The Pink Pig

    Today, we went back to a Christmas Tradition:  the Pink Pig!  It was the grand opening - one employee there said they were expecting around 200 people.  That was a little off... over a thousand people showed up.  Probably even more than that.  I am not kidding.  There had to be over a thousand people there, all waiting to go for a ride on the legendary Pink Pig on opening day.

     To celebrate such a grand occasion, Mommy dressed Madison up in as much pink as the human eyes can stand.  She looked adorable, of course - her ensemble was complete with a glittery pink purse (inside which was a small plastic piglet).

    We met up with some good friends who apparently have a similar sense of adventure/humor.  Together we agreed to meet up down at Lenox Square.  Oh yes, it was time to make our pilgrimage to the sacred grounds of Priscilla the Pig.  We showed up around 3:30, and there was a ton of people there, with balloons, a disc jockey and a whole lot of partying (and a whole lot of kids!).  We waited in line quite some time to ride the Pink Pig.  Really, it was about an hour and a half wait for a ride that lasted pretty much a minute.  BUT, it was a really festive atmosphere, and we plan to go back when we're doing some shopping at that mall, and when things are a little bit quieter.  It was all about the event today, really.

     While we waited, there was plenty to do.  For example, there were all sorts of free food and drinks on a buffet table inside the Pink Pig Tent.  Yes, they had pink lemonade.  They even had pink cotton candy in a cone for Madison.  In the not pink category were other tasty foods:  we ate grilled cheese sandwiches, chicken, and small burgers - it was lots of food there for free!  While we waited and ate, Priscilla the Pig wandered around and greeted the children.  Madison even gave Priscilla a big hug! 

     Other characters from Children's Healthcare were there, and Madison even got to spend some time trying out a pink hula hoop!  It was her first try, but she absolutely had a blast trying to get that thing to go around just once.  The problem was:  the pink hula hoop was just a bit too big for her.  It was still fun to watch!

     There was another table set up for kids to color in pictures of the Priscilla (pink, of course).  Although:   Madison thought Priscilla looked better with the purple crayon (she's such a rebel).  Anyway, soon it was our turn to walk up to the tent and go for our ride.  Just before entering, a tall man in a top hat had twisted a pink balloon for Madison in the shape of a cow.  

     No, not really.  Just checking to see if you were paying attention:  it was a pig.  Madison was absolutely thrilled with her balloon pig, and clutched it tightly for the rest of the day, even in the car on the way home.

     Finally, we hopped on the Pink Pig.  It's just a train that goes around inside a decorated tent, but Madison was delighted.  She waved at everyone and pointed at everything.  Each time, she called out, "Christmas trees!"  Of course, it was in her own way, but Mommy and Daddy understood perfectly.  Another phrase she said a few times over the course of the day was, "Pink Pig."  We knew what she was saying because she was pointing to a pink pig, of course.  Isn't it great how she's tying two words together now?  Like I said, you might not be able to understand her completely, but she is trying.  And when words seem to fail, she has this wonderful little look of frustration as she physically drags you to the object she's trying to say and simply points it out.

     Later on in the evening, we went to Ye Ye's house to spend just a few moments with he and Nana.  Madison went wild over there - we had a ginormous pillow fight that left her staggering around the living room swinging her pillow wildly at anything that moves!  Poor Asaph!

     She's settling down now, in her pink pig pajamas even!  I think it's safe to say she had a pretty good afternoon.  It was a quiet morning, as Daddy and she watched a few Christmas cartoons and sat quietly in the playroom.  But all that changed quite a lot after just one encounter with... the Pink Pig!