Riding the Santa Train

To continue with the train theme we all headed down to ride the train this morning with Santa. There is a great old rail station in Calera, Alabama where they run the old trains on seasonal trips, so kids can ride. This is the same trip we took in October to the pumpkin patch, only we didn't get off the train this time.





Walker was very excited all morning and Eli took a nice nap to prepare. Walker wanted to walk up and down the aisles to meet and talk to everyone, but that wasn't encouraged, so there was a moment of frustration there, but he was able to deal with it. Eli was just happy with his pacifier. I kept trying to take it away so it wouldn't be in all the pictures, but he would just find something else (far less clean) to chew on.





Santa walked up and down the train talking to all the children and Mrs. Claus passed out presents. It was pretty neat, but the train part was still more impressive to our boys. Eli wanted to chew on his present and Walker, the sweet big brother, took his over to Eli said "share" and handed his bear to Eli, also.





Whenever I go out with Eli other ladies shopping will comment on what a flirt he his, and they are right. If you give this little guy a look he will turn on the charm. Well, he found a little girl sitting behind us, with just one tooth as well, and made a love connection. They talked, squealed, and reached out for each other. I think I know what Eli asked Santa for. :)



The boys did really well and a fun time was had by all. What is not for a kid to love, trains, Santa, toys, and family all around. We were even able to do a Chick-fil-a lunch and play time after. A wonderful December Saturday.

Setting Up the Christmas Train

Walker loves anything to do with trains. His Grammy and Grin bought our family a train to go around our Christmas tree. As we were getting our Christmas stuff set up (a few weeks ago), Walker got so excited to get the "choo choo train" ready to go. He was patient for the most part and the assembly went pretty well (no super stressed out daddy).

After a few days of pretty consistently remind him, "no touch choo choo train," he does a great job of just watching the train go around the track. When he wants to watch the train and it isn't a good time we tell him the choo choo train is taking a nap, so now anytime time the train is off he explains it, "choo choo train take de nap, go nigh, nigh."

Eli doesn't have the whole "no" thing down, so he has to be held if he is in the room with the train, but Walker always reminds him of the rules. But, Eli does enjoy watching the train go around the track and especially hearing the whistle blow.

After the boys got the train all set up, they had to sit down and watch some Sunday night football.

Happy Kitchen Band

Walker loves to help me kitchen and now that Eli is good an mobile he has joined the band. There is one cabinet and several baskets full of bowls and pans perfect for loud noise making. It is wonderful to see the boys playing together. Almost every afternoon there is a huge mess in the kitchen where the contents of the cabinets and baskets have been emptied and it is wonderful.

Eli has also started to go for the dogs' water bowl (also in the kitchen). Walker is trying to help him to understand that it is not a good idea to do this. When Walker sees Eli headed toward the water bowl, he will stand in between Eli and the bowl and proclaim, "no touch" until Eli understands. I am trying to think of this has helpful, not bossy, but I think there are hints of both.

A Friendly Visit

On Monday the boys and I got a wonderful surprise. My friend Jen was able to come and visit. She and her husband are living the dream (or at least working on it) in New York and were coming through town after visiting family. They progressively moved farther away and now our visits are pretty rare. It is so wonderful to have people in your life that you can just pick up with whenever you get together. The boys loved her and now all they want is some 'cousins' in New York. :) I made a point of pulling out my camera, but of course I forgot to actually use it. This picture is from when she came to visit Walker a couple of months after he was born.

Eli's First Visit to Santa...Sort of

(this one is my favorite)

Walker has always enjoyed a hat and the new Santa hat is no exception. He was playing with it on and Eli became fascinated with the little white ball bouncing on the end of brother's head. I told Walker to go sit in his red chair and Eli would come see him. This isn't really a stretch, since Eli spends most of his day chasing Walker. Sure enough, he did and it was precious. Walker thought it was so funny and then he tried to share the hat with Eli. Eli is not as willing to crawl around with a hat on, but Jason is working on him. I was enjoying the moment so much I didn't quite get great pictures (focus and all), but you get the idea.




(these are Santa's play clothes, they don't quite go with theme)

Chomp, Chomp, Chomp

Little Eli has his first tooth! The bottom left one has broken through. And amazingly enough, he has been wonderful this week. He has slept through the night for most of the week, taken good naps, and done a really nice job of entertaining himself. My baby is growing up. It won't be long before he is biting into a gingersnap of his own.

MMM...Gingersnaps

A few years ago my dad introduced us to these wonderful Swedish gingersnaps. They are heavenly. A little too heavenly, if you catch my drift. They are thin and light and before you know it, you have had three servings.

Walker loves them also. Jason introduced him to them last year. He would break off tiny little bits and he was satisfied with about a half a cookie total. Not this year. As soon as he spotted one, it was, "cookie, cookie, cookie!" Last year they were just, "cook." When Jason handed him one, did he tear into it, oh no, not my son. He went over to his chair sat down and enjoyed biting into it. Well, at least for the first half. Then he crammed the second half in his mouth, and in a muffled way, "more cookie, more cookie, peas!" It is amazing how well he uses his manners when asking for a treat. Now, about 3 or 4 times a day he asks for, "more cookies, peas." We let him have a couple a day, I mean it is Christmas time. Now, if I could only hold myself to only a couple a day.