Last Day in Santa Fe

It was cold on our last day in Santa Fe, but we braved the weather and went to The Plaza.

US Bank had a display of trains that we had tried to see and finally managed to get to the bank when it was open.    These men set it up and run it every Christmas for the bank.   You can tell they love doing it.     

We ended up at the LaFonda for lunch.   It is the oldest and best known hotel in Santa Fe.   Pat was at the counter making sure we could get a table.....

Course, she is laughing because we are both taking a picture of her.   

Vic walked up a level and took pictures down on the dining room.    Pat and I are sitting to the left of the tree.

Check out that Blueberry Smoothie!  

It was a pretty drive as we headed west toward Scottsdale.     This picture is taken east of Flagstaff on the Interstate.

Christmas Eve in Santa Fe

We started our Christmas Eve with a candlelight service at Pat's church.   

It had gotten dark while we were in the service.  It was beautiful as we walked outdoors.

Santa Fe knows how to use lights to make everything beautiful.

We drove around the Plaza and also into the neighborhoods to get into the Christmas Spirit.
Thank you Pat for letting us share this special time with you in Santa Fe.

Pretend Christmas

Since we head back to cold country tomorrow night we decided to have our Christmas with the kids last night.   In the afternoon the kids made their gingerbread house so that became the center piece for our salmon dinner.   

In the afternoon the kids had a birthday party for the neighbor girl and Vic overhead Mack telling one of the men that tonight was our pretend Christmas.   The man just laughed and told him he could believe that if he wanted to.  Mack just walked away but he knew he was right.

One of Mack's gifts was a 3 in 1 Lego's set.   

Ellie got the dress for Merida (Brave) and was so excited to try it on.   She was acting a little goofy on the steps when Papa wanted to take her pictures.  She had her arms touching each side of the stairway and Vic told her to put her hand down and she decided this old fashioned choir pose was the next best.

Christmas?

The signs of something exciting are appearing at this house.   The kids feel it in their bones and  it causes a little wild and crazy activity from time to time.   Like today when some wrapped gifts showed up under the tree after rest time.    But, their Mother knows how to calm things down when she says, "How about a book"....

This book was especially fun because they had to find hidden objects.

Like most kids, they love books!
Back to the subject of Christmas.....It is very hard for me to really believe it.   I have to stop and ask myself what month it is because there is no sign of December when you are outdoors.   But, the way they decorate with the giant blow ups in their yards reminds me it really is Christmas season.

Waikiki

Sunday afternoon we made our way to Waikiki for lunch.    After we ate together we checked into our hotel and the kids played in the green area of the hotel grounds.   Of course, there was water so you can imagine the fun.

Slangers left for home and we walked to see the sites.    This is taken from the porch of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Of course, the man in the hat is snapping pictures as we walk.

We stayed at Waikiki until the sunset.   Vic got some prettier pictures than I did but I like this one of him waiting for the perfect moment.

Almost every time we go to the beach there is a couple taking wedding photos or actually having their ceremony on the beach.    This one was a little humorous because the 2 sitting on the sand to the right of the couple would not move even though they knew this couple had a professional photographer trying to get the shot right at sunset.    I hope the photographer had Photoshop.