The tree is so big it didn't fit in our camera frame. This year it was done by Vera Wang. Apparently now she makes ornaments?

J enjoys the Mary Poppins series windows - don't recognize this scene in the movie?

Me neither, this adaptation came from the original book.

J brought Santa a present, L would have nothing to do with him. Presents? She's all good.

A Visit with The Big Guy in Red

One of our new yearly traditions now that we are close to Chicago is to visit the Marshall Fields (Macy's now) Santa on State Street. We also took the kids to the Walnut Room for dinner - while a lovely idea we really could have skipped that this year, saved some money and eaten at the Rick Bayless fast food area. They were not nearly as impressed with the grandeur as one would want when paying $10 for a plate of kids macaroni and cheese.

But Santa and the Mary Poppins windows were a big hit. J brought Santa a homemade present in order to up his standing on the list and seal the deal with the electric train set he has his heart set on. The Santa's Cozy Cottage wound you through his workshop and featured all kinds of buttons you could push to make things move and lights turn on. Our Santa had the high pitched voice of a prepubescent boy that concerned me at first - he did not sound like what Santa was supposed to sound like - but the pictured came through and he really did look authentic.

Don't worry mom, I'm sending the picture soon.