{The Office Party}

It was time for the annual OB/GYN office party. The kids love going for one reason and one reason only. SANTA makes an appearance and they each get a gift. This year they had things set up a little different and much more geared to the kids. They had a kids corner complete with Christmas movies and crafts for the kids to do and MaryPaul, one of the midwives, did face painting which the kids loved. Each kids got a chance to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas and then got a present. I have to say though that my kids are getting a little bit suspicious of all the different Santas and the fact that this one didn't have a real beard. It was fun though and it began our Christmas break from school!!!

(no face painting for Wyatt and this picture is a little blurry because it was a quick trip on Santa's lap)

{Grandma & Cookies}

The last thing the kids got to do while at Grandma Margaret's when we were down for the weekend was make sugar cookies with her. My kids love being in the kitchen, especially my little "Emeril in training" (Wyatt). What was really fun about this cooking session was that they were using the same kind of cookie cutters that Grandma had used as a kid. They had fun rolling out the dough and slapping the cookies onto the baking sheet. Meysa was really into it and stuck around a lot longer than the two little ones did. She is getting really capable in the kitchen. Just another sign that my kids are growing up. They enjoyed devouring the cookies almost as much as they enjoyed making them. Thanks Grandma for sharing a little bit of your childhood with us!!

{Tub Time}

After our Polar experience we headed south to Grandma Margaret's house to stay the night. The kids were exhausted and fell right to sleep when we got there. One of the first things we did the next morning, after eating at the local breakfast spot, was hop into the hot tub. I guess it kinda made up for the fact that we didn't stay at a hotel and play in the pool. It was Wyatt's first time and he liked it, minus the time he walked off a seat and went under. He isn't much of a fan of underwater diving!! It is always a treat to get to visit Grandma's house.

{The Polar Express}

This last Friday the kids had no school and Ryan's Mom had planned a little surprise for them. We didn't tell them where we were headed we just told them that we were going somewhere for a little over night trip. We packed up the car and headed south to Oregon and met up with Ryan's Mom and Step-dad in Hood River, Oregon. The kids were so excited to see Grandma and Papa they thought that was the whole surprise. So we went to dinner and the kids were asking where we were going to stay the night and Grandma said maybe a hotel and then we could swim. The Kids were stoked, but we told them before that we were going to check out the train depot that was just across the street. So into the train depot we go and it is all decorated for Christmas and they have the movie Polar Express playing on a tv and the music playing over the PA system. The kids wandered around for a little while and then Ayden pipes up, "when are we going to the hotel?" We told him not yet but asked if he could figure out what we were doing in a train depot, with all the Polar Express stuff going on. He thought about it for a minute and then we stated the obvious, that we were going to ride the Polar Express. Then he says, "but I want to go to a hotel and swim". I guess I am glad that my kids are so easily pleased with things. Anyways as we got ready to get on the train I wasn't sure what the kids really thought about the whole thing. Meysa was really quiet and a little apprehensive at first. Wyatt, who is into trains right now was really excited and he found a little friend who was just as excited as he was to "talk" with over trains!! Ayden is preteen it seems lately and his attitude was this was going to be boring, and Lauryn was her little happy self, just happy to be along for the ride.

(this was Wyatt and his fast friend checking out another train going by on the other track)


The train ride followed the movie pretty closely, minus the kids walking on top of the train in a snow storm and them riding on the front of the train. But we did run into some "reindeer" and we made it to the North Pole and saw all the factories and homes at the North Pole. We eve saw Santa's house which was all lit up with pretty lights. Meysa saw some people working in the factory and she makes the statement..."I thought the elves would be smaller than that." Nothing get past her I tell ya.
We enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies and we got to sing some Christmas carols.




The bum was great!!!
And then on the return trip to the depot the kids got a visit from the Big guy himself, Santa Claus. Each of the kids received a bell, which he explained to Meysa were from last years reindeer harnesses. They change them out each year and he lets children have the used ones. Ayden is on the cusp of figuring out the whole Santa thing but the younger kids bought the whole thing hook, line and sinker. It was a lovely night and the kids had a good time even though we didn't go to a hotel and swim. Thanks so much Grandma Margaret and Papa Greg, you made their night fantastic!!!

{Roller Blades Baby}

This is what Meysa got for her birthday this year. We finally had some decent weather in which she could take those babies out for a test drive. She is still a bit unsure of herself on them but she is steadily getting better. Before I know it she will be in a roller derby hip checking some other chick into the wall. I am just saying Meysa is competitive like that!!! From the looks in these pictures though I think I have some time before that happens!!

The girl is getting too old. I look at this picture and see a young woman on the very near horizon and I just want to slow the clock down a bit. She is getting so capable with things lately, a sure sign she is getting older. Boy how I love this girl!!!