Polar Express 2010

After the church Christmas show, we headed down to the Springs to check into the hotel to do our annual Polar Express train with Santa on the Royal Gorge railroad. The kids were stoked about spending the night in the hotel so we got prepped in our pjs (all of us but daddy) and after nap, we headed down to Canon City, Colorado.
Let me put a quick disclaimer out there for you - - the photos are a tad blurry as it was so dark out that I tried to play with the settings on my camera. I couldn’t capture the essence of the evening, but you’ll get it once you see them.

We arrived and had the best seats in the Vista Dome car. We had a booth for 5 at the tail end of the car so we had room to plop our bags and jackets. The train car was decorated in festive holiday décor with tiny Christmas lights to boot. Around every picture window was garland with lights which really added a special touch to the trip. We arrived 45 minutes early and immediately boarded to have dinner. Once the train got moving, we had our hot cocoa and cookies while singing Christmas Carols. Last year, our train car was much more into the singing than this year. I did miss hearing everyone sing this year…must have been a car full of more shy folks as I was ready to belt off all the tunes off key!
As we were arriving to the North Pole, we headed out of our seats to the open air car. We were the only ones who braved the weather to go outside and wave to Santa as we slowly idled past. I love the kids faces as they see the North Pole! Check em out! Only one other woman was there but we quickly found out she was the owner of the train so that was neat to see her enjoying the trip as much as we were. As we bounded back to the seats anxiously waiting for Santa to arrive, the kids wrote out what they were going to ask for Christmas from Santa. They would periodically peer over the railing to see if they could see Santa and the “elves” in the train didn’t help much as they made us chant “SANTA SANTA SANTA” for like ten minutes prior to his arrival. The build up was crazy. Then then would run down the stairs to see if Santa was close to entering and they would run back up the stairs to sadly tell us that they couldn’t see him.
Once Santa emerged in our train, mayhem broke loose with all the tots and Eban yelled out, “DID YOU GET MY EMAIL?!” We were laughing so hard as Eban received an email from Santa this year (so did Jack) about their year and whether or not they made good choices…this email also had pictures in it so it was pretty neat. I think Eban thought he wrote back to Santa.
Well…Eban blurted out he wanted a Nintendo DSS system, Scooby Doo games, and he went on and on. Jack wasn’t scared this year and told Santa he wanted a train. Jack was more simple but Eban kept rattling off things he wanted.
Santa gave them their special bells and off he went while we sat back in awe of the experience. Then the crazy guy with the accordian came by so the boys could sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - - he came by our table last year and stayed for a while playing real loud. At least we expected it this year...It really is a fun trip.
The below videos showcase the boys and one of their favorite games now - - wiping off my kisses.

The Accordian Player on the Polar Express (Ignore Mom's Singing at the End)

I Won't Wipe It Off #1

I Won't Wipe It Off #2

Tis the Season

Once we got down the mountain from our Thanksgiving holiday, Eban was on me like no other to start putting up the Christmas tree and other festive decorations. He was a persistent little thing to say the least...I quickly pulled out the tree and he was more than happy to help me assemble the 6-foot tree! Jack didn't help too much but he was happy to unsort the tree limbs which made Eban very frustrated...this made Jack happy (to get all this attention) so he started to hide the tree limbs in various parts of the front room.

I realize that Jack gets ammunition from both positive and negative reinforcement so I really need to work on the positive side so he likes this better than the other. I need to work on Eban's response too so it's more empathetic than derogatory too...ahhhh, boys....right?

I love the below pictures...the boys just started to fight and then they made up so they could continue playing in the big blue bin. What is it about empty boxes and bins that are so alluring to kids? Next on Eban's to-do list was cookies. We made many batches of cookies for the neighbors and Eban's favorite thing is to squash candy canes for the white chocolate bark cookie and he loves licking the bowl. Jack took part in the licking of the bowl this year and they did a fine job of sharing the bowls. I was a tad bit worried, but they did a great job. They also shared the bowl remnants with the dogs. I'm working to change this choice of sharing spoons and forks with the animals and I haven't yet curbed this activity. Lovely. Sanitary.

When we delivered the cookies, I learned very quickly that my children were not well behaved when they entered a neighbor's house. This took me one took but I then kindly declined any invitation to enter a neighbor's house to be thanked for the cookies. We went to Bruce and Vanessa's house behind us to drop off the first plate load. As they let us in, my children proudly whipped off their jackets and shoes (at least they did this) prior to running in the kitchen to see what kind of holiday candy they had lying around. They quickly spotted some candy canes on the tree and got them down. They at least asked Bruce and Vanessa if they could have them. At this point, I was hurriedly leaving as Eban started to open doors to see what mysteries they had in their house. I was now grabbing them and putting each kid under an arm (like footballs) and showing myself the door. Bruce and Vanessa just laughed and welcomed me back and I kindly said without kids next time...Nice. Well at least I know I need to work on the kids' manners when we visit homes in the neighborhood!

Below is a picture of their fort...they LOVE to make forts. And if the dogs don't 'play' with them, they build the forts around the dogs.Speaking of great jobs...Eban took the scissors at school and gave himself a haircut. He thought he looked super cool so we didn't touch it until after Christmas. I guess every kid give themselves a haircut one day or another. He gave his bangs a new do right before our holiday photos. Awesome!Mid-way through the month of holiday parties and meetings, we had Eban's preschool holiday show. Eban and his class sang Deck the Halls and even now, he continues to sing this song. So cute...he was super stoked to see his girlfriend, Zoe. You all know that Zoe is the new girlfriend, right? Jack didn't feel too well at this event and even threw up a tad...so we left shortly after the quick presentations. I don't have many good pictures of this event and the only ones that came out were from practice, but watch the video below (sorry it's shaky) to see him sing...Then we had the church presentations and the boys did well on stage at church. I was also happy to see Jack get involved with the festivities as I think he's felt left out of Eban's activities due to the fact that he is younger. Anyway, I was very proud of them and couldn't believe we didn't have any outbursts or other scene-stealing events. Making Potholders (this one was for Uncle Steve)

Deck the Halls at Eban's Preschool

The Holiday Show at Church - - Singing Jingle Bells

Eban Using the Microwave for the First Time - - BIG Accomplishment