Stair Climber

We have never let Sierra go near the stairs before because they are hardwood and very scary for me to think about. But yesterday morning I was letting her crawl around the hall while Alex and I were getting our shoes and coats on. And during her time in the hallway she found the stairs, took one look at them and started to climb them.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

We finally finished the rest of our homemade ornaments for the tree. So tonight we decided to decorate the tree. Brad, Alex, Ted and I decorated the tree. Sierra didn't take an afternoon nap so she went down to bed early and wasn't there for the decorating.

"Snow Baby"

It is very cold when we go on the Santa Train, so to keep Sierra warm she wore her footed jammie and a one piece fleece snow suit with hood. The hood kept falling off so we put a hat on her. She looked so cute in the hood and the hat that I had to share the pictures!

Who eats the carrots on Christmas Eve????

Tonight at the dinner table we we taking about Christmas Eve and what we get to do. Alex and Ted were saying that they will eat the last chocolate in their advent calendar, open the one Christmas Eve present (new matching Christmas jammies), and put out milk and cookies and carrots for Santa. So I asked Alex "Who eats the carrots?" First he said "Santa Clause" So I said "No, he eats the cookies and drinks the milk. Who else comes with Santa on Christmas Eve?" Alex says "Santa's girlfriend!" We all got a good laugh from that one!! I wonder what Mrs. Clause thinks about Santa's girlfriend?

Santa Train

This is the third year we have done the Santa Train. We get up early on a Sunday morning in December and drive an hour southeast to North Bend, WA to the Northwest Railway. We get on the train at North Bend Depot and take it 20 minutes to Snoqualmie Depot. During the ride the kids get to look out the windows at all the beautiful scenery and sing carols. A little old (and I mean very old) man goes from train car to car and leads the singing. When we arrive at Snoqualmie we wait in line to see Santa. The kids sit on Santa's lap and we get pictures and find out what they want for Christmas, then the kids get a special toy from Santa. This year the kids got a paint yourself wooden train. Then we go to an old kitchen train car and get homemade hot cocoa and cookies, they make them in the original old coal stoves. They are so good!! We sit in an old train car and drink and eat while the kids play. There are other trains to look at and play on while we wait for the train back. Then we board the train and head back to North Bend. Every year when we get back to North Bend we get a picture of the family in front of the train. The kids have so much fun and we love to watch them!

The kids all loved Santa!

Drinking hot cocoa and eating cookies in the train car Riding on the train.

Our family picture at the end of the line.

Singing Christmas Carols on the Santa Train.

Making Ornament for the Christmas Tree

Two years ago we made a homemade tree, everything on it (except the tinsel) was made by us. I thought it would be fun this year to see the difference in the painting. Two years ago Alex was only two and his ornaments started out with all the colors but by the time he was done they were all gray or brown. This year he did so much better. Ted was 7 the first time around and he did really well, but this year he even better. Brad, Ted, Alex and I had a great time tonight! And Sierra had fun watching us!

Light Show

Did you know babies like to follow red pointer lights? We they

do, at least Sierra does. This is so funny!