Ice skating at the Galleria

 Lea got to go ice skating at the Galleria for a friend's birthday. Nothing brings us into that "holiday feeling" like ice skating. Unless its Christmas music two weeks into November! The "oldies" station here started playing all Christmas music on Nov 15. A bit early in my book, but I was told (as our city honors the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination) that if you look at pictures of the 1963 Kennedy motorcade you will see Christmas decorations adorning downtown — so its not unique to our generation. However, this premature Christmas music has caused the Neal family to invent a fun game — change all Christmas songs to Thanksgiving songs. Dan and Lea are really good at it.
"Its beginning to look a lot like THANKSGIVING, turkeys in every home..."
Lea's favorite this morning was Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas time" with "Simply having a wonderful THANKSGIVING time. The choir of turkeys sing their song. 'Don't eat me, don't eat me, Pleeeeeeease don't eat me." Very funny!

So skating around a gigantic tree at the Galleria helped get us into the holiday mood a bit early. As we walked into the Galleria Lea says in an indignant tone (I know that creating an indignant eight year old is my own doing — she reflects the tone I seem to take most often). "Who ever heard of putting an ice skating rink in a mall for crying out loud!"

Well, lots of people. Especially the Galleria people because there is one in Houston too.

So she skated with friends. Ate pizza and cake with friends. Wore silly glasses and pink mustaches with friends. A good time was had by all (especially because mommy went and had a margarita with another mommy!)

Skating with no fear! Lea said she didn't fall once and didn't spend the whole time on the rail.

Part favors were pink mustaches and wacky glasses, but Molly wanted Dan's glasses. As you'll see in a following photo, Molly was right — it doesn't get any wackier than Dan!

Wacky glasses and a pink mustache!

Happy Birthday!

Wilford Brimley? Oh no just Dan in his daughter's pink mustache and hoodie. He walked all the way through the Galleria in this get-up. He got some funny looks. It was fun walking behind him, catching reactions.

And now for the video portion of this ice skating post: 

After skating we headed out to the country to see our Sorensen cousins' new house/farm. 2 horses, 8 chickens, a goat and a sheep! Plus lots of kids. Their house warming party was wonderful and we look forward to seeing them more often. Lea had a great time playing with BX3+L! Middle brother was very jealous and said "Lea is in there playing with her BOYFRIEND!" But then they all managed to play together. Very cute! We also saw Kirby! Dan hadn't seen her since she was a teenager and we couldn't figure out if she and I had ever met. She seems to be doing well and was delightful to talk with. Good to connect with all of them and spend the day watching a beautiful sunset at their new home. 

A very good day.