The Very Merry Weekend continued...

As I said yesterday, we had a full-fledged Christmas weekend...

Sunday started out by putting up decorations. Neal braved the 20 degree weather and put up lights outside our house (our first time ever!) and I handled the inside.. with Austin getting into stuff, dragging bows all over, playing with the nutcracker, pulling ornaments off the tree and finally getting his butt set down with some milk and an episode of Umi Zoomi so he would just CHILL for 20 mins.

**Sidenote- think what you want about how toddlers probably "shouldn't" watch TV... then raise one and you will be singing the praises of toddler cartoons to the high heavens! Trust me.**

After picking up things and putting them back in Austin's wake, the house managed to come together pretty nicely!

an ornament tree, scented pine cones and a squirrel.. oh wait, that's Henry you say? oh my bad. 

our child decorated the tree... please note the clusters of ornaments all on the same branches!

a dozen ornaments all in about 1 foot of space. Ha. 

always my favorite.. the mantle! 

We got Austin down for a nap and Neal and I just picked up around the house and ate lunch. Super exciting.

Then we got the kiddo up early from his nap (normally a huge no-no... cranky much???) but we had to get on the road to go get on the Polar Express! It was an hour drive from us, out in Hood River. Austin must have known we were going to something fun because he was in a good mood.

A little unsure of the snow when we got there though... he walked a few steps and then wanted to be held.

We got our tickets, found our car and boarded the Polar Express!

wearing Christmas jammies for the trip! 

"I'm on a train!!!!! CHOO CHOO!!!!"

Austin was NOT pleased he couldn't run up and down the train and had to sit in his seat. Neal was NOT pleased that he had to try and keep Austin in his seat. 

It was a winter wonderland outside!

"is that Santa?"

Characters from the movie were in each carriage, and everyone got hot cocoa and cookies!

"Santa??" Ok, so I don't know how my kid knows who Santa is.. we haven't really talked about it because I didn't think he would get it. Somehow he knows who "Seeta Cause" is and that he says "Ho Ho Ho." ??? 

So anxious to see the "North Pole!"

Lights at the "North Pole"

Official looking, no?

The Conductor came and punched our tickets!

Santa! It's Santa!!! After all that anticipation.. Austin decided he was a bit freaked out by the man. Naturally. He wouldn't sit on his lap. 

He did go for an awkward hug though. Not uncomfortable in the slightest. 

"Santa gave me a BELL!!!!!!!!!!!!"

We had fun on the Polar Express!