Fantastic Family Day

Today was an amazing day. My heart feels so full and I am so grateful for my wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters.

We started with a quick breakfast before going out for the annual tree cutting. We cut our own Christmas tree every near in a grove about twenty minutes away. Last year was the first time we took the girls. The weather was warm, there was very little snow and we had a great time. Butterfly rode good-naturedly in the kid pack while I carried Ladybug in the baby sling, bundled up so only a sliver of her face showed (and even that covered by another blanket, so warm and cuddly that she slept the whole time). This year was quite a different story. We layered on clothes and pulled on snow gear (including snow shoes, knowing the snow was quite deep). I put Ladybug into the kid pack and she immediately let us know she was not happy. But we thought she might settle down once we started walking. So we started down a snowpacked trail, Ladybug on my back and daddy pulling Butterfly in the sled. Long story short, we turned around after less than half a mile, having decided the girls were too cold and unhappy. So daddy and grandpa stayed to find a tree while me and grandma took the girls back to town. (...after he got my vehicle un-stuck for me).

After a few errands, naptime and a quick lunch, we headed out for today's next adventure. Our little town has an old fashioned rail road and today, we took the girls on "the Santa Train". We settled into our seats (with just a bit of nostalgic excitement poking at me, I'm just that much of a history geek and this authentic railcar was just that cool to me). We had a little picnic snack with the girls as we passed through the outskirts of town and traveled through some beautiful, snow covered countryside. The girls were in a great mood, Butterfly curled up on daddy's lap nibbling at a huge chunk of turkey and Ladybug repeatedly climbed up and down from my lap to explore. After about fifteen minutes, the train slowed and Santa appeared, waving to us from outside the window as we passed him. He boarded the first car and slowly made his way down, saying hello to the kids and passing out treat. Both of my girls stared at him with wide eyed, expressionless faces. But the were estastic about the candy. Once Santa reached the last car, he turned around and came back through again (and got a great smile from Butterfly this time). And soon we arrived back home, the ride was the perfect length and the girls had a great time.

So we ran a few more errands, Ladybug napped and we then had a couple of quiet hours at home. We watched a movie, played with toys, brought our tree in and just enjoyed a rare Saturday of hanging out at home. After dinner, Daddy and Ladybug stayed home to play while me, Butterfly and grandma had a girls night out. We took her to see "Tangled" at the movie theater. (Butterfly loves movies and does great at the theater. Ladybug has no interest in movies at all and gets bored really fast. Plus, she's pretty strict about her own bedtime.) The movie was fantastic (truly one of my favorites I've ever seen Disney make) and Butterfly did great. The story, characters, animation, music, etc. were all amazing and Butterfly was enthralled. She devoured popcorn while we waited for it to start and throughout the previews. But she quickly got caught up in the movie and sat still in her seat, with occasional whispered "wow"s or giggles. Halfway through the movie, she started to wiggle a bit so I pulled her onto my lap. She cuddled into me and gathered my long hair into her hands and she watched the movie while stroking her hands down the length of my ponytail. I especially loved the moment during the climatic love song when the characters lift and release lanterns. Butterfly dropped my hair and held her hands out, palms up, and she too lifted with them. Then she cuddled back into my and began to softly sing with them, echoing their words and melody. She completely melts my heart. She loved the movie and as I carried her to the car she continued to hold tight to my hair and told me it was magic.

Such a wonderful, amazing day.