Countdown to Christmas 2025…Day 14
Happy third Sunday of Advent!
The calendar pages are flipping by so quickly this year.
We had yet another significant snowfall across the Midwest yesterday, but managed to celebrate our Caroline as she graduated to performing in both shows of the Winter Recital.
She was, to us, perfection and we loved every minute of watching her do her thing.
For today’s “short lived tradition” I will start with another of Rachel’s ideas that was so much fun.
We only participated once, and we just had the two boys at the time. I think they may have gone another year without us.
This adventure was a trip to Navy Pier in Chicago for their Winterfest. I checked the internet and it is still a thing that happens. Again, highly recommended. I will link it at the bottom.
Basically the inside of Navy Pier is turned into an indoor amusement center with a variety of activities for all ages.
There were enormous trees decorated which make a great photo op for the family. I remember the boys enjoyed riding a train, playing on the inflatables and a ride up a gigando rocking horse among other things.
As I recall, we had to find a place to eat in Navy Pier. It was a bit pricey and more like fancy bar food menu, but all part of the experience.
We visited Chicago another time with Zach’s side of the family and had fun just taking in the city with some random stops in stores, seeing the policeman on horses, the big city decorations and of course the Bean.
We waited a lengthy amount of time to get seating at a restaurant together and I still have a tug remembering Graham curling up on Papi’s lap and taking a little snooze.
We have visited the St. Louis Zoo with Tia and Jack when it was decorated for the holidays and enjoyed the beauty of the zoo in the winter time.
I have enjoyed seeing, on social media, photos of friends visiting the sights in Chicago, St. Louis and New York City.
There is something about traveling to another city with your family and checking out how they are celebrating this season. The wait in a restaurant lobby, the walk along unfamiliar streets, the bustle and energy of a larger city, the creative decorations and exposure to a different culture than your every day home life makes for some special memories.
I still remember our visits to Louisville as a child around the holidays. The big department store windows that had tableaus, the lunch at a counter in the basement of Stewarts Dry Goods, the sights and sounds of the city are all part of my remembrances of Christmas and thus…a lovely tradition.
This year Russ and I attended a Christmas concert in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox. We navigated the downtown area, ate at one of the local restaurants, found parking in a big garage and enjoyed the whole experience so much.
Even if it’s a shopping trip to another town nearby, a drive through another neighborhood to look at lights or a stop at a first-time restaurant for a piece of pie and coffee…I think the holidays are an invitation to try something outside the norm.
I hope you are finding some fun new places to visit and I hope you are going with some people you love.
Have a blessed Sunday <3