bittersweet symphony

merry christmas to all and to all a good night.

   

whew - 5 and 1/2 celebrations later - christmas is over.  Just like that. Well kinda just like that. It was so fun this year watching the boys together open presents, play and fight. Brothers.  I am thankful for the time I have been able to spend at home with all my boys! We have played A LOT, made cookies, made brownies, made hot chocolate with no marshallmellows,  played memory a few times, took naps, had various versions of the flu.  We have cleaned a lot, done tons of laundry. Eddie has even painted the bathroom and fixed the shower so it won't leak. But it looks like a new subfloor, floor and toliet are in the near future (we still have to finish the rest of the kitchen projects) but it will get there.  We have watched a lot of movies after the boys have gone to bed. I even cleaned off my scrapbook table and made a few layouts! I know I am shocked myself. Catching up on christmas 2006. And trying to edit, download and get all my pictures printed from 2007 and 2008. Our time at home has been relaxing.  The rush rush rush of the holiday season is over.  And I am kinda glad it's over. I am ready for a new year. A chance for a nice, bright and shiny new start.

Hope your christmas was great and Santa left lots of goodies under your tree!

I have lots to catch up on this blog. Just when I think about shutting it down I feel the need to post. So at least my 3 or 4 regular readers will have something new to look at! :)

Facebook is evil. Facebook is wrong. Everybody and their sister is on facebook. Oh and brothers, cousins and gangsters too.  I will not fall victim to it's power. I am just saying.

**i still believe**

  **in the magic of Christmas**

Last Tuesday night we had the chance to go to the North Pole on the Polar Express. It was cold, snowy and sparkly.  Riley was so excited to ride a train without a face. (Last May we rode Thomas the Train while I was in labor with Brady). Brady had no idea what we were doing. We headed up to meet the train in Independence. Grammie joined us since we had an extra seat.

Standing on the platform waiting for the train - it was cold and snowing. Riley heard the train before we did. And I couldn't tell who was more excited, Eddie, Grammie, Riley or Brady (or all the screaming kids waiting for the train).

It was difficult to take pictures in the dark on a moving train. But I thought I would share a few.

We boarded the train found our seats and our favorite elf.  the elves read us the book on our way to the North Pole. We also enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies. We sang songs. And when we arrived at the North Pole. Brady and Riley were glued to the windows. All the elves were waving to us. We saw the Grinch, Frosty and Mrs. Claus. We saw Santa's toy shop and we saw Santa, his sleigh and his reindeer. Santa rode the train back to town with us and visiting each child and giving them a bell from his sleigh.