A Tuacahn tradition...

Last year was our first Christmas away from Salt Lake and all of our usual holiday traditions. So we did things around town here and decided to make them new traditions. One of the kids favorite happens to be visiting Tuacahn. The whole place is lit up. There are lights on all of the trees and the buildings. Santa is there and Maddie had been preparing for weeks for what she would ask him. We tried to go last Saturday but for some reason a torrential downpour is enough to keep people away. All week Maddie had been asking when we would be going and they are only open certain days of the week. Mondays was out because by the time she is done with dance and I get the family fed...there wasn't enough time to get that in too. But last night they were open again through the weekend. So we bundled up (I won't complain about how cold it is because I know some of you are reading this from places far colder right now that we are...but to us it was FREEZING!) and packed hot chocolate and we were off. When the kids saw Santa they couldn't wait to get there. Maddie went first and was in awe of him. She kept petting his beard as he asked her about school and asked if she has been good. She could only get out the words that she wanted a Barbie (after all of the practice and the letter writing). You know a good Santa when he says that he likes to surprise and that she will have to wait and see what he brings her...no parent binding promises!! Hayden was next and he did great. He just wanted to sit there. He asked for a big tractor and his highlight was the candy cane he got when it was all done. He still is talking about how Santa gave him a big treat. We were perfect timing for the live nativity that Tuacahn puts on every year. We found our seats, drank some hot chocolate to keep warm and waited for it to start. I love that the kids get to see the nativity in action because think it helps them to understand a bit better. My favorite part is when Joseph takes baby Jesus and hands him to the littlest shepherd and the little boy takes him over to the other shepherds and the bow to the baby Jesus. It isn't too short...isn't too long and it was a perfect reminder of what this holiday season is all about. Sure...Santa is great...but a little baby born in a stable and the life that He lived is truly what this holiday is all about.