Silas' highs and lows

We had a very busy day today as a family -- a few trips to Home Depot, visit to Santa, buying a new washer and dryer at the Sears Outlet (our current one has moved from incessant squeeking to sounding like a popcorn machine), lunch at RainForest Cafe, buying a Christmas tree, etc., etc.

Silas was not so sure about the idea of visiting Santa when we were telling him all the things our day had in store for us. When we arrived at Santa's post, we were told we could do some Christmas crafts while we waited for our number to be called for Elam and Silas' visit/picture with Santa. Silas got so involved with a glue stick and a picture of Rudolph that he was rather dismayed when our number was called. He warmed up to Santa very quickly and proceeded to explain to Santa that his stocking had a penguin on it and his brother's had a snowman -- I guess he wanted to avoid any Christmas morning confusion. :) Anyway, the visit was soon over with a wave goodbye and a candy cane in hand. When we were in the car, I heard "more of some, Mommy". I explained to Silas that he had eaten every last bit of his candy cane and there wasn't any more. He replied, "NO, more of some Santa!"

Later we arrived at Grapevine Mills mall thinking we would make a quick trip to the Sears outlet to look for a washer/dryer. For some reason it was closed when we arrived, so we decided to have lunch. Ben must have been in a very jolly mood after visiting Santa because he had the idea that we ought to go lunch at the RainForest Cafe -- definitely not in our normal price range for a bite to eat while running Saturday errands. Well...we quickly discovered that the atmosphere is GREAT for 5 year olds (Elam) but not so for soon to be 2 year olds. Ben held Silas for most of our meal as he hid his head from the gorillas, elephants, and thunderstorms. Panic was all over his face and in the death grip he had on Ben.