melted snowmen

On Christmas Eve morning, we set to work making some masterpiece sugar cookies for Santa. I had seen the idea for melted snowmen cookies online and decided we would give it a try. The kids were excited to try something different.

I was a little concerned that this might be above their skill level and that we should have just stuck to the usual dumping sprinkles all over the cookies, but they had a good time and Sareny and Isaac made some really cute ones all by themselves. Finley required a bit of help.

Keeks was happy just to be included in the activity.

To make these cookies, we made cream cheese frosting (because it is delicious!) I heated a small bowl in the microwave for a few seconds to help it spread nice and smooth. The marshmallow heads were also heated in the microwave for a few seconds before we placed them on the cookies. Keith made this one. So cute!

Here are two that I made for Finley.

Sareny made Harry Potter.

And this one, that we named "Big Lips."

Isaac made these two--he said the one on the right was a zombie, and the one on the left was a monster.

And a parting shot of this cute guy. These were really fun! It just took a bit of prep coloring the frosting and loading it into bags, but I was surprised at how much the kids enjoyed it.

Visiting Santa

We went to Westar's breakfast with Santa again this year, and it was a really fun event. After breakfast, Isaac rushed over to hear Mrs. Santa read stories.

She was really cute with Keekee and held her for a bit.

Then the kids sat on Santa's lap.

After a group photo, each kid sat on Santa's lap by themself for a moment.

My cute little boy!

Adorable little Finley.

Pretty Sareny.

And Keeley was so adorable! I was quite surprised that she didn't scream. She sat and stared at Santa for a bit.

Then she started playing with his beard.

Then she looked over at the camera.

After Santa, the kids did some crafts. It was a fun morning, and we were glad Lexi was able to come with us. We joked about needing to run home to bring our own syrup, since the lady handing that out was majorly skimping, but it was something we could laugh about, anyway!

We rode the Polar Exress

We were so excited to finally ride the Polar Express this year! The Saturday after Thanksgiving, we headed off on our adventure. Everyone is supposed to wear pajamas--here we are in front of the engine that looks just like the one in the book and movie. Here is Grammy and the kids in front of the cute ticket booths.

We were all so excited!

The train conductors were called chefs. Here is one of them taking our tickets as we boarded.

Half of the group on one side of the train.

The other half of the group.

Later we figured out how to turn our seats so we could face each other. Not a lot of leg room, but more fun. The cute girls--Fin and KeeKee had matching Minnie Mouse pajamas, and Sareny had Smurfette jammies. While on the train, we had cocoa and cookies and visited the North Pole. On the way back we sang Christmas carols, which was my favorited part.

Isaac, who was wearing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, spotted a visitor to our train.

It was Santa Claus! He gave everyone on board their own special Polar Express Bell.

The girls tested their bells out to see if they could hear them.

Keeley decided a more thorough investigation was required, and utilized more of her senses to test out the bells.

I told that side of the train to smile at the camera, and just as I went to take the picture, KeeKee lunged for Bampa's glasses. Grammy Jo obviously feared a repeat of the event that has gone down in infamy, wherein baby Sareny scratched Bampa's glasses.

I don't remember what they told us to say, but whatever it was, Finley said it really loud.

Sareny always wants to hold her sissie.

 And a parting shot of us by the giant engine again. We had such a great time on the Polar Express and would love to ride it again next year. The only downside of this trip was, because we bought our tickets last minute, we had to ride the train in the afternoon while it was still light, and there was no snow when we got to the North Pole!

Up Close and Personal With Santa

Santa Claus made a detour during his busy month of December to come to our ward Christmas party. The kids all got to see him and tell him what they wanted. Fin was more interested in the candy than in the big man himself.

First Isaac showed Santa his stitches.

Then, and I thought this was the cutest thing ever, he got right up to whisper in Santa's ear what he wanted for Christmas.

And then Sareny. Sareny, Sareny, Sareny. When Santa walked into the room and made his rounds to a few of the tables, Sareny informed our table that it wasn't the real Santa. Not a big problem, since my kids were the only ones sitting at the table. But then, in a Buddy the Elf type of moment, she began announcing loudly to the entire room, "That's not the real Santa!" We quickly shushed her, and I don't think many people noticed. I'm sure she only had the best interest of the other children at heart, and if I hadn't stopped her just in time, she would have begun imploring the children, "Don't tell that man anything!"