Super Nats, The Colonel, & Dr. Tart: Going to the North Pole

Out trip to the "North Pole" was a surprise for the kids and we didn't tell them where we were going. We had a layover in Amarillo and it had snowed there the night before. As we were coming in for our landing, Stephen looked out the snowy and barren (there was nothing around) and asked if it was the North Pole. So funny since that was our surprise. I think my favorite thing about traveling was how cute Stephen was pulling his little suitcase in his froggy boots. He really is an adorable kid.

This is the view from our hotel--so beautiful!!

After a long day of traveling we got there in the early evening and took the kids to the hotel pool--it was indoors but it was FREEZING!! This was as far as Natalie got in. There was a hot tub, but it was out in the snow and our Arizona-Texas kids were not about to go for that.

Stephen was the only one who enjoyed the water. I'm not sure how come he wasn't cold but after all day traveling it was good to get some energy out.

After finishing at the pool we headed to the Nutcracker- one of our Christmas traditions. It was the first time we have taken Stephen (except when he was a baby) and it was a little rough. He thought it was SO boring and he kept telling me that!! In the second half when it gets a little better he liked it a little more. Even though it was a youth production and only an 80 minute version- but no intermission- it was beyond his four year ability. Maybe in a few more years...

Natalie of course LOVED the performance!!!!

Everybody LOVES hotels!

Such a beautiful view!

There are few things Stephen loves better than hot chocolate--and it is even better when it is cold out!!

Yum!!

Our big surprise of the trip was going to the "North Pole," at the base of Pike's Peak in Colorado. Too bad Natalie knows how to read and knew we were in Colorado!

The video of them meeting Santa is precious! After weeks of telling me he couldn't think of anything to ask Santa for; he suddenly had a LONG list with only a few days to go before Christmas. He even added a clock so he could tell when it was bedtime to his list. So funny- he hates to go to bed!

I think of one Stephen's favorite things of the entire trip was the snow- he was in love with it. Especially with throwing it. And now he keeps asking when we are going to get snow. He didn't want to leave Colorado either- he told me he loved our hotel and he didn't want to leave the snow!

We saw Santa as soon as we arrived before it got busy, it was perfect. After that, we went on our first ride and Stephen was so cute telling me this couldn't be the real North Pole because the real North Pole was REALLY far away and he didn't think we had gone far enough. He also was so cute telling me his feet were "FROSTED!!" Right after that he started crying because he was so cold, I guess those frosted feet caught up with him. We had literally been outside for less than 15 minutes. It was going to be a long day.... I had a second pair of socks and after thawing his toes out inside a shop and putting on that second pair- it seemed to do the trick.

Ferris Wheels were my favorite thing growing up, and I thought this one way up in the mountains was the coolest thing ever. Isn't it beautiful?? It was COLD though!!

Silly!!

Candy Cane Coaster

On the Ferris Wheel with my girl...even David and I were freezing by this point. Because we were in the mountains the sun was starting to go down some and it was really getting cold....despite lots of hot chocolate and ging inside whenever we had a chance the cold starts to wear on you. Plus none of us had good shoes for the snow and that makes a difference. At least the kids had thermals.