It's Here!!

I can't believe Christmas is already here!! This has been the best Christmas season. It is so fun to have Mason old enough to really understand and be excited about everything going on. Now that we have 2 kids we have been trying to start some traditions that will hopefully last through the years. Here are some of the things we have been doing to celebrate to this year.

The day after Thanksgiving we went and watched Santa arrive at University Mall in a helicopter. Remember how Mason loves helicopters and is asking for one for Christmas? It was the perfect way to start off the season. Mason waving to Santa as the Helicopter was coming down. The big man himself. Mason just wanted to stay and look at the Helicopter all day. Brynn was so excited she could hardly contain herself. We stayed until the Helicopter flew away. It was REALLY windy when it was taking off. Here we all are being blown away.

Decorating the Tree was definitely interesting with all of Mason's "help".

The Festival of Trees was a lot of fun. Mason, of course, found every tree that had a train under it. He was convinced this was the Dinosaur Train, so therefore, it was his favorite. He then informed us that this butterfly tree was Brynn's favorite tree.

We took the kids to Thanksgiving Point to sit on Santa's lap. Mason was SO excited the whole time we were in line. When it was finally our turn this is how his conversation with Santa went

Santa: How are you?

Mason: (barely audible whisper) Two. Holds up two fingers (Oops, thought he asked how old are you.)

Santa: What do you want for Christmas?

Mason: Stares at Santa

Scott: Mason, what do you want for Christmas?

Mason: Santa, what do you want for Christmas? (voice getting a little louder)

Santa: (a little thrown off by the question) Ummmm.

Scott: Mason, tell Santa what you want for Christmas?

Mason: Ummmm Looks to Daddy for some help

Scott: A big................blue.......

Mason: HELICOPTER!

Santa: Well, I'll see what I can do.

Mason totally got stage fright when he was talking to Santa, but as soon as he was done he told us all about how he had talked to Santa and told him he wanted a big blue helicopter. Apparently the conversation went perfectly in Mason's eyes. As for Brynn, she just smiled and laughed the whole time she was on his lap which was SHOCKING since this girl has some serious stranger anxiety.

We also got to see some of Santa's reindeer outside.

We did the Polar Express ride.

Scott and I saw A Christmas Carol like we do every year. Mix in some Family and Work Christmas parties that I don't have any pictures of and we've had a very busy and very fun month. What a great time of year. Merry Christmas!!

5 Years

December 18, 2004 is the day we started our life together.

Just the two of us.

In our little basement apartment.

Working and going to school.

We were young.

We were in love.

A lot has changed in five years.

Now there are four of us.

In our little house.

Working and raising our children.

We are a little older.

But we are still very much in love.

I can't wait to see what the next 5 years bring.

And all eternity after that :)

I love you, Scotty.

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!

The Polar Express

Remember how Mason loves trains? We decided it would be fun to take him on the Polar Express ride on the Heber Valley Railroad this year. When we booked the tickets we didn't realize what we would be starting. In preparation, I took him to the Library and checked out the Polar Express so he could become familiar with the story before the ride. It immediately became his favorite book. He has carried it around with him for the last 3 weeks. He asks me to prop it open to the page with the train on it so he can look at it while he plays with his trains. He takes it to bed with him and falls asleep reading it. The first time this happened I put the book away after he was asleep and later that night he appeared at my bedside nearly in tears asking where his Polar Express book was. The problem is, it was due back at the Library last Saturday but he won't let go of it. I think someone will be getting this book for Christmas. We recorded the movie when it was on TV even though I wasn't sure if Mason would like it, but he loves it. It shows everything about trains that he loves, including the conductor saying all the right things like "All Aboard" and "Tickets please!". He would watch the movie every day if I let him. Nothing beats watching the movie, reading the book, and playing with his trains all at the same time.

My mom has a train that goes around their Christmas tree. When she got it out this year Mason would just sit and watch it go around and around while talking a million miles an hour telling you everything about the train and how it was like the Polar Express. Unfortunately he ran it until it started smoking and then stopped working altogether. He was so heart broken when it died that my mom being the sweet Grandma she is went out the next day and found a new train for her house. It will be interesting to see what happens when it gets put away after Christmas.

Mason finds a way to include the Polar Express in every part of our day. One day he found an empty diaper box and immediately it became the Polar Express. Of course I got to be the lucky person to pull it around and around and around until I thought my back would break. We even went to the North Pole and picked up Santa. After weeks of feeding his obsession over the Polar Express we broke the news to him yesterday that we were going to take a ride on the Polar Express. Today might as well have been Christmas. Seriously, we could cancel Christmas and he probably wouldn't even notice because today was more than he could have wished for. All day he kept asking if it was time to go yet. When we finally got up there he was in train heaven. He loved seeing the big black locamotive that looks just like the Polar Express. Here he is standing on it's "bumper". The three of us. (Brynn stayed with Grandma so she didn't have to endure the cold.) Mason getting on the train car with his ticket in hand. Mason favorite part was walking around outside and seeing the train, but once we were on board it was really fun. All the kids are wearing pajamas like in the book, we got cookies and hot chocolate to drink, elfs handed out the book and everyone read it together, and we sang Christmas Carols. We went all the way to the North Pole where Santa came onboard and talked to each of the kids and gave them a bell. Mason loved the bell! Sometimes he says he wants a bell when people ask what he wants for Christmas (because that's what the boy asks for on the Polar Express). After we left from the North Pole Mason sat on my lap ringing his bell. The ringing got slower and slower until it stopped and I looked down to find him asleep, dreaming of the Polar Express, I'm sure. It was a nice calm ride back listening to Christmas Carols. Mason did wake up when we got off and begged us to stay with the trains. He made the statement, "I don't like my house, I like the Polar Express!". What a great day! This might have to become a yearly tradition.

Things to do

I have so many fun things to blog about, but can't seem to find the time. My to do list seems to be growing faster than I can check things off. Today I added to the list baby-proofing the house because the little one is on the move...YIKES!! Now I really won't be getting anything done during the day. I hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season like we are. I promise some great Holiday posts in the near future.

All Brynn Wants for Christmas...

...is her two front teeth. (bottom, that is)

And she got them!!

Brynn shocked us all by popping out her first 2 teeth last week. Unfortunately I blamed the low grade fever and fussiness caused by a bladder infection on teething for 5 days before taking her to the doctor, but we got that taken care of and now she's back to her happy self. I can't believe my baby has teeth. Hopefully she'll protect hers a little better than her brother has.