Christmas Train

Even though I tried checking in AUGUST for tickets to the real Polar Express train in the city, we somehow were still too late and couldn't get our large-ish family all together - so we opted for this cheaper and closer to home version instead this year.

We tried the Santa Train in Union (just a few short miles from our house) last Christmas season and while I am sure the one downtown is nicer, this version worked for us too.  The kids seemed to like it, and really, isn't that all that matters?

The pictures didn't come out great, but I did get this great one of Mom and I.  It was dark-ish inside the train, but you can see the look of excitement on Abby's face as Santa got closer to her seat.  She asked him for a "giant stuffed animal tiger" which, I'm happy to report, Grandma picked up for her.  And, I can tell you it's one of her favorite gifts from this year. 

1 Family x 12 (Dec)

I don't know about you, but it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here!

Christmas Tree Cutting

Tree cutting became a family tradition when Ryan and I first started dating, and while location, and weather and group of people has changed over the years, one thing is always certain - we always cut a live tree the weekend of Thanksgiving.

I think that this may be the first year in over 6 years of tree cutting that I haven't been carrying a kid in a pack for this adventure!  I've said it so many times, these days the days feel like years and the years feel like days.  In just the blink of an eye, I've got two big kids!!  Kids old enough to carry themselves and to really actually HELP!

A trip to the tree farm would not be the same without a visit to Mrs. Claus.  Santa is FAR too busy this time of the year to give up full weekends to stay at the tree farm, so he sends Mrs. Claus on his behalf.  Abby asked for a giant stuffed tiger and Hazel asked for a baby doll that talks.  I sure hope the message makes it's way to the North Pole!

We're ready for Santa!!  I hope the girls made it on the "nice list"!

Gingerbread Houses

Gingerbread houses are a family favorite activity over the Thanksgiving weekend.  We've been doing them since the girls were tiny...and now that the kids are getting older, they are getting even more fun and creative!  That being said, we still need a full fleet of adults to help with the decorating!  Especially when SOMEONE (read: me)  buys kits that need to be assembled before decorating.  I was not happy when I opened the first box and found a million gingerbread pieces that still need to be glued together.

Four kids and four gingerbread houses are a lot!  It's our first time doing it with all four kids, but overall, we had a great time. 

The kids, as always, wanted to put more candy in their mouth than on the houses...but, they are such sweet kids and listen really well to directions.  The adults ran the frosting, the kids ran the candy, and in short order, we had four houses ready for the holidays.

This will certainly be a tradition we continue for many years to come!