"To the North Pole of course........."

"The train was filled with other children, all in their pajamas and nightgowns. We sang Christmas carols and ate candies with nougat centers as white as snow. We drank hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars. Outside, the lights of towns and villages flickered in the distance as the Polar Express raced northward."

The Polar Express

Chris Van Allsburg, Author

This is how our family (Waddles, Trujillos, Pfeifles, Moomps) spend a Saturday afternoon/evening. The excitement was palpable, breathing life into itself, taking on the joy of the season. I myself couldn't wait. This wasn't a trip for non-believers, the Big Guy was watching!

As we walked into the station I was truly mesmorized at the detail and conviction the fine folks working at the museum provided to the imagination of all the passangers from 1 to 92. Follow our family in our pictorial story of how we road to the North Pole. Enjoy!

Honorary Cabin Attendant, Mr. Scott

What a gorgeous family!

Another gorgeous family!

Look at me MA!

Hot Chocolate!

Dad and son sharing a cookie. Looks just like his daddy.

Piped over the speakers, to our pleasure the reading of the Polar Express.

Are we there yet? Do you see him? Was that bells I hear?

We took the wrong rail, but the very capable engineer got us back on track! LOL

Could it be? Is that the Big Man? Are we here? Whoa, wait a minute, no one said anything about a list. Quick, think, think, naughty or nice? Abbazabba know where she stands, she confidently states she is on the naughty list. Ok, so where do I go from here? IF she KNOWS she is on the naughty list at 3 what happens at 13?

Oh man, is he coming on the train?

Looking......

Looking.......

Dad? Is that him?

The Big Easy and his Girls

Oh, it's just the ghost, ok, so there is still time to figure out what list I am on.

THERE HE IS! THE BIG MAN HIMSELF!

HO HO HO!

So what is YOUR persuation on the Big Man? A Doubter or a Believer?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER!

This season is pretty joyous but it gets even better with the birthday of my carrot Heather! She is the carrot to my pea, squish to the squash, jump to the how high! I cannot express adequately how much this woman has made my life brighter. She is truly a gift in every possible way. Thank you my friend, my sister, my carrot.

Come on, sing it with me!

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday my dear Heather,
Happy birthday to you!

Old Fashioned Christmas

One of the benefits of living in a smaller community is the efforts to bring the families together. Our community makes every opportunity to bring folks together and reintroduce the concept of family. Family is not limited by blood anymore, family can encompass those folks living right next door, friends, workmates, the circle just keeps getting bigger. I like that, in fact the concept is becoming precious to me as I get older.

The town gathered, businesses offered hot chocolate and a warm place, the 4-H club walked around offering cookies to the parents and kids, the firefighters displayed super clean fire trucks, kids choir gathering to sing Christmas songs, and a beautiful tree filled with memoriam ornaments of those loved ones who could not be with their families for the holidays. We even got a visit from Mr. Mike Machado. Anyway, enjoy a few shots from the evening, I will have a couple more in the next few days.

What have you done?

Another good friend of mine, Vitamin D has started something fun, so I wanted to participate, however I think that I have not done as much. I am going to take this a bit farther and tag some people, so Husband, Mrs. H, G ( I see you have already completed your list), Mr. K bring it! I am interested in seeing your answers!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain (well more of a hill with the husband)
9. Held a preying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisioning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (more than once)
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served in a Soup Kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Time Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in Person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Not as empty as I thought but for sure there are some things I need to do. Thanks Vitamin D! this one was fun!

First letter to Santa

Miss Em wrote her first letter to Santa tonight. It wasn't a page full of scribble, but fully formed sentences in her handwriting. Watching her put her thoughts to paper was a magical moment for me. Sometimes the spirit of the season is lost, lost in packages, traffic, crowds, the woes of the world, but tonight I witnessed the spirit of the season in my child's eyes.

Dear Santa:

I like you. Santa, I like Rudolph. Do you have magic? Please may I have a moving horse? Abbie would like a crab apple. Ethan would like a train. Dad would like a cheesecake. Mom would like a hat. Thank you.

Love Emma

The MAD Season is upon us

It's here, still behind the corner, but it's here. The MAD Season is lurking, tinsel, bows, stockings, garland, lights.

There is a magic surrounding this time of year, it is infectious. The kids and I have been enjoying the music in the car for the rides to and from school. At every turn along the way the kids will scream "Christmas trees! Look at the lights!" That is the magic for me, their excitement.

Each night the Miss Em will ask me how Santa will get into the house. I simply say, by magic. Then the grin appears. Her smile tells me the thought of reindeer flying through the sky and St. Nick coming to visit her and her siblings almost too much for her to wait. She has it all planned out, cookies, milk, and even whispered she is going to wait up.

I think I may wait up with her.