Holiday 2013 activities

I have been so busy that it is not until now that I am updating my blog about the holidays.  We had a great Christmas holidays this year, marked a little in shadow by me going back to work on December 7th.  The first weekend I went back to work, my mom who comes and watches Olivia and Brandon on Thursdays and Fridays, stayed over Friday night and we took Brandon and Olivia to the Polar Express Train in Hood River.  Brandon who has been enthralled with the Polar Express movie since he was two (at one point he watched it every day), loved the experience especially.  Olivia didn't seem to mind the gentle lull of the train herself.  The train ride itself was about an hour and a half and the kids got cookies and hot chocolate (just like in the movie) and wore their pajamas on the train.  The conductor came and stamped their magic golden ticket much to Brandon's delight.  The last stop was they picked Santa and Santa's elves up at Santa's house.  Santa came by and greeted each child and gave them a special silver bell.  It was a very fun experience!

Looking outside at the scenery

Olivia and I (Olivia was 5 months old)

Magic golden ticket!

Kisses from big brother

So much fun on the train

Yummy cookies1 

Getting his golden ticket punched 

Brandon and CiCi looking at the ticket

Sweet girl

CiCi and Olivia and Brandon on her lap

Brandon and Olivia on Santa's lap

Looking at the silver bell 

Brandon and Santa last year on the Portland Holiday train

Hood River train

 We went to Al's Nursery again to get our Christmas tree. We were going to go cut down a tree this year but it was so cold (in the teens) that we decided to stay indoors and go to Al's.  Brandon loves the electric train too at Al's.  Both Brandon and Olivia had a ton of fun looking at the Christmas decorations and picking out a Christmas tree.  Brandon loved the electric train once again and was happy that he was tall enough to push the button this year.

Happy girl at Al's Nursery 

Brandon watching the train at Al's Nursery

Brandon at Al's Nursery last year in 2012

Olivia 5 months old

Brandon and Olivia both liked the train

Olivia's first encounter with Santa

Olivia with our Christmas tree

Some other memorable moments: going to Brandon's school's Christmas pageant and missing it because we went to his school and it was at Durham Elementary school.  But Brandon had a blast seeing his friends still and did not realize he missed anything.  Brandon and Olivia got to see Santa and he got a yummy cupcake.

Brandon and Santa at his school

Not scared of Santa!

Both happy with Santa

Our Christmas Tree this year 

Brandon stayed up late and helped me decorate the Christmas tree

Plates we made the Grandparents using the kids footprints

Thanks Pinterest for the idea

So much fun with Daddy at Four Graces

Mommy and Olivia at Four Graces Winery

Sweet girl at the winery 

Loving sucking on the wine glass

She loves her wine glasses almost as much as her mommy does