Polar Express Train Ride

Hi everyone,

I actually got to open one of my Christmas presents early! Can you believe it? I had a hard time believing it too.

After a long ride down to Portland to check in at our hotel we headed over to the Mount Hood Railroad. I watched the Polar Express movie in the car on the way over. We got to our destination right as the movie was ending (perfect timing), and Mom handed me a present and told me I could open one present early. It was a ticket like on the Polar Express but I didn't really get that. I knew we were at the train station so I was more focused on that than the ticket in the box.

We rode in a train car named Katharine. I was pretty excited about that because I thought it was a pretty name.

One of the chefs on our train car who was also greeting us at the door.

Waving goodbye to Dad as we are getting settled into our seats.

Our chefs serving hot chocolate and cookies.

The hobo who visited our train car a few times.

The reading of the story while the train was gliding along.

Telling Santa that I want a real little Polar Express train for Christmas.

Until next time . . .

Gingerbread House

Hi everyone,

Sorry it's been such a long break again between posts. You would have thought that with being off school for Christmas break I would have oodles of time to get things up online. Sadly, that is not so. My Christmas break seems to be jam packed with stuff to do and stuff to be done. I'm hoping to get a few posts scheduled so that while I'm out having fun (and in working hard) I will still be able to show you some fun things we've done these past few weeks.

Let's start with the all important gingerbread house. We headed home from our semi-annual dental check ups and we sat down to build our gingerbread house. Don't you think that is ironic? Building a house completely made of sugar right after you visit the dentist. I think so. My parents must not have gotten the memo that candy isn't good for my teeth.

Acting silly - anyone want a lick?

 

Giving it a hug.

 

Okay, now be serious. (Yes, I really am happy.)

And in case you wondering, no, we don't make that many wardrobe changes in a single evening. This gingerbread house took a series of days to get it from start to finish. I think this may just be our longest build yet.

Until next time . . .

Great Wolf Lodge

Hi everyone,

Great Wolf Lodge was so much fun! We pulled up about two minutes before Santa was supposed to walk through the door. We couldn't have timed it better! Mom got us checked in while Grandma and I waited for Santa. I guess he was supposed to have his elves fly in but there was cloud cover, so Santa ended up driving in on a holiday Harley. Right after Santa appeared we dropped our stuff at our room, changed into our suits, and headed for the water park. So much fun!!

I didn't get pictures of any of the slides or pools or anything. I didn't want to take my camera into the water park and we were just having too much fun going on the slides to want to run back to our room after a quick picture. You will just have to get onto the website I guess if you want to see the slides.

We stopped playing at about 6:00pm and got ready for dinner. We (mom and I) ended up wearing our pj's to dinner so we were ready for the story at 8:00pm. You might think, 2 hours, you could have gone back and changed. Nope. We barely even made it in time for the story.

Story time was great because they had snow coming down. It might have been from big machines on the ceiling but it was still pretty cool. All the kids, including me, were pretty fascinated.

This is my "ravenous wolf look". Don't mind my crazy eyes, I really was trying to be scary.

 

My big birthday was my best yet!

(A couple of quotes mom really liked: On the phone with Grandma, my response when she asked how I liked being 5: "I haven't had much practice yet." And the next morning when I woke up I asked, "Am I still 5?")

Until next time . . .

30 Foot Christmas Tree

Hi everyone,

Since this was the year of my big birthday I got to decide whether I wanted to have a party with friends or whether I wanted to go someplace special. At first I decided I wanted a party with friends but then I heard an advertisement and it completely changed my mind. I am such a sucker for advertisements. I definitely know who they cater to on the radio!

I heard a commercial for a 30 foot Christmas tree and just had to go see it for my birthday. Little did I know it was at a mall, but hey, it was still cool. Not only that but I went on a train ride around the mall as well. Birthday adventure #1, done and over!

That was a REALLY tall tree!

 Me racing, and racing, and racing around the tree! (I know I don't look like I am racing, but I am.)

Family Pics all around! (Don't tell me I told you, but you may see the one of us on our Christmas card this year if we ever decide to send any.)

 

Complete with a holiday train ride around the mall!

 

I guess I'll have to tell you about my second adventure in another post. Until next time . . .

Big Birthday Bash

Hi everyone,

I celebrated my big birthday this year! I only get to celebrate the big one every 5 years so this was pretty darn big! Instead of having a party with friends I decided to go stay at Great Wolf Lodge with Mom, Dad, and Grandma. How amazing is it to have a huge waterpark in your hotel?

Before I get to that though I should probably show you how my day started. I woke up right on time (I'm a little human alarm clock and wake up at the same time every day) and wandered into Mom and Dad's room as usual. As soon as I opened the door I was blinded by the flash of the camera.

I guess Mom was trying to capture my reaction when I saw my cake but I was so surprised (and blinded) that I didn't even see my cake sitting on their dresser. She had to turn my head that direction and hold it there for a second. Surprised, for sure!

 Mom calls these my "sexy jammies" because they always come unbuttoned when I wear them and it looks like I am showing my chest off. Silly mom! Who wants to keep buttoning their pajama shirt when they can just let it hang open.

And little candle blowing out time and then on to a few little presents. I was surprised to see any presents since Mom and Dad had told me that my present was my trip to Great Wolf Lodge. Dad got me a game of Mexican train dominoes and Mom got me a pack of 5 city action vehicles.

 

Next up, my birthday breakfast. A repeat of last year's waffles with strawberries and homemade whipped cream. Yum!

I'll tell you more about the rest of my weekend in my next post. Until next time . . .