joined Liam to make movies in the movie studio.
Ellie became enamored of the veterinarian's office. She piled every single animal on to her exam table/x-ray. She then cried hysterically if any child so much as breathed on one let alone tried to take one. In the end she had to be forcibly removed so that other children could have a turn...with anything.
We went to the outdoor play area. That was awesome. There was no one out there and every kid, including Ellie, went on the zip line multiple times.
The kids climbed rocks, ropes, and dug in the dirt. They were making sandcastles while wearing their coats. Their little fingers were red with cold, covered in dirt, and their faces were smiling.
We went out to our favorite café after playing at the Children's museum. All the kids could order their favorite food. As a result a bunch of well fed and fairly happily children headed over to farm country. At farm country they were selling mini rex rabbits. Matt came fairly close to buying one. I brought lots of quarters so all the kids got to feed the goats, sheep, and llamas. All the kids got to ride a pony. Liam is getting a little big and his pony looked a little pained, but it managed. Officially he will be too old for ponies at his next birthday. Ellie rode the pony and cried when I took her off.
After farm country we headed over to the Dinosaur museum. Liam was on "do his own thing" mode. So I followed Liam and Matt kept an eye on the other kids.
Liam spent an inordinate time staring wistfully and intently at the dinosaur diorama. I believe this is what he wants in his room.
He also carefully constructed his own dinosaur. He explained it was an ankylosaurus. I have to admit it looks like one.
Ellie and her younger brothers were playing in the sand table. I know because there is a window next to the "Design a Dino" and the diorama that overlooks the table. I alternated between watching Ellie demand every dinosaur in sight and watching Liam press his nose up against the glass.
It was nice that Ian and Miles have learned to play nicely with others; because Ellie isn't there yet. Princess Ellie is the ruler of her small kingdom and she does not share with peasants.
This was one of the best Christmas Eve activities that we have ever done. I think it will be a definite repeat next year.
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