December 1st: Winterfest! My advent is highly organized this year thanks to Starfish. So last night I pulled out the manila envelope labeled December 1st, put the activity in our original tree advent calendar, the candy in the new advent calendar bag, and the surprise on the fireplace! This year I got the kids each a toy advent calendar. Serenity's is lego friends and Donovan got a playmobil pony set. So far they are a BIG hit. I think the kids have been playing games with them since they woke up this morning. Donovan got a pony in day one, and Serenity got a little girl minifigure to put together. They have taken turns visiting each other's advent scenes. Serenity calls hers iceland, and they are teaching the horse to ice skate. Hopefully this translates well to tonight, when we head to Winterfest! Eric is hoping to talk at least one of the kids onto the ice with him. =)
Well, Winterfest succeeded beyond my wildest hopes =) Serenity said it was the best day of the whole year. Both children attempted ice skating and loved it! Poor Eric was almost hobbled after sliding Donovan around the ice, but he was so thrilled to finally get his kids skating! Serenity did a really good job! She went around the ice once with one hand on Daddy and one on the wall, and then she managed to go around a few times just holding hands. By her last pass she was brave enough to try a spin! Of course, she didn't really warn Eric so it was something of a surprise. =) Pretty cool! Then we went on a horse and carriage ride! Serenity got to ride up front with the driver, and he let her hold the reins and taught her to say whoa when she wanted Belle and Kelly to stop and make kissing noises when she wanted them to go. Donovan happily chimed in from right behind Serenity. The horses stopped to pee in the road and that was hilarious, of course. They were both having so much fun we stayed all the way until they turned the lights on the big tree. The kids rolled down a grassy hill to pass the time. It was a beautiful and thrilling evening.
