Polar Express 2014

Yesterday we got to go on the Polar Express.  We knew it might be snowy/rainy and cold there, so we left a little early.  The drive was really nice, and only started getting frosty just as we were about to arrive.

I started asking Jess why we don't live in the forests of Oregon, or at least in Flagstaff yet.  :)

Our big three rode up even earlier with Grampa and Grama Trudi, so Tyra, Jess, Reed and I met up with them at the depot.  Mollie arrived a few minutes later, and we hung out for a bit waiting for the train.  It started snowing more as we waited-it was the perfect day for the Polar Express.

When it was time to board, the snow was coming down in big flakes.  It was awesome.

Tim and Chris, Sarah and the kids arrived just as we were getting on.  We had a great ride.  I took SOOOO many pictures but a lot came out blurry or with terrible lighting unfortunately.

 

I like this one of Chris singing carols to Cason, and embarrassing him.

 

 

 

 

 We enjoyed the view, hot cocoa, and cookies...

 ...the kids moved all over, sitting with different family members.

 

 

Pretty soon the "North Pole" came into view.

 

 

 

 

 Then Santa came aboard.  :)

The anticipation!

 

 He handed out bells of course.  Reed was hesitant to take his.

 

 Funniest part of the day-As she received a bell Paige asked Santa if she is on the nice list.  He said "Yes you are, but you lost your front teeth."  We all kind of laughed and he moved on.  Paige had a funny look on her face for a minute or two, and then told me she didn't make the first page.  I was confused, and asked what she meant.  After a minute I figured out that she'd misheard Santa and thought he said "Yes you are, but you're not on the front page."  Haha!  She was feeling disappointed that she wasn't good enough this year to make the front page of the nice list!  Haha!  We were cracking up.

We had a lot of fun, and made some good memories.  :)

Sound Effects and Cutie Bots

Reed has been doing cute, imaginative things for a couple months now.  He will fly Cason's toy dragons around, while making sounds-sometimes dragon sounds and sometimes just kind of a "vvvvv" sound like it's a plane or something.  Or he'll take two dragons or action figures and smash them together while making explosion sounds.  Such a good boy.

Neely has come up with her own little creation:  "Cutie bots".  She takes the little cube shaped lego pieces, and puts two little "eyes" on them, and calls them cutie bots.  It's the best.  She makes SO MANY of them.  She'll give them each a name, and will remember their names for quite a while.  My favorite was a green one that she named "Green to be seen".  Seriously.  Oh my gosh.

One day while they all cleaned up the playroom, Jess brought me this lego vehicle that she'd turned into a ride for her cutie bots.  It's just covered in them.  She just sticks them on anywhere there's room and they all go cruising together.

Christmas/Winter Craft Days 6-10

 Day 6:  Snowflakes(You'd think the weekend would make for more complicated/involved projects, but somehow no.  In fact we busted these out quickly, and went for a drive to get peppermint hot chocolate and look at Christmas lights)

Sunday was the one day we nearly forgot to do one.  It was just about bedtime when I realized, so Jess decided what we would do is he'd have them draw an object out of a hat and draw whatever object/creature they got, wearing a Santa hat.  Then the rest of us guessed what it was.  

Paige wasn't overly excited when she got a garbage can.  She drew it well, though, if you ask me.

Her second turn, she got a rhino.  Totally forgot his santa hat though. 

 Cason got a monkey.

 ...and a banana.

 Neely got a pig and a duck.

Cason kept begging for more, and finished up with a rat.  I love his rat drawing.

 

On Monday, or day 8, we did a popsicle stick nativity ornament. 

 

 

Day 9-a Santa.  Paige preferred him with a short beard and no 'stache, giving hers kind of an Abraham feel.

Today we hot glued yarn onto shower curtain rings to make little teeny wreaths.  Neely had a ton of patience for this.  I was working on a regular sized wreath at the same time, and she sat with me for hours, working quietly away.

I meant to add something to them, like make holly from felt, but they liked them as they were (or at least said so to get out of extra work-haha!)

Just a Brag

Cason's teacher called last week to tell me what a "gem" Cason is, and that they'd done a reading assessment that day and he is reading at a fifth grade level, according to that particular test.  She said it may be higher.  

We're pretty proud of him, but even better, he's a hard worker.  Every day he comes home, announces how many bling he earned for good behavior, and gets right to work on his homework.  :)

Here he is researching Dall Sheep online, for his first ever report.  So cute.