Making Their Lists

The kids have been so funny this weekend. Every chance they've gotten they have wanted to make their Christmas lists. As soon as we got home from Derby Dinner Saturday, they sat down and started making their lists. I'm grateful that their lists are reasonable and don't include things like a new pony or even an X-Box. I wanted to document their lists this year because I know that each year their lists will be so different.
I told Grace to draw pictures of the things she wanted since she doesn't know how to write the words. She was still frustrated so Daddy drew her pictures and wrote the words for her too. In case you can't see her list, she wants a diaper bag for her baby dolls, a bag with jewelry in it, two cars to go with her doll house, and an American doll with clothes. What she means is an American Girl doll.
Gabriel drew his own pictures, and I helped him listen to the sounds in the words so he could write the words. A few of the words were not easy to sound out, so I just told him how to spell them. Gabriel wants Pokemon cards, Beyblades, Bakugans, and a Jack-in-a-Box. One of these things is not like the others, right??? The Jack-in-a-Box is totally out of the blue. He said he wants to scare Grace with it. Whatever . . . he's such a boy! Haha!

'Cause That's the Way Things Happen . . .

On the Polar Express!
We went to French Lick this afternoon to ride the Polar Express with Grandma and Papaw.
We watched the movie last night so the kids would remember what it was all about.
We ran in to the McAfee family while we were there. There was an activity tent with train tables, coloring, and letter writing.
Grace and Jake were playing crash the trains. Haha!
Daddy sat down with Grace and wrote a letter to Santa together. She asked for a Christmas hat and make-up.
Before long, we were boarding the Polar Express. (What is up with Grace's scared face??)
The elves came around and took group/family pictures for everyone.
Gabriel agreed to have his picture taken with one of Santa's elves.
The conductor came around and took tickets. He sprinkled the kids with the little holes from punching the tickets. It sounded just like when the conductor on the movie punches tickets.
"Hot, hot, hot! We've got it!" The hot chocolate they delivered to us was the most decadent hot chocolate I've ever had. Grace couldn't drink all of hers because it was so rich.
Gabriel enjoyed his hot chocolate, and he followed the rule . . . don't let it cool!
The elves danced in the aisles to Christmas music. At one point they were getting the kids out of their seats to dance with them, and Grace was quick to get up and dance too.
Two of the three entertainers in our train car were really energetic and fun to watch.
Soon, we approached the North Pole. Santa was waiting to be picked up for a train ride.
One of the elves pulled Gabriel out of his seat to dance with her. He was so embarrassed, but I think he really enjoyed it.
Another time, as they danced down the aisle, one of the elves put a scarf and sunglasses on Gabriel. Basically, he was holding them so she could use them for her next song, but he didn't know that at the time.
Santa visited our train car. He had his picture taken with all of the kids. As he greeted each child, he gave them a silver bell.
Before we stopped back at the train station, we got a visit from the characters from the movie. It was so cute!
The elves/entertainers were so sweet to the kids and so willing to have pictures taken.

We had a great time riding the Polar Express! We're already looking forward to doing it again next year!

Velveteen Rabbit Christmas

This morning the kids, Grandma, and I went to Derby Dinner Playhouse to see A Velveteen Rabbit Christmas.
Santa went from table to table greeting the kids and having pictures taken.
Grace was very unsure about Santa. She does NOT like costumed characters, but she knows that she's supposed to like Santa. She sat on his lap for a picture, but she was very nervous.
We enjoyed a yummy breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, fruit cups, French toast sticks, and hash browns.
Grace complained of being cold throughout the play. To keep her warm, she sat on my lap. The play was really cute. I love the children's theater because the shows are 45 minutes to an hour long which is the perfect amount of time for me and the kids.

Family Movie Night

Friday evening's movie presentation was The Polar Express! We enjoyed eggnog and popcorn to go with it.
Grace was my little snuggle bug during the movie.
So . . . there is a story behind the "viewmongous" tv. Dan went out Friday morning deer hunting with a friend. He got home about 11:00 a.m. Friday morning. When he walked in the door, I asked him, "Did you get anything?" To which he replied, "Come help me drag 'er out of the van." So I raced to get my socks and shoes on, all the while thinking about deer chili, deer roast, deer steaks, etc. I opened the garage door to find the van open and a 60 in. flat screen tv in the back. WHAAAT??? Yep . . . he'd been Black Friday shopping. Movie night was a perfect excuse to give his Christmas gift a try.
Dan and Gabriel started out on the brown couch, but before the movie was over, we were all (Lucy included) under the blanket on the red couch.

Decking the Halls

Friday afternoon we put up our Christmas decorations. It was strange decorating a different house. In the past we just knew where to put things . . . they had their "place." This time we had to make decisions about where things belonged and even which decorations to put up.
How many Ellnor's does it take to put a tree skirt under a Christmas tree? Apparently, it took 3.
We hung the ornament wreath that I made for Dan's mom above the mantle.
Gabriel's area for his ornaments was on the left side of the Christmas tree.
Grace's area was on the bottom of the right side.
Ta Da! Here is our finished Christmas tree! Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Oh, Tooth Fairy!

Gabriel lost his second tooth this evening right after our Thanksgiving dinner. He and Dan worked on getting it out last night, but it just wasn't coming. This morning they worked on it some more, but his gum was swollen and sore from the night before. When Gabriel showed Uncle Rob his loose tooth this afternoon, Uncle Rob had a plan.
Uncle Rob tied some dental floss to it and pulled it out.
Gabriel went around the house showing off his lost tooth to all of our Thanksgiving dinner guests. They generously gave him money for his pain and suffering. Ha! In total, he made $5.50 from showing off his tooth. What a haul! And the tooth fairy hasn't even been here yet!

Lil Indian Girl

Grace made this little Indian costume in preschool Tuesday. There is an adorable little pasta necklace under the vest too. She was so proud of her handmade costume.

Chicken Dancin'

Sunday evening we were enjoying a quiet evening at home when the kids started chicken dancing in the living room.
Gabriel was making some of the funniest faces as he danced around the living room. It was cracking us up. Unfortunately, by the time I decided to grab the camera, the best was over.

Dinner at Kansai

Friday evening we celebrated Grandma and Mommy's birthday by eating dinner at Kansai.  The kids LOVE that restaurant, and they ask to go there all the time.  We always tell them that it's a "special occasion" restaurant, and birthdays are special occasions.

 Our chef threw rice for us to catch in our mouths.  Gabriel missed and was going to get eat it off the floor.  Yuck!  Glad we caught him before he'd actually done it.

 Papaw tried to catch some rice.

 Grandma tried to catch rice in her mouth.  Grace flinched like the rice was going to hurt her.  Ha!  Mommy was the ONLY person who actually caught the rice.  Woot woot!  Go, Mommy!

Grace ate some of her rice with the chopsticks.  She did really well with them!

Evening with Chuck

We decided to go to Chuck E. Cheese for dinner and games Tuesday evening.  The kids were hungry when we got there, but they were having so much fun playing games that they didn't want to stop to eat.

Chuck came around and gathered kiddos to play a game and sing a song.  At the end of the song, Chuck threw tickets in the air for the kids to catch.

Grace hit it big on one of the games and won 40 tickets!

The kids cashed in their tickets.  All together we had 500 tickets.  For that we got two whoopee cushions (one of which was busted before it got home), a coin holder, two plastic tops, and a plastic bracelet.  I'm pretty sure the retail value of their prizes was somewhere close to $1.00.  Oh well, it was a fun evening!

Buca di Beppo

We rarely go to one of my favorite restaurants, Buca di Beppo. My mom loves Buca too, so in the past it has been a quasi- birthday tradition for us to go there for dinner to celebrate our birthday. I say "Our Birthday" (singular) because, for those of you who don't know, my mom and I share the same birthday. Cool, huh? Anyhow, three years ago the birthday dinner celebration expanded to include Erin as well because her birthday is just 10 days before ours. Luckily, she likes Buca too and doesn't mind celebrating with dinner there.
Grace, my little carb addict, loved Buca. She ate spaghetti and garlic bread and enjoyed every bit.
Gabriel was not keen on the family-style service. He complained because he didn't get his own meal. We ordered spaghetti with meat sauce just for him and had the waiter put in front of him so it would seem like his own. The sharing thing wasn't his favorite.
Grace loves her some spaghetti.
She was shaking parmesan cheese on her spaghetti and loving that we let her control the shaker. That turned out to be a mistake because as soon as she was finished shaking, she licked the top of the shaker. Gross!
Momma and her messy girl
Grandma and Papaw
Dan and Gabriel
How can I resist that? I love those three goofballs!
Brian doesn't like to have his picture taken . . . Scrooge! The cute newly weds!