The Polar Express

The Wheaton Santa Train sold out the day it opened - Sept 29! What? Lucky for us, Lisle still had tickets for theirs when I called in November ;)

We surprised the kids with a trip on the Polar Express. We picked up some hot chocolate on the way.

They're all ready to go to the North Pole in their jammies!

 Tickets please =)

When Santa came walking down the train car aisle, Adley looked at me a said..."I need to hide!" I didn't really know what she meant, but she climbed under the seat and stayed there the whole time Santa talked to Parker! hahahaha!

 We read the book on the way back.

We also sang some carols and did some coloring.

They even got a bell, just like the book =)

That'll be a morning to remember for a long long time =)

Advent Is Among Us

I love Advent.  If I thought it were a good idea to collect something - I'd collect Advent calendars.  They're the best. Each night of December, we read the Bible and sang a Christmas song, along with some fun activities throughout as well.

On Dec. 1, we got out our Christmas bins. Parker wanted to give the nativity a ride on the sled ornament. Love his sweet creative mind!

Parker got to practice on Papa and Grandma's tree. <3 p="">

Then ours a few weeks later.

I think fancy trees are pretty, but this year I just let the kids decorate however they wanted. Parker wanted colored lights and I kept most of the ornaments on the bottom where they put them =) It was perfect.

They liked the felt tree.

Painting with bows.

Smelling the gingerbread ingredients.

It really is a wonderful time of year =)

Saying Goodbye To Grandma Ross

Before heading back to Wheaton after Thanksgiving, we went to Grandma Ross's house and spent quite a while with her.  It was a visit just like every other... cookies, sudoku, puzzles, and laughter.

Earlier in the week, I had heard my uncle and dad both say (to other people) that she was slowing down, which was the first time I'd ever heard them say that.  I noticed it too, and was praying for her when I couldn't sleep on Thanksgiving night.  I could sense her time on earth was coming to an end, and I found so much comfort in knowing that God knew exactly the day she was born, every detail about her life, the number of hairs on her head, and the exact day she would enter into heaven.  I just prayed that it would be quick and peaceful process when the time came.

On Tuesday, December 2nd, (only a few days later), I received the news that she had passed away.  She spent time with my dad and his two brothers in the morning like she always did, talked on the phone with my Aunt Cathy and died about an hour later.  I cried when I found out, but was also so thankful.  I feel like it was such a gift that God allowed her to have one last morning with her kids rather than dying in her sleep. God also allowed her to go from healthy to heaven in just a few short weeks. No major suffering or decline.  She lived at home and was still driving!  

Parker was pretty sad when we told him, but we got to talk about how she's in heaven and how awesome that is.  She leaves behind a legacy of 5 children and 13 grandchildren who all have a relationship with Jesus and are teaching the many great-grandchildren the importance of that, too.  What more could a woman ask for?  I was so blessed to have her in my life for such a long period of time.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of her.

A typical Sunday afternoon visit.

She was quite the bowler! She bowled over 200 in her 80's! I've never done that in my life!

She loved to travel and was always up for adventure.

This picture is how I will remember her the most. She sat at her table and peeked around the curtain every time someone came to visit, which was several times a day.  This is also the place I spent most of my time with her. She told me about her childhood, shared funny stories of the kids when they were growing up and we ate lots of yummy snacks like oreos and red koolaid, chocolate chip bars and peanut brittle. Even writing this over a month later I can't really believe she's gone. But, I'm filled with joy that she is with her heavenly Father that she has longed to be with for quite some time.

Love you and miss you, Grandma!

So Much To Be Thankful For

We usually go to Ryan's parents for Thanksgiving and his mom makes everything.  I might help set the table or something, but she literally does everything.  This year, his dad was admitted to the hospital two days before Thanksgiving with a bone infection. (I can safely it all turned out okay since I'm writing this over a month late).  This year Malinda, myself, Ryan and Adam were in charge of everything. At first I was nervous and thought it would take a Thanksgiving miracle to pull this off! I showed up at 9am and got to work!  Malinda got there shortly after, we planned everything out and baked like crazies all morning!  We were feeling pretty awesome about ourselves.

We even had some time for Jenga while everything was baking.

Ryan and Adam were in charge of the Turkey.  They totally nailed it.  It was indeed the best turkey I've ever tasted.  Watching them work together was hilarious. They make quite the duo.

Adam even honey-buttered up some premade rolls for us! ;)

Ryan's mom came shortly before the feast began,and was very happy to have the pressure of Thanksgiving off her shoulders... for this year, at least.

Go us!!

Later that afternoon we went to my parent's for another feast.  We wrote and shared what we were thankful for (Adley said pink elephants), hung out and ended the night by playing our new favorite game, Acquire.

Nat, Deb and I rocked Black Friday again, as always.  We've got our system down to a T.  

Thursday: Check the ads, write a list, plan the route, set alarm for 3:30, toss and turn until it goes off.

Friday: Blast the Christmas music, get a peppermint mocha, and this year I got $100 off a new winter coat! Heyo!

First Snow Pie

We have been watching a significant amount of holiday baking shows, and were inspired by a woman from Galena who baked a first snow pie with her kids each year.  No, it's not a pie made out of snow.  It just means that you bake a pie when it snows for the first time that year =)

One week after that beautiful football game I went to, there was a serious blizzard!!  Ryan and I were actually gone that day, but when we picked the kids up that evening, we went to Mariano's to get the supplies for our first ever, first snow blueberry pie.

We got home around 7pm and got to work.  Adley feel asleep 15 minutes into the process. We weren't really sure if we did the crust correctly, and it didn't look too promising going into the oven, but Ryan can make anything, so I knew it'd be good.  We got it into the oven around 9...only to realize it needed to bake for an hour!  We started laughing so hard.  What a way to start a tradition.  

We put in a movie and Parker ended up falling asleep on the couch, so Ryan and I ate some together at 10:30.  It was delicious - just like I expected it to be.

The kids tried it the next day and thought it was pretty good, too!

Then we went outside to finally play in it!

Parker wanted me to build him a slide out of the little pile by the road.  I put one scoop on top and told him that was about as good as it could be.  Then I slide down it to try and make a little path.  He ended up having quite a lot of fun on our little "slide."  Adley did, too.

The next day, Parker asked Ryan to help him make a slide.  Are you kidding me?  Steps to the top, ridges on the sides and completely smooth?  I laughed so hard when I saw it.  Dad's got skills!