Best Christmas EVER! Season 2 (Part Two)

If you missed BCE Part 1 you can read the background here.

With firm resolution in place Josh and I struck out to have The Best Christmas Ever!

Amidst the dental drama (suffering an abscessed front tooth) I had the opportunity to page through one of the Minnesota focused magazines while waiting in the dentist office. There I stumbled upon Metro Connections, a company offering Christmas light tours. I researched a bit more at home. There are limo companies that offer these services as well, but with the oh, $300 price tag, it was not a posibility. Although I do admit to contemplating how many people could fit into said limo, and price per person, and could I find a group of friends or family who would enjoy the time together and find a limo ride to see all the beautiful lights something worth a bit of expense. Given the late notice, not to mention massive amounts of schedule coordinating, the $28-30 per person coach bus fare seemed more than reasonable.

The tour leaves from the Mall of America. Josh and I dressed up a bit and enjoyed a fancy dinner at Twin City Grill. The coach bus for the tour was warm and spacious. As we drove the highways to get to the neighborhoods our guide offered us Christmas trivia. I delighted in all the sparkly decorations! I saw lighting elements that were brand new to me. Some of them were terribly clever, like the home that transformed their garage into a giant fireplace, with Christmas light stockings hanging above. Some of them were clever but bizzarre, like the home that hung the candy cane light elements, designed to line a drive or walk, up in their trees. Some families go ALL OUT! There was a home with a Mrs. Clause in costume on the front porch waving as we went past. At another location, elves and the Grinch came on the bus to hand out candy canes.

As we hit the freeway to return to the mall, with full tummy and contentment overall I dozed on my husbands shoulder. This is an adventure we will be repeating again!

I don't remember how I was struck with the notion to attend Ballet Minnesota's The Nutcracker Ballet. I am a huge fan of the show "So You Think You Can Dance." I am amazed at the strength, flexibility, and mastery dancers have over their bodies. This was my first time attending a ballet. I loved the familiarity of the music (picked up from bits and pieces over the years), the elaborate costumes, the story unfolding before me, and the graceful movements of the dancers. I don't know nearly enough about ballet to judge it technically, but I adored the performance.

After the ballet Josh took me to Moscow on the Hill for dinner. Russians know warm comfort food! I always enjoy the food there. I also love overhearing the conversations taking place in Russian. I don't understand a word of it, but it sure adds to the atmosphere. Moscow on the Hill also serves the absolute BEST chocolate mousse! Add a glass of port and you have yourself one of the greatest ends to a great Christmas night out.

One day, early in December I came home so bummed out. I don't remember what was bothering me, but I do remember Josh rubbing my shoulders and taking care of me, trying to make me feel better (because he is just so awesome like that!). Feeling a smidge better, though still a bit mopey, I sat down at the computer to sort the mail and pay bills. Because bill paying always cheers me up (yes, I am being sarcastic). As Josh sat next to me, I tossed aside a postcard advertisement for North Heights Lutheran Church Christmas play, "The Christmas Window." North Heights goes all out in their productions. I didn't even bother to ask Josh about attending this one, thinking, "Josh has already agreed to the ballet, and tour, AND attending church on Christmas, no way he's going for another Christmas play at church." I have a trophy-husband though who loves me very much. As I moped through the mail and bills he snatched that flyer, determined it was something I'd enjoy, and HE asked ME if I wanted to go! Then, shockers of all shockers, when I said yes, he hopped on his computer (yes, right that second), found the event and ordered the tickets! My day perked up considerably after that sort of loving attention and I began to get excited for another Christmasy event.

Before attending "The Christmas Window," we had dinner at Carmelo's. Carmelo's is by far my favorite Italian restaurant. You can taste that the pasta is made fresh. The restaurant is small and intimate with candles on the table. I love the food, and the people watching. It's so easy to peek in at families gathering together, couples on dates, and such. As we ate our meal we saw a group of four arrive in Victorian costumes. I wondered if they were part of a local play or were out caroling or what other sort of activities might have led them to such clothing.

After dinner we went to the play. True to North Heights fashion, the production had seemingly hundreds of people on cast. The entire front of the church was decked out in stage sets. The play had ice skaters, aerialists, lots of music and children. Completely unrelated to the plot, but my favorite part of the play, was one little boy in particular. At one point the cast was singing/performing, "Be Our Guest" from "Beauty and the Beast." The children were dressed as butlers and walked in rows down the middle aisle of the church and back again along the sides. They were lined up by height, tallest to shortest. As they passed our seats, and the children got younger and younger, I saw at the tail end, this little boy. He must have been just old enough to follow directions. He kept his left arm bent in front of him with the white dish cloth draped over it, right arm bent behind him, just like all the other little butlers. He also took about twice as many steps as the child in front of him as he worked to keep up with those ahead. He was SO adoreable!

Josh and I made it to church for Christmas service for the first time ever. The service was beautiful and fun as well. It meant so much to me to wrap up all of our Christmas revelry with fellow believers focusing on Christ and the gift God gave us when he sent His son so that we could better know Him.

With all of the other events BCE1 would not have been nearly as satisfying if we hadn't also been able to make it to our families gatherings. We don't gather as a family nearly enough. I think in part it's our culture, and in part it's the challenge of coordinating so many different schedules. I love that Christmas gives us not only the opportunity to gather, but the motivation to make it work.

BCE Season 1 rocked! I can't wait to start BCE Season 2!

Stay tuned for more of, "The Best Christmas Ever! (Season Two)."