Tualatin Commons Tree Lighting

So a few weeks ago, I saw an advertisement on my way home about the tree lighting in the Tualatin Commons area. I knew how much Brynn loves Christmas Lights, so we decided we were going to go. So we planned on going...then the afternoon threw some wrenches in our original plan. I went and picked up Brynn from school and she told me her ear and throat hurt. I talked with her teacher and she had had an off day, so I called the dr. and made a quick appt. (luckily they could squeeze her in) and sure enough she had a red throat (viral...not strep luckily) and an ear infection. So her and I stopped to drop off her prescription on the way home, pick up a few groceries and then headed home to get some warmer clothes on to return to the tree lighting. It was now 5:15 (and all we knew was the festivities started at 5:30) I called Jerret and he didn't answer...meaning he was still at work...lovely. So B and I got home, relaxed for about 10 minutes (now about 5:30) and then I get a call from Jer. He was finally leaving work...at 5:45. I decided to look on Tualatin Commons website, to see if there was a schedule of events...luckily there was. Tree lighting and Santa arrival at 7:00. We could still make it. So we decided to meet Jerret at Haggens Parking Lot (this is where we parked so we could just walk over to the tree lighting and I also needed to pick up Brynn's prescription I had dropped off earlier.) We finally met up and were out of Haggens by 6:35 and walked over to the commons. There was a decent amount of people and local highschools/elementary school bands/choirs singing Christmas tunes. We listened for a little bit, then decided to sit on a bench and wait for the lighting (it was FREEZING by the way and Brynn wasn't feeling very well and was not really in the mood to keep her hat or hood on). We waited until the lights were lit (not really that exciting unfortunately) and then asked Brynn if she wanted to go see Santa or go eat dinner. She said go eat dinner. We had already planned on going to Buffalo Wild Wings (in Haggen's parking lot too). So we walked over and Jerret informed me the ducks were playing so it may be busy...and YES it was! There were 6 parties in front of us and some had been waiting over an hour...NO THANKS! We drove to Red Robin down the street instead and were home by 8:30. Even though the tree lighting wasn't the most exciting it was still nice to get out and do something as a family that isn't in our daily routine...Here are a few pics of the evening. I didn't take very many cause B wasn't in the photographic mood...

Daddy & Brynn (she was watching the choir)

People watching

Mommy and Brynn (again people watching)

Looking at the boats on the little pond

She was not a fan of the hood.

Watching the jr. high band warm-up their instruments

The floating tree....(and my breath cause it was cold)