Here comes Santa Claus...

Last Saturday we took the kids to Bass Pro to visit Santa. Times sure have changed for us. It seems like yesterday they were screaming when we tried to place them on Santa's lap for a picture. I still remember the year Emma was 2 or 3 and she waited in line nicely and when we got up to see Santa she walked right on by him and said "No, thanks!" This year they could hardly wait to tell Santa what they want for Christmas and how good they've been. Emma was so sweet and let her brother go first. I love how she has her hand on his back!

Then it was her turn.

They love the nutcrackers!

Max wanted to take that train set home.

The kids had fun playing with the games/toys they had set up around the store.(I just deleted some cute pics of Emma with the pink Red Ryder gun--her great uncles would be so proud!)

The carousel was new this year and was so cute with the reindeer, moose, and polar bears.

After seeing Santa and playing games it was time to write their letters. Max only asked for Legos. (I think because he knows how to spell Lego!) Emma asked for a few things too!

Mailing their letters to the North Pole.

Friday Night Fun

Friday nights in the Hillen home are usually pretty low key...pizza, movies, games, a little Wii. We like to stay in after a busy work/school week and save the fun for the weekend.

This past Friday was a little different since we were off from school all week...it was glorious!! I started the day by going black Friday shopping at 1:30 a.m thanks to my sis...she wanted to go at midnight but I convinced her that we needed a little sleep. Thankfully, my mom, sister, sister in-law, and I didn't run into any black Friday craziness and had so much fun! We try to go every year(usually at 4 a.m.) but missed out going together last year due to my nephew Noah's birth one week prior. After shopping, we visited with my parents and had some yummy leftovers for lunch! Then we headed to our hotel, the Rosen Plaza, for the weekend. They were just starting to put up Christmas decorations and the kids LOVED the toy soldiers. They wanted to bring one home.

After exploring the hotel for a little bit we headed to Pointe Orlando for dinner at Adobe Gilla's
with Damian's good friend Bob who lives nearby. I had some fabulous fajitas and was so exhausted at this point that we walked around and made it an early night. Both Damian and Bob had to work at their golf courses that morning so the adults were all a little tired...me from that early morning shopping! The kids were ready to go since they had naps so they played, jumped on the hotel beds, and watched movies! They both love staying at a hotel. They are always up for a little adventure. Although it wasn't a really late night, it was a fun Friday night!

Mommy and Me Monday

Saturday evening we celebrated Damian's Aunt Toots and Uncle Max's 50th Wedding Anniversary at Maggiano's. It was so much fun to meet a couple of Damian's cousins and an aunt and uncle who came all the way from Arizona and Alaska. And of course see the rest of the family, some we haven't seen in a few years. We made a little vacation out of the weekend and stayed at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando. It was a much needed vacation but I was glad to get home home yesterday.

Here's a pic from Saturday night with my sweet kiddos!