Christmas Festivities!

Here are a few snapshots from all the festivities we did this past month. It was so much fun and made the month fly by so fast.

Christmas Trains~ We saw the Christmas trains again this year. The kids are finally old enough to partake in the seek and find activity that goes along with it. They found everything.

Going Gluten Free made us rethink our Christmas baking. This year we made candies instead of cookies. It was very easy and a big hit.

Santa showed up at a friends Christmas party. The kids had lots of opportunities to ask Santa for what they wanted. they sat on Santas lap at least 5 times! Each time asking for a "big jeep" and an "American Girl Doll"

Surprise! Santa showed up Christmas Eve at Mama and Papa's house, also. The kids had one last chance to ask him for what they wanted. Below they were looking out the window after Santa left. They swear they saw a red light from Rudolph's nose and a flash of light dash across the sky.

Another Christmas surprise involved a weekend trip. We had fun getting away and seeing all the lights.

Baby Boys FIRST Christmas gift. From Great Grandma Shirley!

Great Grandma Shirley

Santa pulled through with a win. He got his BIG JEEP and she got her AMERICAN GIRL DOLL.

And this guy...He was a happy little present himself. He was such a good boy over the Holidays. Never got crabby, even when up to 11:00 sitting on my lap as we played games Christmas Eve.

THis Christmas was bitter sweet for me. I think we had the most fun as a family. It seems to get better each year as the kids get older and as our family grows. However, this also marks the end of my maternity leave. When he was born, it seemed like January was sooo long away. I thought it would make it easier to return after a long time off. I couldn't have been more wrong. My heart aches at the thought of going back. I have been placing the thought out of my mind to avoid the realization of it. I only have a few more days and then the realization is going to hit me...at about 5:30 AM! I am giving my worries to God and believe that I will have a different plan next year.

6 Months Already!

17+ pounds of cuteness! He is growing so fast. This past month he learned to sit up, scoot in circle while laying on his belly, say Dadaa, reach out and grab toys, and my favorite...give kisses. He reaches out grabs my face with his hands and slams his mouth on my cheek. He's not the smoothest kisser but sure is cute.

Thanks Uncle Mat for some awesome pics again! Blue Bamboo Creative!

All Aboard!

An impromptu imaginative Polar Express train ride was such a hit at our house. I always enjoyed doing this type of lesson at school with my students....Now, I get to do it with my own children. When doing this, I love to see thier innocnce and great ability to belive in almost anything! It's great. We started the evening by getting in our PJ's, making hot chocolate, and reading the book Polar Express. It's one of my favorites. If you haven't read it, you should.

Then we took our hot chocolate and train tickets out to our makeshift train aka Swagger Wagon.

Some of the passengers just couldn't hang in there the whole time. The singing of Christmas carols and light looking couldn't overpower the pull of a no nap day. He was the 2nd man down in our car....but still holding his hot coco and train ticket.

Just as we were about to end our train ride, Sissy looked under her chair and found the "Santa's First Gift of the Season." She couldn't believe it. How in the world did Santa get one of his reindeer bells in our car....She loved it and can't wait to tell her brother to check his seat when he wakes in the morning.

I had been wanting to go on one of the real Polar Express Train rides with the kids for quite some time. However, they are so expensive and not anywhere close to where we live. After tonight, I think we may have started a new tradition...that will save us $$$ on train tickets. :)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

We have been preparing for Christmas for quite a while now. The Elf movie has been playing in the background of our house nonstop. We love this time of year. I love all the memories old and new.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Time to get in the spirit. We did our annual Chrsitmas trip again this year. We were blessed with great weather.

We went this year with our WHOLE family~ my mom, dad, brothers, sisters-in-law, and niece. We all stayed in a little cozy cabin. Christmas jammies were put on for the first time of the season. Here we were having a little morning fun in our room...because no one else was up yet. Our kids got up at 5:30am in anticipation for the fun day ahead. Grrr....I know someday I will be dragging them out of bed, but it sure does stink to get up EARLIER on vacation than a regular work day.

Morning fun with their little cousin.

Letter writing...

SANTA! Everyone cooperated and was so excited to visit him. The lttle guy changed his mind a few times about what to ask him for. I think the end result was that he wanted a "new jeep" and she wanted a "stuffed animal and Barbi." Not sure how Santa's going to get a new jeep down our chimney but he better get to figuring it out. The three of them got lots of "awe's" from the crowd while sitting up there. It's pretty hard not to awe at a smiling baby on Santa's lap.

Rock Star Award for the weekend. He went on tons of "scary" rides. He never said no to any suggested ride. He even out did his bigger sister. Yay Buddy!

My "Worker Man"

Happy Halloween

So many Halloween festivities that we enjoy....pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving, and trick or treating with good friends.

My three little pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

OUr first fire in our new fireplace while carving pumpkins.

TRICK OR TREAT!

His pumpkin was too heavy to lift so he rolled it to the wagon. :)