Why, To the North Pole of Course!!

This year with the help of Hailey and my wonderful mother were able to go on the Polar Express this Christmas Season. If you don't know The Polar Express has to be Dax's favorite book, movie and soundtrack EVER! We watch the movie all year round, read the book at night and sing the hot chocolate song all of the time! We know everything and every word to this movie. So when Hailey asked if we wanted some of the extra tickets that her mother-in-law had I had I just had to say yes. So Brian booked the afternoon off and we headed north to the North Pole. What Bran and I didn't realize that we really were headed to the North Pole conditions. We googled how to get there and it told us that it would take 3.5 hours and Brian of course said that we could beat that time. So left our nice warm, sunny weather at about 3:00 and went on our way. The train left at 8:00 so we thought sure we had plenty of time. As we hit 6000 feet it became as Avery said Christmas outside. She loved it until she realized that Christmas is cold! We were in a terrible snow storm and very icy roads! We were passing everyone and we were only going 35 miles and hour. In Flagstaff Avery said that she had to go to the bathroom, Brian looked at me and said if we stop we will miss the train, so we talked her into holding it. I had the kids all a present to open when we got there with some new Pj's for the train ride and it did not happen at I envisioned it. It was more Brian and i ripping open the boxes and the children's clothes off and change them and RUNNING in a blizzard to the train station as they were loading the train. We were soaking wet and out of breath. But it was snowing and made it even more real for the kids. As we rode the train and they started passing out the hot chocolate and cookies, Dax looked at me and said " Why are the chairs not turning around and tables coming up? And why they are not dancing and shooting the hot chocolate from cup to cup? " See we have seen it way to many times! But it was a great time and fun to see the kids have a shine in their eyes and smile on their faces. This is the conductor of the Polar Express.
Dax with his special ticket!

A picture of the family...we are the ones behind the snow storm!

Of course, a snow ball fight!!

Santa on the train giving all of the good boys and girls a bell from the North Pole.

Trace's 2nd Birthday!

Trace is 2!?!?!?! Wow how time flies! It seems like every time I turn around its another birthday and everyone is one year older. I remember when he was born and I thought I wouldn't ever be leaving the house again and now I can hardly keep up with the little cutie! He is truly a joy in my life! I love his little smile and his mischievous grin and even when he wants to be invisible so he puts his eyes in his arm. I love that when I pick him up from Crystal's house he runs to the door and is so excited to see me. He does a little jig and I always get a big hug before he is off again. We decided to go bowling for the party and had a great time. It was the first time that I had to bowl with out the bumpers. Very Scary! Trace, Avery, Dax, Colton, Gabi and Cambri had one lane with the bumpers and the grown ups and Cole had to actually bowl. But we had a great time and the kids had a lot of fun. Trace just thought that it was fun to roll the ball, he didn't really care about the end result.

Look I beat Brian!!! It did help that Bret bowled a frame for me and got a strike! I was taking Avery to the bathroom. I deserved a strike for that!!

Who's the baby now?

Just Some Random Good Times

Conner, Avery, Dax and Max just chillin'. They played together so well it was like they see each other all of the time. It's fun to see them with their Indy friends.

Brandon & Crhistina McKee came into town so we went up to thier hotel to swim and then we all went to Red Robin for dinner. Good times with the scary bird in yellow tights! It was great to see the Mckee's! We love it when they get sick of the cold in Park City, UT.

Dax and Avery outside in the backyard playing in the tree. Avery seemed to be a little braver than Dax but then she does have long pants on, so not as much scraping the legs. Whatever Dax!

Avery just sittin' outside in the tree.