Christmas 2013 - Tree lighting ceremony

This Christmas season was super fun.  Eliza was the perfect age to catch onto the magic of Santa Clause.  She talked about him everyday; she joyfully learned and sang Christmas carol after Christmas carol, and she completely tore into the presents.  Last night I heard her exclaim (while holding one of the Sesame street books my sister gave her, "Zaby, this is my favorite Christmas book ever in the whole world.  It is MY Christmas book I got last night on Christmas Eve, last year."  She still goes around the house singing "Jingle Bells" "Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer" "Santa Claus is coming to town" and "We wish you a Merry Christmas."  On a daily basis she asks to watch Rudolph and Santa Claus is coming to town.  She is full of the Christmas spirit. 


Our Christmas celebrations started the first week in December when we attended the tree lighting ceremony in both our town Perkasie, and the neighboring town Sellersville.  We had a camera malfunction during the Sellersville celebration, so there are very few pictures to show for it.  After enjoying some free food, we took a free trolley ride through historic Sellersville.  Eliza enjoyed the ride so much, we had to carry her off the trolley amongst kicking and screaming.  We grabbed a cup of hot cocoa, ate a bowl of chili and cake, then stood in line to see Santa and Mrs. Claus.  This is the only tangible evidence we have of attending the celebration.

The whole evening she talked about what she was going to tell Santa Claus and what she was going to ask for.  When it came time to actually talk to him, she didn't want anything to do with it.  It took the candy cane bribe for her to pose for this photo.  She did say goodbye to both of them when it was time to go. 

 

 

A few days later, we hit the Perkasie Christmas celebration.  Early in the afternoon, the historic Perkasie carousel was open offering free rides with Santa Claus to everyone. 

At first, Eliza was a bit unsure if she wanted to join the fun, but as soon as we got going, the smiles and giggles didn't stop.  

 

 

We rode the carousel three times (by then I was feeling a bit queasy).  Each time, she was happily rewarded with a candy cane from Santa Claus, and a small toy.  We collected quite the stash of mini holiday decorated yellow rubber ducks.   I figured I would put a string on them and hang them on the tree as ornaments.   

 

Later that evening, we gathered around the gigantic Christmas tree in the middle of Perkasie town square.  After singing a few carols, we were ready for Santa's arrival in a power truck.  Sitting in the bucket seat, he was raised to light the tree.  At this point in the evening, both kids were getting a bit tired.  Eliza almost fell asleep on my shoulder.  But when Santa started throwing candy canes to the spectators, Eliza instantly perked up.  It's a good thing, my army crawling skills paid off - I was able to squeeze through a small opening and retrieve her a candy cane.  

 

Watching the Model train display

 

Standing in front of Santa's house

Of all the things we did that day, Eliza was the most impressed by Santa throwing candy canes.  It was all she talked about for days after.  Every day in December, she told me that Santa was going to come to her house and give her a candy cane.  That really got her into the Christmas spirit.