The most anticipated event of our advent activities last month was to take the train to Union Station to see Santa. Willa had been asking to take the light rail for a long time, and while driving to a station outside the city to ride downtown didn't make tons of logistical sense, it still sounded like a fun family adventure. So. That's what we did. Only, it wasn't that simple. Here's how it went down:
^^step 1: buy tickets.^^
^^step 2: ride the train. arrive downtown.^^
^^step 3: realize the "real" santa isn't there on the sunday before christmas. WHAT!?^^
^^step 4: have lunch while you try to regroup. mercantile dining & provision.^^
^^step 5: try to make up for your parenting fail by buying your children sugary treats. throw in some adult holiday drinks as well. wreak havoc in the middle of union station when hot cocoa is spilled (why is the "kid's size" so damn big!?).^^
^^step 6: check the santa's schedule online, and then go to union station again. this time, by car. observe santa and families in action for several minutes. try not to feel too weird that you're just watching.^^
^^step 7: go eat lunch at zoe mama. because, the best. and what else would you want to eat on christmas eve?^^
^^step 8: ice cream. because the line for that is much shorter than the line to see santa.^^
Hurray! That's our story! Live and learn, friends.