A GREAT Day Out!

Brayden and I had a memorable day today. I have to say that this was the first time I was out with him by myself and I didn't feel like he was a baby any more. We went to his first in-theater movie (The Princess and the Frog--I highly recommend it!) with great success. The whole way forty-five minute drive to the mall, he kept asking me if he could have popcorn. I don't know where he heard that, but he knew it was a staple for movie-goers. The sad part, when he actually got it, it only took him two bites to determine that he did not like popcorn...

After that, he ran, jumped, crawled, tunneled, fought and sang at the play land. He is usually pretty passive, but he felt that the strawberry was worth contention. He wanted to climb up the slide, and a few times, he actually made it part way up before a kid would come down. Boy, did that send him running!

Finally, we stood in line to see Santa. There were several children ahead of us, and Brayden said, "I want to see Santa NOW!" He had just watched an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse this morning where Mickey counseled Donald to be patient. I used that to my advantage--he deemed me Mickey and he asked me several times to tell him again to "be patient." He was not the least bit afraid of Santa. He walked to him all alone and smiled genuinely; however, Santa was NOT a very good one. I don't recall him ever saying "Ho Ho Ho" or even asking Brayden what he wanted for Christmas. When the picture was over, I walked to them and told Brayden to tell Santa what he wanted. Guess his answer--not a train/Thomas/cars/coloring books--Dora. Now, just how do you fulfill a little boy's request for Dora when all of her toys are pink? That wouldn't go over very well with the fam. When the Santa experience was over, he said, "I was patient!"

When we got back in the car, he spoke no words, yawned twice and was out. Unfortunately, I expect he will be up earlier than usual in the morning.

**The underwear on the OUTSIDE of his pajamas? Totally HIS idea.