"Probably Not a Tradition...

....so much as a one time thing". These are the words that my husband said to me as I got back in the car on Sunday after raising the wooden arm (all by myself) to let our car out of The Gaylord Texan.

And I couldn't agree more with him.

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All pictures that you are about to see are made of 100% ice:





I'm sure you've probably all heard of "ICE".

As in:


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Every year the Gaylord Texan has a truly spectacular 14,000-square-foot ICE! exhibit that features a variety of magical holiday scenes and sculptures hand-carved by 40 visiting artisans from Harbin, China.

Every visitor will feel as though they have been transported to the North Pole as they bundle up in warm parkas and enter a winter wonderland created with TWO MILLION pounds of ice and kept at a wintry 9 degrees.

This year the Gaylord Texan and ICE! have really out done themselves by recreating Charlie Brown and the Whole Peanuts Gang from a Charlie Brown Christmas.
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Well, let me just say that if your 3 1/2 year old
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Now, the whole ICE concept is cool, don't get me wrong. But, being huddled together with 100 other people that you don't know
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printingwhile walking like a flock of penguins because it is so cramped, on top of wearing "eye-catching" blue parkas that have kept 50 million other Texans warm without EVER being washed on top of your every day winter coat, with a 4 month old human strapped to your chest.....
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printingwell, it didn't feel like I was walking in a wintry 9 degree wonderland.

It felt miserable.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingI was nauseous half the time because I couldn't breathe. Kevin was chasing Gray around
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printingconstantly telling him not to lick the ICE and trying desperately hard not to lose him amongst the 99 other blue parka wearing folk. Lil Miss Sassy did sleep the entire time, which was nice, but she was also radiating heat like a 9 month preggo in August.....and since she was strapped to my chest under my wool coat AND a big, blue parka, I had to just leave her there. Sweating.

By time we finally reached the end of the "magical holiday trail", we were exhausted and grumpy.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingAs for the kids, she was hungry and he was thirsty. So, while Prissy and I found a quiet place to nurse....Kev and Grayson spent $12 on an apple juice and an 8 oz bottle of water. Sweet.

After two timeouts and several threats of leaving before sliding down the snow hill,
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingI finally talked Kevin into letting Grayson go down the bunny slopes. I know, I know....I'm the parent that lets him get away with everything...I'm too easy on him. But, I couldn't leave without seeing my sons face as he slid down the bunny slopes at Mach Speed on a tube.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingAll.By.Himself.

And it was AWESOME and the ticket had already been purchased so no sense wasting anymore money than necessary.

So down he went, not once but three times!!

And finally he was pooped out
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So, I guess if you've never experienced ICE yourself, it's worth seeing.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingOnce. But, I don't think it will be a Richard's Family Christmas tradition like I had thought.
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Seeing Grayson's face light up with fear and oh-my-gosh-this-is-the-funnest-thing-ever
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printingmade it all worth while. Even wearing the musty smelling blue parkas.


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