arcade of lights

They call it the "Trail of Lights," but when you're inside it feels more like an arcade of lights. It's an Austin Christmas Tradition of which our family has never partaken until last night. We were invited to tag along with friends who had a "premiere" parking space, access to the sponsors' "hospitality tent" (which means free hot chocolate and cookies) and early entrance into the showcase. We also walked in through a private entrance, so we didn't have to stand in line with the masses. The only thing missing was Alex. He's in Nebraska, but he's also watching the new Star Wars movie on opening day, so don't feel too sorry for him for missing this little light show.

The trail itself was almost like a teeny-tiny Disney World. Or am I over thinking that? I guess instead of a minuscule Disney World, it's more like a scaled-down carnival. There was a Ferris wheel and carousel, but those weren't free--even for those of us with a blue wristband--so we passed on waiting in line for 30 minutes (I pulled the "guys, we just got back from Disney World" card when the children threatened exploding into tantrums). But there's one thing Disney World does not have that the Trail of Lights does: a serape-clad cowboy riding atop a Rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-inspired jackalope. That's right; we're in Texas.

winter wedding

I have a good reason for slacking on the blog this time. I'm not going to blame it on Apple software upgrades or wonky UVerse connections. This one is legit: I've been busy.

It turns out that picking up that part time gig of teaching high school History and English takes up a good portion of my evenings if I want to be prepared for class (and who doesn't want to be prepared for class?). I thought once we took a winter hiatus from the sports scene things would slow down, but then I found myself agreeing to photograph a wedding. The wedding was the first weekend in December, and approximately five days after our trip to Disney World. "Why not," I said.

I should mention that, although my children make excellent subjects, they do not pay the photographer well (or at all, if you aren't counting in tears and rolling of the eyes). The wedding, in contrast, was my first opportunity to get paid for this--it was a small affair on a warm December evening in Austin. I gave the couple an amazing deal as far as wedding photography is concerned; in turn, they gave me an opportunity to see if I could hack it as an actual photographer. I'm not ready to invest in a paparazzi cargo vest just yet, but I did enjoy acting like I was super important for the evening.

a frozen christmas

It just so happens that the children and I were invited to a Christmas party at the retirement community--I call it the "Old Folks Home," but Alex thinks that's insensitive...I guess he's right--where Alex's stepmother's mother lives (you got that?). And it also just so happens that the theme of the aforementioned Christmas Party was Frozen. Being young girls of five and three respectively, Scout and Tillie decided it was necessary to wear their Frozen dresses to the Frozen party. When we arrived and just so happened to end up in the elevator with the real Anna and Elsa (or at least the Anna and Elsa hired for the party), I realized the girls were on to something. When in doubt, dress like the entertainment.

I tried having a Frozen moment of our own before we left for the party, but you can guess how that worked out (cooperative middle child excluded):

giggles and smiles

Here's what you forget when you go to Disney World: that time you waited in line for 125 minutes to ride Soarin'; when your seven year-old threw the temper tantrum of his life because all you wanted was a decent picture of the three children in front of the Tree of Life (see last picture, below); when you screamed so loud you gave yourself a splitting headache because you did not know that Rock 'N Roll Roller Coaster started out like that; the moment it was clear a three, five and seven year-old do not make good teammates on a scavenger hunt through Germany (Disney Germany, not the real Germany).

Here is what you remember when you go to Disney World: laughing hysterically with your children because Tower of Terror is really scary; talking to monkeys and other wild animals on a safari adventure (where a baby giraffe, of all things, held up traffic for a few minutes); seeing the joy in Tillie's eyes when she discovers she's exactly 40 inches; having your son lead you around the park because he can actually read a map; waking every morning to a new adventure; going to sleep each night exhausted yet exhilarated.

 

awkward family photo awards

And the winner of this year's Disney World awkward family photos are:

Winner: Best use of a giant Christmas tree to get your three year-old to hide from the camera.

Winner: Best use of a fake Eiffel Tower  to get your three year-old to show you how she really feels.

Winner: Best use of fake Eiffel Tower to showcase each child's personality. 

Winner: Best use of giant golf ball (or whatever it is) to remind us the three year-old is running the show.

Winner: When siblings hug, someone's eyes are going to close.

Winner: Stand here and act as serious as possible if your name is Tillie or Alex.

Winner: Never be afraid to let your true feelings show (if you're a three year-old or a goofy second grader).

Winner: Act like you've been here...a really, really long time.

Winner: This is the last family photo I will ever attempt on this bridge (at least until next year).

Winner: Princesses make three year-olds smile.

Winner: Princesses really make three year-olds smile!!

mooned by a silverback

I may have taken more pictures of this silverback gorilla on our trip to Disney World than I did of our own children. Although he could, in theory, rip of my head with the swipe of one giant gorilla hand, he didn't talk back (like the children do) and he even put on a little show for his spectators. Check out this sequence of events and see if you can spot his silver gorilla bottom: