Good Girl

Our trip to DC wasn't all work and misadventure.
We had lots of fun too.  For one thing, hanging out with our hosts was fantastic.  They were amazing to let us stay with them, and they spoiled us to the best of their ability.  I ate so much injera- Little One did, too- that it almost made up for my deprivation of it these last few months.  (Because no. No there is NO Ethiopian food in our little Florida town.  A tragedy).  I loved playing with their much missed little girl and meeting and snuggling the brand new one.
We also got to spend a night (two, for Little One) with some of our dearest friends.  You all remember O?  O, the longtime love of Little One's life?  They are still quite the item, long-distance though their love may now be.  They had an absolute blast together, and I loved listening to them speak sweet nothings to each other like this:


Little One: "O. You are my BEST FRIEND!"

O: "You MY BES' FRIN!"

Little One: "O. I WUV YOU!"

O: "LOVE you! HEEHEE!"

Little One: "O, I wuv you much of a RAINBOW!  I wuv you much of a BUNNY!  I wuv you much of a choo. choo....TRAIN!!!!!!"


And O did give Her a car from his much beloved (by both of them) train set, which Little One did not let out of Her sight for days.

It was great to see them reunited, great for Little One and I both to hang out with his wonderful parents, and O's mom and I stayed up until midnight talking, despite both being super tired.  I miss these people too much.

Another highlight was the evening after the event was over, when "Zashy"'s family and the Littles and I went out to the Mall.  We tried to go see the giant train display at the Botanical Gardens, but they were closed....except.  In a holiday miracle, one of Santa's elves (guessing) was in charge of locking up, and offered to sneak us in.  Amazing!
This place usually has hour-long lines to get in and is jam-packed.  But there we were, getting our own private showing!  Little One was dead asleep, not trains nor planes nor a tuba to the ear could wake Her.  So She sadly missed out.  But Miss was far more interested that I'd expected! She LOVED the trains.  They made Her wiggle and bounce and squeal with delight. EVERY time they passed.  It was adorable. 
Afterwards we wandered down by the White House to see the National Christmas Tree all lit up with the trains zooming around.  Little One did get to enjoy this lovely scene.  There was a giant bonfire to warm hands by, a big creche that Little One had quite a lot of questions about, and then the highlight for Her.
We walked through Santa's Workshop, seeing to toys and shiny packages, and the naughty/nice list.  And at the end- we saw....SANTA.  Little Ones eyes were saucers.
She climbed up, shyly flirting, and whispered, "Hi, Santa".
He asked Her what She wanted for Christmas and She was SO ready to tell him.
"Oh!  I want to have a teddy bear!"
Santa Said ok, and they posed for a picture.  But before hopping down, Little One clasped Her hands and looked up earnestly at Santa's bespectacled eyes,
Little One: "E'scuse me, Santa?"
Santa: "Yes?"
Little One: "I....I'm a good girl, Santa."

Which, of course, She is.