We are pretty much decorated. We could do more, but I am not sure I have the inclination.
I am not a huge fan of mall Santas, which made stumbling across Santa in the Zoo magical. He was in a tent near the petting zoo, sitting on a folding chair, with an attendant and bag of small animals to hand out. The attendant had a Polaroid camera. No charge. If you zoom the picture and look to the right, that’s where the early photos are. In the first encounter, Ashlan is on my back, and Rey is just talking to Santa, not on his lap. Eventually Santa moved into the new Zoo Store, and it got glitzed up. Anytime the kids aren’t wearing jackets we were inside.
There is always the question of what to do with the picture ornaments. On the tree or elsewhere. Originally, they were on the tree. But our trees are usually not too large, and at this time we have about 125. They would not come close to fitting the tree. Hence the picture wall.
The original ornament wall was in front of the window. We installed it there multiple years. But it blocks the window, and working from home, I like to be able to see out. Last year we put some on the tree, just chose a few. This year, back to the wall idea, but in a different location.
On to the week before Christmas.
Raincharm's Weblog 
December 17, 2023 at 8:52 pm |
Love the picture wall! The tree is beautifully decorated. I approve of the zoo Santa; if I were to do it again, I doubt that I would take the girls to Santa. Neither one of them liked it, especially the younger. I feel guilt about how terrified she was.
December 17, 2023 at 9:05 pm |
The quietness of the first years made the zoo perfect for the kids. And I could be there with them. It did become something we did, but as part of a trip to the zoo, and they probably liked that as much or more.
December 18, 2023 at 7:46 am |
Mark posted a picture of you and me visiting Santa. You look like you’re not too sure of this guy.
December 18, 2023 at 9:39 am |
The link to said picture
Thanks for the heads up, I had missed it somehow