Christmas at Disney - Arrival Day

We kicked off our Star Wars Christmas with a Friday evening viewing of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker at our local movie theater.  I worked that day and though I was clever for wearing a Star Wars t-shirt under my blazer.  Either the 10 people at the office that day were too focused on getting in/out for the holiday, or no one wants to comment on the outfit of the partners, because only one person asked me if I was going to the movie (and didn't directly mention the shirt)! ;-)

After the movie, we went home and finished packing for our early Saturday flight to Orlando where we would be celebrating through the 26th.   We stayed at Disney's Beach Club Villas so that we would be walking distance to Hollywood Studios for what we knew would be early mornings for the new Galaxy's Edge.  We were also walking distance to EPCOT for the fun there!

 Even the airport "monorail" was themed and ready!

We have been at Disney a few other times around Christmas - once leaving on Christmas Eve and last year John and I were there for his birthday right after Thanksgiving.   One of my favorite parts is how the resorts decorate!  At Beach Club, they had a Peter Pan-themed carousel.  The lobby also had a sweets shop set up that made it easy to buy stocking stuffers and other goodies!

 

First up that afternoon was our first ever ride on the Disney Skyliner!   We walked over to EPCOT to exchange our annual pass vouchers and the ticket center was right next to the Skyliner station, so we rode to Caribbean Beach Resort, and then transferred to the Hollywood Studios line.  That was much more relaxing than the power walks we'd be doing to Hollywood Studios at 6:15 on Sunday and Monday mornings!  The gondolas were spacious and smooth, and they had very little wait.

We were expecting huge crowds at Hollywood Studios thanks to the only weeks-old Rise of the Resistance ride and the only months-old Galaxy's Edge land and Smuggler's Run rides.  We weren't wrong!  But it wasn't as bad as we feared, and we only waited around 45 minutes (made better by the Surly Sarlaac beverage acquired beforehand) for our first ride on Smuggler's Run (left pilot, right pilot and gunner) and then had time to check out the land, and check out Oga's Cantina before we had to leave for dinner.  The Rise of the Resistance is virtual queue boarding passes only, and they are fully distributed within an hour of park opening, so we would have to wait to get those Sunday morning in order to ride. 

 

 

 

Oga's Cantina was walk in mid-afternoon, so we did.   They sit you at tables with other "travelers" and you have 45 minutes to hang out.  There were only a few drinks and even fewer snacks, so 45 minutes was more than enough time to people watch and check out the theme.  I had a "Jedi Mind Trick," and it was boring.   William's drink was blue Powerade based and he liked it.  John ordered a beer and was disappointed in himself for not reviewing the cocktail menu more closely.

 

We rode Star Tours and Rock 'n Roller Coaster as well, before leaving, and caught this cool holiday display on Tower of Terror and the bubble snow before we left. 

For dinner we went to Teppan Edo, the hibachi restaurant in Epcot's Japan pavilion.   We were paired with a family of four from Quebec and a mother/son from Florida celebrating his birthday (their 10th year doing so).  The food and "show" were fantastic.   And William amazed us by eating every single bite of his food and then ordering and devouring (not even offering to share!) a slice of ginger chocolate cake. 

   

 It was raining when we left and William and I both decided to buy our first souvenir of a long-sleeved t-shirt.  Here we are modeling them before bedtime!  We didn't stay up too late since we knew we had an early morning and long week ahead!

Rosie

We moved our Chicago staycation up one week so we could host a house guest the other weekend:  our neighbor dog, Rosie, stayed with us while her parents were out of town.  We very much enjoyed having a dog around.   She was a perfectly wonderful companion.  A very furry one....so much lint brushing!  But a lovely addition.  We all needed some puppy cuddles, and while none of us miss the fur or having to get up in the morning since Rachel's passing, we sure did miss having a shadow for every.single.thing during the day! 

Christmas at School

Another nice surprise about Catholic school that we didn't have at public school is a Christmas program!  They were just instructed to wear "something nice," and when I got home from work that night William was wearing jeans and a sweater.   I guess that makes sense considering how casual mass is at church, but he dresses nicer for school!  I reminded him that the girls would be wearing Christmas dresses and to try again.  He came out looking very sharp in slacks and a blazer.  The preschool and kindergarten kids went first because as the principal noted in her opening, it was already their bedtime!  They were adorable.  Then the 1st-5th graders filled the stage and did a few songs together and a few just their grade.

 

There was also a school fundraiser with poinsettia sales, so I bought some for our holiday decor.  Loved having them!

Christmas in Chicago

We have long had the Christmas tradition of the Chicago Christkindlmarket with Ryan, and since we wouldn't get to go with him this year we took a new spin on it by having a mini staycaytion in the city.     The guys met me in Chicago after work on Saturday afternoon and we stayed the night in a river view room at The Renaissance hotel at Wacker and State.    We were so busy that we didn't get to use the hotel pool, so we will have to try again!  But we loved the view out our window!

Our first adventure was to walk along Michigan Ave. to the North Face store at the John Hancock tower because John realized he forgot to pack his winter coat!  After a few boring minutes trying to help John, William and I went next door to Water Tower Place to the Lego store to spend his birthday gift card. 

Then we cabbed to the Lincoln Park Zoo for Zoo Lights.  It was a fun (cold!) walk thru to see the lights.  A few minor exhibits were open to see, as well.

We ended up walking from there all the way to Lakeview because the traffic was so bad that it was faster to walk than Uber.   Our only stop was for a donut and bathroom break at Firecakes.   A giant donut for first dinner isn't a bad thing on holiday, right?!  William was a little tired but John was getting grouchy that I kept making them walk!  And I was getting a little anxious that we would be late for our tickets to Blue Man Group.   But we walked fast enough to make it and really enjoyed ourselves!   My original plan for the Christmas staycation was to see a holiday show but tickets were limited and expensive, and I happened upon a great deal for BMG.  I've seen it in Orlando but it was a first for both John and William and they both loved it!   

After the show we were tired but needed to eat a real meal.   We ended up just getting food from the lobby bar and eating in our room, which was a great idea!

 

 On Sunday morning, we dropped our bags with the bell hop and headed out for brunch at my favorite stop (Beatrix in Streeterville), enjoy the sites along Michigan Ave, see the Marshall Fields holiday windows and hit the Christkindlmarket.   Unfortunately it was so busy at the market that we had to divide and conquer for the ornament house line (Lisa and William) and the drinks line (John).   After our beverages and buying our favorite cinnamon-sugar pecans, we just headed home.   It was too busy to venture through all the little shops and we were full from brunch so didn't need more food.

 

 

Thanksgiving/Christmas in Indiana

We spent our traditional Thanksgiving Day and day after in the Indianapolis area with John's siblings, parents and their families.   We packed Thanksgiving, Christmas and November/December birthdays all into one day, but apparently I didn't take any photos of those festivities!   I'll borrow this group photo of the grandkids lined up from youngest to oldest:

William (10), Lexi (10), Jake (almost 11), Lily (11), Carter (18), Ali (almost 20)

The Friday after Thanksgiving has its own traditions.  Jake and William play video games at Jake's house for hours on end, the guys go to a local beverage establishment (and most years to Best Buy or similar to get Pat a new TV!), and the older kids and ladies go to the Carmel Christkindlmarket.  The market has gotten so much better over the last three years as it has grown.  

 The cordoned off snow just makes me laugh.

 

 

 

 I never knew there was more than one kind of gluwein.  At the Chicago and Naperville Christkindlmarkets you just order gluwein!  Here there were 8 or more flavors to choose between.   So instead I chose glubier!  It was a warm beer and was tasty.   It paired nicely with my favorite roasted pecans.   I usually love a crepe or a raclette as well, but I had eaten lunch at the hotel right before we left and wasn't hungry enough for those.  Next time I'll plan better!