All Aboard the North Pole Express

As an early Christmas present Wade's parents bought us all tickets to ride on the North Pole Express in Grapevine. It is a really neat concept that plays off of the Polar Express movie/book. It is at the same place where we went to A Day Out With Thomas (click HERE to read about that experience).

The kids had so much fun pretending like they were on the real Polar Express. They had Christmas songs, Christmas stories, and even a visit from Santa aboard the train. I think that we are all in the Christmas spirit now!

Our boys with Santa - Clayton asked Santa for Mr. Incredible pajamas, a light saber, and the Incredibles movie. He was worried that Santa wouldn't know who Mr. Incredible was, so we had to print out a picture to bring to him. (It is on the chair next to them.)


Clayton with the Coachman

Getting ready for the ride

Daddy & Drew


Drew thought it was great! How many 6 week olds can say that they've been on a real train?

Clayton was in his element. He was with his cousins and riding a train. Does life get any better for a 3 year old?

My beautiful nieces...

I wonder if we'll ever get a picture where all four kiddos are looking.

Grammie & Papaw got a few minutes to snuggle with Drew.

Our little family of four aboard the train.

The man of the hour making his appearance

Afterwards, there were pony rides by the parking lot. Nothin' better than riding a pony in your footed pajamas!

Thanks Grammie & Papaw! It sure was a fun time! Clayton is already asking when he gets to ride on the Polar Express again. :)

Conversations with Clayton

The main reason that I blog is for my kids. I want for them to have something to look at to remember their childhood. I love to scrapbook, but it takes so much time. I can't ever get caught up. It is so much easier and faster to upload pictures and journal on this blog. My plan is to make Clayton & Drew each a book at the end of each year using THIS website. I try to post funny things that Clayton says every once in a while, so that I won't forget them. Here are some of our recent conversations...

While sitting on the couch and looking at the Christmas tree:
Me: I love you, Baby.
Clayton: I'm not a baby, I'm a big boy.
M: Yes, but no matter how big you are you'll always be my baby.
C: Even when I'm a Daddy?
M: Yep, even when you're a Daddy.
(long pause, while Clayton was staring at the Christmas tree)
C: Would you love me even if I was an ornament?
M: Yep, even if you were an ornament.

A tender moment that turned into laughter - the story of my life!
_________________________________________________

Clayton: Mommy, when will I go to heaven?
Me: You'll go to heaven when you are a very old man and your heart stops beating.
C: When I go to heaven, will I ever come back home?
M: You'll have a new house in heaven that God built for you. It will be the most beautiful house that you can imagine. In fact, He is already working on it. He is making it perfect just for you.
C: Will you live in that house with me?
M: Well, God is building me a house in heaven also.
C: Do you think that God will make your house next to mine?
M: I bet that he will.
C: We should pray about it. (Bowing his head and closing his eyes.) Dear Jesus, please make Mommy's house next to mine. Amen.

I had to go get a kleenex after that one. :)

__________________________________________________

I heard this conversation going on in the back seat while on the way home from the church last night:
Clayton (talking in his best baby talk to Drew): Hi, brother! I missed you so much tonight, sweet guy! Awww... I can't hug you right now 'cause we are buckled in. I love you, brother!

I hope that my boys grow up to be the best of friends. I think they are off to a good start. :)

S'mores 101 and Sunday School Party

On Thursday night, we built another fire and made some more S'mores. This time (against our better judgement) we made them before Clayton went to bed and let him partake as well. Chocolate right before bed - how brave are we?!?! Clayton thought that it was great fun, of course!

Prepared to Roast

The Finished Product

After his first bite of marshmallowy goodness, Clayton said, "This is mighty good!" in this little country accent. Wade and I died laughing!

After S'mores, Daddy & Clayton snuggled in front of the Christmas tree and talked about what Clayton was going to ask Santa for.

Clayton chose a Buzz Lightyear ornament this year. He was thrilled to hang it on the tree. Aren't footed pajamas the best? I am pretty sure that Clayton will be too tall for them next year (sniff, sniff)...

Last night we went to our Sunday school Christmas party. It was so fun!!! Our Sunday school class has been such a blessing. Everyone has been so kind to us and embraced us as one of their own. We have really missed our church and our B35 buddies! I was so busy talking that I only snapped one picture. It sure was a cute site, though!

Left to Right: Baby Luke, Baby Drew, and Baby Grace - all born within 5 days of each other

Drew wore a really cute blue knit outfit from Tara, Stephen, and Hailey. Isn't he precious!

Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

I LOVE Christmas!!! I know, I know everyone loves Christmas. But, I really love Christmas! I love it even more now that we have kiddos to enjoy the season with. I especially love decorating for Christmas. The lights, the sparkles, the glitter - it is all so much fun!

My hubby, however, doesn't usually share in my excitement for decorating. In fact, I usually call him (affectionately, of course) "The Grinch" around this time of year. :) This year, he has surprised me, though. He was itching to put up the decorations weeks ago. He even indulged me in my request for two Christmas trees this year! And... the cherry on top - he made the most beautiful wreath. I was so impressed! I told him that I wanted a big (36" diameter) wreath to go above our staircase. After pricing the already assembled wreaths at Hobby Lobby, he said, "I could do that for a fraction of the cost!" So, he did.

This will be Drew's first Christmas and our first Christmas in this house. I have a sneaking suspicion that it is going to be a great one!!!

It is chilly outside (finally!), so we celebrated with beef stew, our first fire, and s'mores. YUM-O!

Our "fancy" Christmas tree in the family room

Our traditional tree in the formal living room

I have always wanted a banister to decorate with garland and big red bows!

The view from the stairs

The wreath that Wade made (I did the bow, though) :)

The dining room table

Wade got me this beautiful nativity set for Christmas last year. What a wonderful reminder of the real reason for the season. It has spurred on several conversations and teaching points for Clayton. His class is singing "We Three Kings" for his Christmas program next week at school. He had an "Ah-ha moment" when he realized that the three kings from our nativity were the same ones that he was singing about! :)

The first time that we have hung FOUR stockings!

"Batman" and Rudolph watching Rudolph on TV

Drew celebrated with a sink bath. He is beginning to like bath time more and more. It's the naked coldness afterwards that he isn't too fond of!

Daddy's Version of Cute

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about the outfit that I just couldn't pass up buying for Drew...

Well, this is the outfit that Wade just couldn't pass up.

That, my friends, is the difference between Mommies and Daddies. :)