Our activity yesterday was to have Mother/Daughter/Father/Son Night. It was aptly timed. After spending the early afternoon crying over stories about madmen and victims and heroes, I was grateful to spend the evening holding my daughter's hand.
I told Chloe we were going back in time for the night. I took her to the Christmas Festival in Historic St. Charles. We walked the cobblestone streets together, stopping occasionally to roast marshmallows or listen to carolers or collect trading cards from storybook characters.
We ran into Jack Frost, Jo March, an angel, a flower girl, Pere Noel, and this Santa who told Chloe she should hold the lamb for the picture. She didn't get his card, so I'm not sure which Santa he was supposed to be. I also don't know who the woman in the background is, but I'm so happy she made it into this picture.
The shops were all lit up and decorated for Christmas. The restaurants were all overflowing with people waiting to get tables. As they waited, many groups spontaneously erupted in song. We heard Christmas carols on every corner.
I told Chloe she could get one thing while we were there. She wanted to get a treat, so I got us some hot cocoa and funnel cake. Neither of us had ever had funnel cake before. We give it two sticky thumbs up.
As we were walking across the street, bubbles suddenly started falling from the sky. Chloe was thrilled. She couldn't see the bubble machine on the balcony above one of the shops, so I let her believe it was magic. And honestly, it was. I was beginning to wonder whether there was any good left in the world, but our evening reminded me that joy can be found in the simplest things (like bubbles and funnel cake) and that Christ brings peace in troubled times.
In case you're wondering, the boys stayed home and ate doughnuts and played video games. Also magical.
6 Wisecracks:
All right, this is something else I have to steal for our traditions next year. But we have to find somewhere as cool as this first. What a neat street! And bubbles falling from the sky?!? We had snow fall from the sky last night. Not nearly as magical.
Sounds magical!
Love!! You guys should go see the Rise of the Guardians. It was so cute!
Oh my goodness! I am actually holding back tears. That is one of the most beautiful nights I can imagine.
I too recently discovered funnel cake. No wonder people at state fair are always lining up for them. This makes me sad I never did the st Charles Christmas thing. Sounds really neat.
She is so lucky to have a mom like you. Sounds like a memory making night.
I love that bubbles just appeared out of nowhere. The other night Scott and I were just leaving the doors of Southpiont Mall when snow started falling from the sky. It wasn't even cold. Then we looked up and saw that there was some sort of machine blowing out "snow" from on top of the roof of the mall.
Not quite as magical as bubbles.
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