Month: December 2016

Mom treated Doug, Tot and me with a trip to the Polar Express! We would drive up to Williams where it can be quite chilly (!), board the train, head to the “North Pole,” then sleepover in the hotel.

So, we headed out on Monday right after school. Apart from stopping a few times for yours truly, we arrived just in time to put on our jammies. Nobody (except Tot) knew that we would match and that I would look ridiculous, but that made it more fun. And honestly, I just did not care that I was in a…..

Penguin onesie. Yes, this exists and I had it adorned with hood and slippers. We were a cozy pair!

Got outside and OOOOOOH, baby, it’s cold outside!

We headed out to hit Santa’s workshop before boarding. Tatum and I found the Nutcrackers and who should we find!!????

Mrs. Clause!

Santa’s mailbox was next, so Tatum whispered what she hoped to get. Little did she know she might just see Santa on board!

Before we boarded, we came upon this vintage. Wait! I think we hear the choo choo to board!!!

Phew! We made it! All aboard!!!

Cozying up with my honey!

Honeys!

Tatum was ready for the Hot Hot HOT chocolate! She checked with the chef???

Here it comes! What more could you want? Cozy jammies, Christmas carols, cookies and chocolate. Dancing waiters? Hmmmmm (not sure if I needed this part)

Well we started the story, and I brought a book aboard to follow along.  The conductor made sure we had our tickets because it was time for our arrival to the NORTH POLE

As he punched away, guess who was boarding the train …..

with a bag full of…. Jingle Bells!

And it did ring; we all heard it. Christmas spirit is alive and well!

Well, we get back to the hotel, and I was supposed to share a bed with Tot.

I think she forgot.

The next morning, it was frigid cold outside, but that did not stop us from finding a park to get our wiggles out before the road trip home.

We discovered the tetherball…(well, I had flashbacks of my middle school recess days with large people hitting the ball beyond my strength.)

Tatum found it fascinating.

But the wind had us and so….

We took a few pictures on the sleigh. REALLY FAST.

Did I say FAST!!?? 

The wind had us icy, so we hit the road and headed home.

Benefits???? Celebrating the season with my family makes the cold warm and the warm snuggly soft. Blessed.

The beauty of having Tatum as my daughter is getting to experience the wonders of the season with her.  Every year, the train park transforms into a Winter Wonderland. This year, it did not disappoint.

Tatum and I got there early to get tickets. 

Then we waited. The line is like a mile long, so thankfully Doug took her to play on the swings while I chilled in line with the folks. Finally, we boarded and off we went!

The pictures don’t do it justice! It was glorious with the snow falling. Being 60 degrees, it felt pretty real! Haha.

The next day, we had the opportunity to go to the concert at Scottsdale Bible. Watching the drummers, dancers, singers, and live animals brought Christmas to life. They ended with a real live manger scene. For Tatum and for me, this took Christmas at the train park one step further. It culminated with Jesus being born in the stable and the celebration then beginning.

Tatum got to pet the donkey on the way out. She was the perfect size for him!
The wonders are just beginning. Next stop: The Polar Express!

We in AZ love our crisp mornings. It’s all about the clothes and getting to enjoy the cool air.

Wearing our vests (like we are going skiing, ha!) was the highlight besides the WHO we were meeting! Trying to be snow bunnies in Scottsdale is like trying to be an eskimo in a bathing suit. Anyhoo, 
Tot and I met Kelly and Morgan for coffee at Starbucks before our big Gingerbread House building plan.

Upon our rendezvous with the family, we headed home to get started! Last week, we just made little Gingerbread House bags, so this week, we figure we’d graduate with a REAL house with real sugary sweet frosting glue.

First, I have to admit, I’m an amateur builder, so I cheated and bought a kit at Trader Joe’s. How hard could it be for $7.99? Plus, I figured this would set me up for doing it from scratch next year. Well….. I had to make the frosting glue. An egg white, the box of sugar (included), and some lemon juice. In the ninja it went and POOF! Sticky, tasty frosting.

Tatum was excited!

Ok, now focus. No licking fingers. (she caught me a few times!)

We were making an A-Frame house, so Tot held down the A as I pasted the other one in.

Did I say no licking?

Did I????????????

Ok, now we wait. We had to wait for it to dry to decorate, so (a tear fell due to this) off we went to play. 

Meanwhile, two of the four characters SOMEHOW  broke. Coti was in his cage so he couldn’t be blamed. Guess we have to eat the legs and heads, eh?

Upon waiting it was time to decorate and break out the REAL McCoy. The chocolates, sprinkles, and gummies.

We did steal a few little chocolate pieces, but all in all……… Not too bad!

We just need to make sure it is Coti-proofed. This space on the counter should work unless he acquires bionic back legs overnight. He’s been known to leap tall spaces in the past.

Happy Gingerbread House Day (year one)! Next year, we’ll start from scratch. Jesus help me.

I love our days together. Tuesday was one such day. We decided to return to the IDEA museum since we had a Groupon of two for one!

Before we enter, they have a series of xylophones. Banging is always a hit. (no pun intended)

Then, we photo’ed it in front of a wall of art quotes. We are ready to ideate!

In we went to start to make art. Well, art can be anything right?

Then we went into the Alice in Wonderhand (as she calls it) It is a wonder how cute this kid is.

She is a mad hatter at heart.

Would you like a neon cupcake? (probably should pass on this to save me from a nuclear tummy)After much glowing deliciousness, we decided to go into the DOG exhibit. Everything DOG!
First, origami. 

Then let’s discover dog breeds from around the world. Dog love is universal! Once she discovered Fido’s home…..

We took a poll of the next President of Dog world:

You vote here:

Who is winning?

Back to vote again. 
Then off to be a vet.

Make a dog mask.

Wear it. 

Run with it in the sound machine. The faster you move the more underwater oceanic sounds you hear.

Make a building. Somewhat.

And…..breathe. Pooped from all the ideating we participated in. So nice we had the place to ourselves.

I have an idea! Let’s go have lunch and take a nap! ?

Love hanging with you, Tot. XO

It arrived! All the singing and practicing has come to a climax! Today, she would perform in front of a large audience. Here is the program:

Her class was to be last. Ok, so we waited through all the adorable performances.

When the entered the stage, they carried their little pom poms at their sides and Tot took her place. Apparently Ms. Chris did not think to put her at the end. Nope. She put her right next to two tall tots. Ollie and Zoe. And oh did they show their stuff all at Tatum’s expense.

All was fine for the first song, apart from some stage fright. She’d never seen so many people watching before. Then, JOY TO THE WORLD was next. Pom poms ready? Shake shake shake! All in front of, on top of around Tatum’s face. Poor thing got completely smoooooshed and she made that face!

After I pryed my crying self from laughing hysterically off the floor, I cheered for the class! Hooray!
Whew!
So, then, we were met by the LOVE’S after for some pics. Robert is now in another class, so he came and visited. They looked like they were ready for prom! Be still my heart.

Future mother in-law pics.

And a close up of the mommy-in law, Jennie. We love you!!!

When you have a four year old, your craft becomes simply doable.

So, Tot and I decided to make gingerbread houses to put in cookies and treats for others. I cut up the pieces

and she did the pasting. 

And VOILA! A house equipped with a chimney top and extra large polka dot rock designs.

It’s the purple glue stick that made this fun!
Now for the cookies to go inside (her next…no, probably her favorite…part)

My mom loves to do a Christmas picture in front of the tree every year. The catch is we have 10 seconds to get in position with a dog and a child. Then HOLD! CLICK!
We have to do this multiple…did I say MULTIPLE!? times to make it work.

I keep remembering THIS photo from one month after Tot was born. TEENY TINY TOT!

This was when she was one year. Actually this was our “warm up” pic! It was the best one, sadly.  Focus, Coti? Tot?

Two years old was not much better. The dog and Tot were not aware of the CAMERA!! SHEESH! Take 15.

Then we have last year. Three is getting better!? Nope.

Well, this year, we did many more shots and Tatum took charge. Puppy, smile!

I personally like the last one. Coti is sure happy in this one!

Hooray! (Baby (Tatum’s teddy) got to be in the photos this year.) A truly blessed and happy family.

Merry Christmas!