Christmas Part 1

We had a truly unbelievable Christmas season this year.  I think it has been my favorite in a long time.  It is such a fun time with Ella and Braden because they both at an age they can understand Christmas but yet are still not too consumed with just getting gifts.  Everything is magical and wondrous for them.  We really tried as a family this year to plan events to create memories and celebrate the true meaning of the season.  Some of the highlights were going to Silver Dollar City (or Silver Dollar Silly as Ella calls it), putting up the tree, making a gingerbread house, learning about the Nativity, chocolate advent calendars, movie night, the polar express, Breakfast with Santa, and making birthday cupcakes for baby Jesus.   So since I am still catching up on my blog posts I am going to have a few Christmas installments to help remember all the great times we had.

Putting up the Christmas Tree

I decided I wanted to start the tradition this year of giving each of the kids an ornament to remember the year by.  This was the sweet picture to kick off this tradition.  Ella got a fairy, because she is free spirited. loves fairies, dancing and all things princess.  Braden got a truck because he loves trucks and it was one of his first words this year even though now he is talking so much.   This is Beckett's first Christmas so he got a pair of baby shoes.  Well...if I only had a picture to show only a few hours after this picture two out of the 3 ornaments were in pieces!  Oh what super glue can do.  Mom learned her lesson that breakable ornaments are not a good idea.

The Polar Express

We had the incredible opportunity to ride on the Polar Express train in Branson.  We got to go with incredible friends and had such a great time.  We all wore our pj's (just like the movie) and I was really impressed with how great of a job they did making it so fun and special for the kids.  

Tickets....tickets please.   They punched letters in the tickets just like the movie. 

The staff came out to the "Hot Coco" song from the movie with cookies and coco for everyone.

We picked up Santa at the North Pole, he visited with each child and then gave them a bell from his sleigh.  Ella was consistent all Christmas asking only for roller skates and ice skates. 

Braden was terrified of Santa at first, but warmed up quick.

All the kids!  The Rapps, Houstons, and Hampsch kiddos.  We are so blessed to get to have all of these wonderful friends.  I love that my kids get to grow up with each of these people.

Beckett was there too, he even dressed in his Christmas pjs.  He just slept the whole time.

School friends!