Polar Express and Snow!

The Start of a family Tradition! This year after Thanksgiving we watched The Polar Express movie with the kids to get them ready for the train ride. Brayden is also obsessed with trains... I know typical boy right :).... so we were just beyond excited for this event. Of course the older boys (Brad and Eric and Steve) were joking around during the whole movie wondering how they were going to pull off each scene, only for us to remind them it wont be EXACTLY like the movie. :)So we started our day at 9am on Saturday for the road. Ate in Flagstaff and then went to the Fraley's Cabin to attempt to put the kids down for a nap... didn't work... they wanted to play instead, shocker! :) Before heading to the Polar Express we stopped and got Starbucks... good thing because when we got there it was SO COLD AND WINDY! waiting outside to get in the train was a killer, but we made it and the kids had a great time.

so excited for the train ride

got his ticket



drinking his hot chocolate

Anna and Daddy

yummy cookie


papa, nana and Blake


getting his ticket punched


"mom, really another picture!"



Blake getting his bell



On Sunday we woke up to Flagstaff's first snow! There was snow on the ground when we arrived but the weather forecasters didnt consider that the first snow fall of the year so yes it was windy, cold and WHITE! It was so pretty and a great ending to our little trip. We got the kids all bundled up, bought a little sled and headed to the NAU hill. The kids loved it and Blake slept in the car all nice and warm. Anna loved running and kicking the snow and Brayden was big on the sled. Only if Daddy would carrying him up the hill each time. Too bad Brayden wasnt feeling better, but he still managed to have some fun.

Disneyland!!!

The weekend before Thanksgiving we took the boys to Disneyland! It was the very first day that Disneyland was decorated for Christmas. I just love this time of year :) The trip started out with me getting sick on the first day and Brayden getting sick later that night but we made the best of it. (And good thing we are going to Disney world in Jan/Feb, so we didn't feel too bad about missing out on things)Brayden is now at the age where I would say he actually can get excited and enjoy disneyland. (and it will only get better I am sure) I only got pictures with Buzz and Mickey since all the character lines were insane and Brayden didn't understand the waiting thing when it was longer than 45 min just to see them. So we got the two favorites and saw the rest from afar :)

So Excited to see BUZZ

He walked right up and gave him a Hug.... I don't think big tough Buzz was ready for this! I think I got tears in my eyes at this point :)

The joys of being a kid :)


An hour wait to see Mickey, but we finally got to see him....Love my boys


Driving his Car.... my Car boy


See him in the front! He loved it.. and daddy was video taping with his phone :)

Teacups with papa!
Brayden was so excited to go on the rides. He LOVED the rollercoaster and teacups! (Papa Fraleys favorite too, which made him very happy that Brayden loved them just as much) Eric and I realized that after seeing all the characters how many Brayden didn't actually know. He has not seen that many movies all of them really being the Toy Story collection, Cars, Nemo, so the Disneyland parade was not that exciting for him.....it was ALL about the California Adventure parade....Brayden FILLED with EXCITEMENT when he saw Buzz, Woody, Lighting McQueen, and Mater. Even with his fever he got up and clapped and danced. Don't worry we left right after this and got our son medicine and to bed when we found out he had a fever, we just really wanted him to see this parade!
Pictures from the parade