Toddlers Love Lights

It’s Christmas time and unfortunately Santa’s hours don’t always coincide with my retail work hours. This is always a challenge- I want nothing more than to bake cookies, spread holiday cheer and buy and wrap presents for my loved ones- but unfortunately, it’s also the busiest time at work.
Christmas is all about traditions and since we can't go to Illinois to share it with our families, Court and I have made our own traditions- primarily- Christmas Morning Mimosas. But now we have our little one and it's time we add a few more holiday family activities.

As a kiddo I remember going to Wiswell's Christmas Tree Farm to find the perfect tree, driving around town looking for the best light displays and getting into fights with my brother for ‘looking out my window’. I remember going to the Nutcracker with my mom, aunts and cousins, I remember eggnog and decorating the tree- It was a magical time of year and of course I want Layla to have the same warm fuzzies for December that I did.
 And so sets in the inevitable mommy guilt.
Determined, I did a little research and there was one Fort Collins holiday activity that totally fit our schedule.
Layla and I had been to the Gardens at Spring Creek this past summer with Grandma, it was totally cute, with the path through the different vegetation, the Koi, the Dr. Seussish playhouse- a kind of mini-botanical gardens with a great children's area.
But from 5-9pm this time of year, the Gardens at Spring Creek becomes a winter wonderland with lights strung on all the garden sculptures. It’s a chilly walk but a pleasant one, we even witnessed what appeared to be a first date- kudos to that guy for originality.
Layla ooohed and ahhhed as we made our way from one lighted area to the next, she especially loved the lady bugs and the dinosaurs. She was a little unsure of the praying mantis but overall it was a hit.We were there only twenty minutes or so but it was all we needed to feel a little of that holiday magic and see that sense of wonder in our toddler's eyes.
So maybe this is a tradition we started this year- but next year we’ll definitely remember to bring a thermos of hot chocolate, no not mimosas.