Holiday Happenings

There is so much to pack into the month of December that I sometimes feel a little rushed trying to make sure we get it all squeezed in.  I mean, there are gingerbread houses to bake, trees to decorate, lights to see, reindeer to visit, displays to gawk at...but somehow we manage to get most of it done, and if we miss one or two there's always next year.  My favorite Christmas moments actually happen right at home when we are usually warm and comfy, reading a book and having a treat by the fireplace, but I do enjoy seeing what the city has to offer.  We tried a new spot after a recommendation from a friend and it was both fun and beautiful.  Bachman's floral shop was decorated for Christmas and had a Santa play, cookies and crafts, and reindeer!

I may just come here next year to take our Christmas card photos!

I wasn't prepared to be in any of the photos myself, but a lady stopped and offered so I took her up on it.  I know someday the kids and grandkids will enjoy seeing Mommy when she was "young".

Peanut loves reindeer and spent quite a while talking to this one.  He didn't look up from his bowl once but this didn't seem to bother Peanut at all as he yammered away about Santa and flying and such. Smile.

Yes he is.   Especially to the little angel in the next photo.  His love for her is so pure and effortless.

 Here is Sissy dressed up for her first party of the season.

 We've kept busy at home tracking our elf "Jack" who you can see here has found a good vantage point in the Christmas wreath.  Each morning he flys in from the North Pole and finds a new spot to spend the day watching our activities to see if we stay on the "nice list".  He also leaves Peanut a little note and treat each afternoon in the advent tree you see him checking here.

 A yearly tradition is Macy's 8th floor Christmas display.  It's a bit of a drive, but I think it's worth it and reminds me of a big Christmas store my mom used to take me to as a kid.  I still remember how much I loved it and I want my kids to feel that same excitement and wonder. 

 We went through, had a snack and then went through again! 

 

 And back at home again we got busy crafting when we got a package in the mail from Texas with some elf sticker in it.  I introduced Peanut to the art of making a diorama and he quite enjoyed it!

 

At first we were going to glue the elves down but then decided they needed to move around to make toys.  We also received a Santa and a reindeer that are incorporated into the stories we make up.

What a smile...he must've been told to smile by someone in this shot...

He does love it though and it fits quite nicely onto our little Christmas table.  The scene below with it's random clutter is the sort of thing that I usually don't like, but I love this assortment for so many reasons.  The white furry fabric that Peanut pretends is snow, the musical horses entrusted to us from our Gammie, the various play houses and toys I've picked up from dollar and thrift stores, and now our little homemade diorama.  Peanut spends time here each day make believing and enacting the magic of Christmas.  It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas this year. 

 Hope you're enjoying some Christmas favorites, both old and new.  Happy Holidays friends and family.

Christmas Express

 

The weekend after Thanksgiving we surprised Peanut with a trip to Duluth to ride on the Christmas Express.  We try to do a little special family outing each year around the holidays and since he is so into the Polar Express, we knew this would be a hit.  Here we are at the tracks, right on lake Superior, waiting for our train to arrive.

We were all pretty excited and it was decorated beautifully.  Lots of happy families on board too.

I was sure Sister would sleep through the whole thing, but much to my surprise and delight she did not. She was alert and happy and I'm glad she got to enjoy it too.

We took a short trip past the beautiful lights of the Bentleyville Christmas display...

...and ended up at the train museum.  I think walking into the train museum was the most magical part of the trip for me.  The scene was just beautiful and there was the most amazing live musician with the voice of an angel singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" which just happens to be my favorite!  Peanut was in awe too.  He couldn't believe how big the engines were.

 

Next we listened to a Christmas story, although Peanut was much too interested in all of the train displays to sit still so he and I just wandered around and had the opportunity to explore and look up close.

After the story we got to go aboard one of the big train cars parked inside the museum and got a Christmas Express ornament.  Then we boarded back on our train and headed back to the station where we were greeted with this beautiful scene and some hot cocoa and cookies by the fire.

I love sharing the holidays with my family!