Polar Express

Last weekend we headed up to Hood River to take the boys on the Polar Express train.....and to go to the North Pole and see Santa! To say they were in Heaven would be an understatement.

The boys before the train ride with the conductor.

Our friends the Knapps came along, and our kiddos had so much fun riding the train with Maylie, Max and baby Elliot.

As soon as we got on the train, the conductor came and punched each child's first initial on their ticket.

Then we were served our cookies and hot cocoa.....and of course the little chefs brought it while the "hot chocolate" song played.

Hudson is very concerned about little baby Elliot.

We had to stop the train and back up a few time because of caribou in the way, but we made it to the North Pole, and Santa and his elves came on the train! It took Gray at least a full minute to decide what he wanted to ask him to bring him for Christmas!

Hudson was NOT such a big fan of Santa!
Although, he did like him when he wasn't sitting on his lap.

Me and my good friend Stacia

Cal and Gray were just sitting there and the conductor came and sat by them for about 5 minutes. They were just chatting away like big boys. It was really cute to watch them act so old!

The "chefs" came out and sang some Christmas carols with us as we drove back to the train station.

We had such a fantastic time, and the boys are still talking about our trip to the North Pole!!!

A few days ago we made our own little gingerbread train. Gray and Cal did a great job putting every piece of candy on the train! Hudson was already in bed so he didn't get to help out this time!

I love the Christmas Season, and it is so fun to start Holiday traditions with our boys. I love ALL my boys so much!

Thanksgiving at the Stewarts

We were able to spend Thanksgiving with the Stewart's this year. We had such a great time!

Can we ever get a picture with all the boys looking and smiling?

No.

The kids got their own table just for them.

The adult table...

The kids got their Christmas pajamas from Gramzee and Grandpa Paul early since we won't be together for Christmas. Don't they look so stinkin' cute?!

Hudson and Jay LOVE their Grandpa Paul!

And Huddy sure does love his Gramzee too!

It is tradition to go cut down a tree the day after Thanksgiving for the Stewarts.

It was a perfect day....

no snow + no rain=No mud and warm feet!

The tree is just a little big right?

It was the perfect size!

We are so grateful for all of our MANY blessings.....Especially for family. Thank you Stewart family for such a fun weekend. We love you guys! We totally missed Summer and Josh's family though! I am also grateful for my family....but we get to spend Christmas with them!

Halloween!!!

We had a pretty busy Halloween! We had 3 parties the weekend before, and then the real thing!

Last Thursday started with a fun party at my friend Shalyse's house. I think there were about 30 little kids running around outside! Luckily it was a beautiful day! Gray and Cal were 2 of the 6 transformers there, and Huddy was our little Ninja!

Hudson and his buddy Park

The next night was the Elementary School Carnival. Grayson loves that he gets to do things at his school, and kind of bosses us all around when we are at "his school"!!

(this is the only picture I have from that night, sorry!)

Saturday was our ward's "Costumes on Parade". It was SO DANG CUTE!!! The kids got to go trick or treating to all the classrooms around the hall, and then come in to the gym for donuts and cider. Then they all got to have their little moment on stage and pose individually while they got their picture taken.

Bumble Bee, our little chicken, and Optimus Prime

Gray flexing his strong transformer muscles.....

Now Cal's turn....

Hudson went out there and just sat right in the middle of the stage, but all we got was him running away!

Hudson taking a ride on Brian's horse.....

Now, for Halloween Day!!

We started the morning with an "All Orange" breakfast of orange pancakes, mandarin oranges, and orange juice....
We had a really great "dinner in a pumpkin" with our friends the Sperrys before the nightly festivities began. It was delish!

That night, we went to the church for the trunk or treat.....

Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee....

And then Squirt the little sea turtle joined....

(And yes, Hudson was 3 different things for Halloween this year. That's what you get when you have all these boys' Halloween costumes to pass down!)

Mmmmmmm.....CANDY!!!

Then we went trick or treating around the neighborhood. It was so much fun! There were SO MANY people out trick or treating and the boys thought it was the coolest thing ever. (we didn't go last year since it was on Sunday so it had been a couple years). Once again, I don't have any pictures of them....but we have proof in the amount of candy they got.....

And of course they had to separate it in to piles.....

Overall, we had a super busy, super fun Halloween......now I have to resist the temptation of reaching in to our candy bowl every time I walk by!!!

Happy Fall!

Grayson got to go on his first ever "field trip" to the pumpkin patch. I was able to be a chaperone for his little group. It was so fun!

His first ever ride on a big school bus.....he thought it was pretty dang cool....especially that he didn't have to wear a seat belt!

His group.....
(Gray can't ever keep his eyes open for a picture:

I think every kid picked out their pumpkin and changed their mind about 10 times.... but they ended up with the perfect one!

The boys have had a blast playing in the falling leaves!

A little Fall wreath I made....

We have been doing a lot more, but we have been slackers about taking pictures!