To the North Pole we will go!

Saturday we went up North, way up North, to the North Pole to be exact! That's right, the North Pole. Our adventure started in Chattanooga, TN.

We arrived at the train station.....

waited patiently....and finally the Polar Express arrived!

Lucky for us, we had tickets and the conductor let us on board. We were all really excited!

The excitement made us a little silly. We calmed down though as the nice lady in our train read us the Polar Express story and a nice man served us cookies and yoo-hoos.

You might be wondering how we made it to the North Pole from TN and back in one night...well, went went really fast through a magic tunnel. As we came out the other side, we were at the North Pole! Wow, gotta love magic!

The boys were amazed as we got to see the Elves houses (they were wondering which one Tad lives in). We also saw the toy warehouses and the workshop and snow! Most importantly, Santa was there! He even boarded our train and talked to all the kids.

The boys were so excited when it was their turn to talk to him! Nicholas was going to tell him to bring Daddy a Ferrari, but I think he forgot in the excitement. Sorry Jason!

Nolan didn't cry this time! After the boys were through talking to him, they each got a bell just like in the story.

Nicholas got to lead the train in singing Jingle Bells on the way back home!

It was a wonderful, magical night in the North Pole!

Cave Exploring

Saturday we headed up to Chattanooga to go on the Polar Express. We decided to head up a little early and go visit Ruby Falls as well. One word...amazing. It was so beautiful. I think Jason and I enjoyed it a bit more than the kids. Neither one of them really enjoyed being in a cave. I put aside my fear of tight spaces and tried not to think of the fact that I was anywhere from 260 ft to 1000 ft below the ground at any given time! Both boys asked that we not go back anytime soon...maybe one day they will change their minds. Hope so, would love to go back.

A view of the city from outside the falls

Nolan was in awe of the rocks and the caves

Jason braved the low ceiling to make it through the cave and to the falls

My little cave explorers

A turtle formation in the rock

Look, a chip!

We made it!

The falls!

Salt Dough Ornaments

Tuesday night we decided to make salt dough ornaments. It was really fun and really easy. Just takes time to bake them and paint them.

Recipe was from family fun magazine.

3 cups Flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water

Mix with blender and then knead with hand. It was really crumbly, I would probably add more water next time. I formed into a ball and then rolled out and we cut out shapes with cookie cutters. Form a hole for hanging with a straw.

Bake at 275 for 2 hours on foil lined pan and allow to cool completely.

Paint with acrylic paint letting your children use their creativity! When dry, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge. Once dry, hang, gift, and enjoy!

Nicholas cutting out the shapes

Nicholas painting. Nolan painted too, but didn't get a picture. Too busy trying to keep the paint from getting everywhere :)

Finished ornament

Back of ornament. Wrote name and year on it. I think they would be really cute not painted also. Might try that next!

Tad Doings and St Nicholas Day

Here's what Tad has been up to the past couple of days...

He built a fort

Read some books...both boys got a kick out of this one!

Got stuck while measuring Nicholas's stocking

We had another visitor last night as well. Did you know it was St. Nicholas Day? The German custom is to leave your shoes out and St. Nicholas will leave goodies in them. The boys were so excited to see what St. Nicholas left for them. They got a piece of chocolate and a push pop.

In the words of Nicholas and Nolan

Kids say the funniest things sometimes...here's some I've been writing down the past month or two.

Nicholas - "Mommy, I really wish Nolan would be his own person" In response to Nolan wanting to be the same thing as him for Halloween.


Nolan - "Mommy, you're a princess". Said while looking at picture taken our wedding.


Nicholas - He loves to make up songs. He latest "I'm a hot boy, you gotta kiss me now" My little Jonas in the making.

Nicholas - "I don't ever want to go to college. I would miss you too much". I might hold him to this one day!

My little Celebrity

My oldest is now a local celebrity! Check out the pic below. He was in the local newspaper along with some classmates for the Thanksgiving Play the kindergarten put on. Isn't he the cutest?

Tad is back in Town

Tad, our friendly Elf from the North Pole, arrived last night. Not a moment to soon. Nicholas has been asking for weeks when he was going to get here! Always spirited, Tad didn't disappoint in his arrival last night. This is what the boys found this morning. They came down the stairs to find snowflakes on the floor, which led to the x-mas tree.

Can you see him yet...yep, he was in the tree. He has always loved climbing our trees. Must be an Elf thing!

Good ole Tad. Of course, he brought a present for us. Wii x-mas game! Can't wait to play it this afternoon once Nicholas gets off the bus. Can't wait to see what he else does this year!