The Polar Express

The Polar Express Train

Trying to get a group pic...

Waiting to arrive at the North Pole

Abby seeing the North Pole

Natalie seeing the North Pole

Visiting with Santa and receiving the special bell

Pure excitement after talking with Santa



Here are pics from our 2nd annual trip to the Polar Express with our neighbors. Last year, it was just Natalie and myself...but this year Daddy and Abby came along with us. We all had a blast sipping hot chocolate, singing Christmas carols, listening to the story, seeing the North Pole, visiting with Santa, and receiving the special bell from Santa. All in all, it was a wonderful night!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

Today Granny treated the girls to a visit with Santa Claus. It was wonderful because we were the only ones there and they got to sit and chat for a while. The girls were so excited and just lit up when they saw him and sat in his lap. Knock on wood, I have never had any meltdowns when it came to seeing Santa!! Santa asked what Natalie wanted and she said, "A stroller because my sister won't share mine with me anymore!" And of course, Abby just wants whatever her big sis wants!!

Frosty the Snowman

I thought this was too funny...she is determined to learn Frosty the Snowman..but everytime she comes to corncob, she forgets pipe...Hope it works!

ICE!

Last week we headed to Dallas for an interview with Matt. We decided to make a long weekend out of it and go visit our closest friends, do a little Christmas shopping, and just hang out and have a good time. We needed a little getaway.
We were so lucky to get to see "ICE" at the Gaylord in Grapevine while we were up there. It is something I have always wanted to do and I always here people talking on and on about it! I don't even know how to explain this, other than is it breathtaking! The girls loved it! It is a 14,000 square foot "ICE" exhibit that features 2 million pounds of ice in a variety of holiday scenes and sculptures hand carved by 40artisans from China. As you enter the exhibit you are given warm parkas because the place is only 9 degrees!!!!! After we went through the exhibit, we went and toured the hotel lobby and got to meet Santa, see live reindeer, see a huge life size gingerbread house, and they had over 1.2 million Christmas lights to look at all over the hotel. It really put us in the Christmas spirit! We then got to have some adult time without the kiddos and we played the game of Taboo...oh, how I love that game. It is one of my favorites! I did however lose both games...I can blame that on my partners, right?? :)

Thanksgiving Christmas Dinner

Here is what I found the other day...Natalie was in our dining room and she had a stuffed animal in every chair...the table was set...and each animal had food. Natalie invited Daddy and myself to "Thanksgiving Christmas Dinner." It was so cute! I know she picked this up from Grandma and Grandpa's house when we all had Thanksgiving Lunch/Dinner. She loved being with all the family and doing her favorite thing...EATING!!!

Thanksgiving Holiday

Oh my gosh...I can't believe I missed the whole month of November and didn't even blog!!! Things have been very busy lately and November came and went in a flash! We had the BEST Thanksgiving with Matt's family in Illinois. Matt's sister and brother-n-law and their adorable 1 year old twins flew all the way from Alaska to Illinois. So Natalie and Abby got to meet their cousins for the first time and they fell in love! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for such a wonderful time! It was crazy and there was never a dull moment with a 3 1/2 year old, almost 2 year old, and two 1 year olds. And to top off the awesome food, spending time with family, celebrating the twins first birthday...we got SNOW!!! The girls had a blast making snowballs and throwing them at each other! I'm just going to post a few pics of our trip, and then I'll come back soon and do a slideshow for all the family to see!


Jordan eating her birthday cake at the big First Birthday Party!

Dekar eating his birthday cake!

Daddy and Auntie Paige holding the twins after all the partying!

Shirt says it all..."Team Grandpa" and "Team Grandma"

Natalie making a snowball!

Abby making her snowball!

Matt and sister Melanie with all the kids!

Abby and Natalie enjoying the snow!

All the cousins posing for a picture!

Grandpa and his girls!