Winter Wonderland

We had a great weekend celebrating Sara's birthday and the holiday season at the Gaylord Texan.  Of course it was a popular weekend (isn't it always?) to partake in Christmas festivities, but we handled the crowds and made lots of wonderful memories.  Our main mission was to visit the ICE! exhibit, which features the story of Frosty the Snowman this year.  After waiting in line and watching a video about how the ice sculptures are made by workers from China who come to Dallas for the season, we were given our big blue parkas and our adventure began.

 

 It was seven degrees inside the exhibit, but we didn't mind.  The sculptures were amazing, and these pictures don't begin to do them justice.  Sara couldn't believe that they had colored ice!

 We all went down the ice slides ... fast and fun!

 This picture is super dark of Sara, but it's a good shot of Frosty and Santa!

At the end of the exhibit, we walked by a sculptor at work.  Apparently they are allowed to work for one hour inside the exhibit before they have to take a one hour break outside of it.  Sara was very impressed by the artists.

 After we saw Frosty, Steve and Sara hit the tubing hills.

 Emma was too little to participate, but some cotton candy kept her happy.

After ICE!, we enjoyed walking around the Gaylord.  It had gotten dark outside, so all of the lights were on, and the place was beautiful.  The ceiling is all glass, and the inside is designed to make you feel like you're outside.  There were lights everywhere ... the girls loved watching the trains go around a life-size gingerbread house.  Christmas music was playing, and everything was just so festive.  Our friends, the Brunsons, were staying at the Gaylord last night, too, so we met up with them for dinner.  We had a great time catching up and relaxing over some Mexican food and beverages.

 Steve and I were both in shock that this picture, with both girls looking and smiling, took only one shot!

 Of course we had to wait in line to see Santa.  Sara was thrilled because she just knew that this Santa was the real one.  Emma was excited until it was our turn, and then the reality of having to sit on his lap hit and she lost it.  This was the best picture we got ...

In all the rest, Emma's arms and legs were flailing.  I'm not worried ... she'll like him again come Christmas.

 Our weekend was wonderful, and now we're preparing for our last week of school before winter break.  The fun has just begun!