December 2016

Our first Christmastime at the new house!

For the first time, I failed at getting the tickets for the Polar Express ride.  They go on sale in June and sell out within hours.  It's a stressful couple hours and due to computer glitches, I didn't get them.  LUCKILY, we found another Polar Express venue at Union Station in St. Louis.  And do I ever believe things happen for a reason!  This one was the bees-knees!!

Here we are checking out the fudge-factory with a fun show on making the fudge..

Union Station was set up like a winter wonderland - SOOooo many decorations and things to do... like a putt-putt room

"Elf School"

Winter Maze

We also had tickets to the buffet dinner there - complete with appearances by the conductor and Santa.  And a lighted sky light show that was insanely cool..

We rode on the top deck of the train and it was quite a view!

Hands down, much better than the one we had been going to and not nearly as difficult to get tickets.  It was magical.  They also had the fountains going, set to Christmas music, an ice skating rink, an "ice slide" and just lots and lots of things to check out and do.  We hope Santa brings us those tickets again next year!!

AVERY TURNS FOUR!!

The same day also happened to be Rudy's Pre-K Christmas program as school

Rudy brought home a character assignment and we were given no real instruction on what the "costumes" were to look like - other than "simple" - good thing we didn't get assigned a present!  Reindeer was about all I could handle :)  

Buuuut I will add that finding a brown sweater was nearly impossible.  SO much so that I only found a khaki colored one that Rudy really wasn't thrilled about.  A bottle of Rit Dye later, hot glue gun with some fur fabric, and we had our reindeer!

After school we celebrated Avery's birthday with her "friend" party at China Towne - a local shop where the kids get to pick out a ceramic item to paint and then later return to pick it up once it's been fired in a kiln.  Perfect party place for our crafty girl!  And Shopkins-themed, of course!

We kept the partying going all night - back home for dinner and (more) cake with our family!

Class Christmas Parties!

Sibling love :)

Pajama Day at School

Another holiday favorite - cookie decorating!

Gran set us up with cookies and colored icing in easy-to-use bottles - isn't she the best?!

Bubs knows how to lounge 

Quite the set-up they crafted one morning - Christmas break is made for snuggle days inside :)

Pictured in the background is our "Kindness Calendar" for the season.  Instead of a traditional Advent Calendar, we did a countdown on our Christmas tree.  Behind each number was a "kind" thing to do for the day - some days were as simple as holding the door for someone, smiling at someone new; other days we took items to the Children's Hospital, donated toys to other kids.  It was much, much more meaningful than years past... I think it'll stick for next year! 

And also barely visible, our elf made the Christmas tree room super-duper festive one night -- lots of lights hung from the ceiling :)

Trying out some new Christmas presents from Aunt Maria and Uncle Andre

and from Grandma LeeAnn

Headed off to Christmas Eve Mass - my fave

The calm before the storm - it doesn't get much better than Christmas Eve night

Off they go...

...and after that I stopped with the camera and just enjoyed the day.