Kalightoscope - the uncensored version

My wonderful week NOT having to go to work for 5 days straight vacation week is winding down.  Sigh.  This makes me sad... No, I don't wanna go back to work, but I gotta pay for that stupid new car somehow.  Eh, it's a vicious cycle!

Ya'll know I'm a bit of a planner, so it should come as no shock that when I knew for sure which week I was going to be off, I invited myself along asked Alicia if her & the kiddos would like to hang out one of her days off.  Of COURSE, she said 'YES' & told ME to come up with something for us to do.  UHM, pump the brakes... what do I know about fun stuff kids would like?  Sheesh...  

I finally decided on Kalightoscope at the Galt House.  

Alicia is a great hostess & was really looking to show me a good time.... she knows how much I love Christmas music, so she was sure to have the van radio stocked full of Christmas CD's.  THEN, she allowed her child to bring a jingle bell in the car with us.  AWESOME.  I thought guests were suppose to be held in the highest regard?  You know, be nice to them because they're GUESTS?  Hmph.

Jake loved ringing the bell until I wanted to take his pic...  I assure you - there WAS ringing.... lots & LOTS of ringing....

Since Alicia & I are both directionally challenged, we had to rely on smart phones to get us to the Galt House.  Sad, I know.  When we got in the van she said, "Do you know how to get there?"  I said, "No, do you?"  Details schmetails...  Once we found the Galt House & parked, we went inside & a guy told us where to buy tickets.  He sucked at directions too because we ended up at a locked ped way door...in a parking garage.  Nice.  I called the Galt House & told them we were lost... she figured out that we were at the ped way for the Yum Center.  A very nice security guard came up & told us where to really go.  (Apparently there are TWO towers to the Galt House & we started in the wrong one.  So fyi if you're going to Kalightoscope you need to be in the REVUE tower... Who knew?!)

Jake wasn't thrilled about going down the escalator.  He hurt his elbow last time he rode one.  Heck, I get nervous getting on them too.  Alicia hopped right on with that stroller & nearly gave me a heart attack.  

All the while we rode down, we're screaming to Jake, "C'mon buddy - just step on..."

I couldn't take it anymore so I went back UP the DOWN escalator to get him.  (UHM, that's not easy to do...I almost died, people...)

He finally got on & then sat down.... then he was nervous all.the.way.down because he was going to have to get off.  Oy.

 We FINALLY made it into the Kalightoscope display & first up, Alicia read the sign out loud that said, "Please do not touch."  Really, Kalightoscope?  Bright, shiny, colorful displays right on kid level?  Hell, I wanted to touch them...

 Jake signed the 'nice' list.... Nora played with her marker...

Fun group shot in front of the Vegas inspired North Pole sign.

 I loved all the displays because they were SO bright & colorful!

 Santa & his reindeer hung from the ceiling.  Jake kept saying, "Hey guys - look at this!  Hey guys - look HERE!"  He was so excited.

 This display was made to show what it looks like UNDER the Christmas tree.

 There was also a display about the real Reason for the season.... you can see the baby Jesus above & behind me.  There were three Wisemen & camels & all that... but you're not gonna see pics of that.  You're gonna see a pic of me with the Angel who stood there singing...Christmas music.  Yes.

 After you leave the Kalightoscope display there were a couple of other places to visit.  This sign was CLEARLY marking our path when we left that display.  These are the kinds of signs Alicia & I need everywhere...

 There was another wall in the Santa's workshop to write on.  Almost every pic I took of Alicia she was making weird faces.  We're kindred spirits - the same thing happens to me.  We're animated, people...we can't HELP it!

 Ah, there's a good smile!

 There was a snow fairy princess display that Jake REFUSED to go into.  Alicia & I went in & there was a little girl camped out by the snow fairy.  And the fairy was all nice & talking to her & I said, "Wow.  What a job.  I can't imagine sitting here all day talking to kids & being nice to them."  

Maybe my job is not so bad after all?...

 Next up was lunch!  I must tell you - this was the most chaotic part of the day.  There were a TON of people at Qdoba & adults don't like standing & waiting in line, let alone kids!   I asked let Jake show me the food he was consuming.

 And this one right here?  Oh, I enjoyed every second watching her eat.  And when I say 'enjoyed', I mean my face cringed in horror every time she would pick up that milk to take a drink.  Alicia taught me very quickly that the chip is 'just the vehicle' to get the cheese into her mouth.  So when Alicia took Jake to the bathroom, I'm not saying that I put that pile of cheese right within her arms reach.  Nope, not me...you do NOT see my lovely manicured nails at the bottom of the pic holding the dish for her.  

 And my cringing paid off because she had milk EVERYWHERE.  Down her shirt, on the table & on the floor.  GAG.  I hate milk.   At one point she had her straw out swiping it through her milk...I wasn't quick enough to get a pic of that...

 Alicia is so laid back & so are her kids.  They are well behaved & she's constantly teaching them lessons along the way.  She amazes me at how she juggled both of them effortlessly.  (I was exhausted & had to come home & nap!) At one point she said, "And we're even a kid down!"  You moms are crazy...truly.... I would lose.my.mind.  

I had a great day hanging out with all of them.  Jake said on the way home, "Mom - this was a great day!"  That made it worth it...gross milk & all...