This year we added a new twist to our Christmas Eve festivities. We still caravanned with Amma and Grandpa and the Worsters up to the Awahnee for a picnic lunch with the Waltner cousins. We played with the train, (although this year Daddy taught us how to control it), we still oohed and aahed over the beautiful decorations, enjoyed their sky high tree, drank hot chocolate and voted on our favorite gingerbread houses. We then continued on to Yosemite Valley to breathe in its breath taking beauty. But instead of being limited to just a few hours, we had all night because Grandpa had rented us tent cabins to stay in. So we dressed in our warmest duds and headed for the ice rink. Instead of a quick session around the ice, we took our time, we skated until closing, we watch the sun go down, the girls skated on their very own, and even held one another's hand for a lap around the rink.
After skating we enjoyed a hot pizza and cup of cocoa. We lounged in the lodge until all eyes were sleepy. We thought we were tucked in for a long night's sleep.... but little did we know we would be entertained for hours by a visitor in the night!! A BIG male bear who was not hibernating at all like a good bear should be in the middle of winter. Oh no, not this bear, he was an expert in bear boxes. He promptly broke into the bear box in the ten just across from us. Upon Daddy's urging, we rolled up our flap on our little canvas tent and watched the show. It was the salty chips that gave us the biggest surprise, for the only water to wash down such a treat, was a little puddle just outside our tent. Daddy and Adalie were standing right at the door when Mr. Bear decided he needed a drink. We felt him brush up against our tent as he lapped up his drink!! What a treat!!
