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Thursday, December 27, 2007

The Gardenland Express


Taking a cue from the great lodges and landscapes of America’s national parks, this year’s Gardenland Express features a rustic “wilderness escape” theme, with a replica of Yellowstone National Park’s Old Faithful Inn and the Old Faithful geyser as the centerpiece.

Gardenland Express is a temporary installation at The Missouri Botanical Gardens, created afresh each year. Horticulturists use dwarf conifers, shrubs, succulents, and moss to create rolling hills, valleys, and mountains. Exhibits are surrounded by hundreds of poinsettias. Daily watering keeps everything green throughout the six-week show.

Thanks Moots & Big Top for taking us! We had lots of fun!!!








Tuesday, December 25, 2007

The Big Guy Arrives


The tree all ready for Christmas Morning

Cookies, Milk & 8 Carrots Left For Santa Claus


Merry Christmas From The Four Of Us!

Monday, December 24, 2007

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Sled Ride


Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

First Snowfall

We woke this morning to a beautiful snow falling. We're expecting 4-8" and hopefully it won't hinder our traveling out to Hank and Tricia's tonight for their annual Jingle Belz party and a visit from Santa himself.


Okay...so Jack was a little anxious to go out an play in it!



The boys has a blast riding in the sled that Tim ran out and bought last night at 9pm at Target in anticipation of the snow. I have video too and will post it soon but just had to get these two up today. Enjoy!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

The School Christmas Pageant










One of my favorite things about being a Mom during the holidays, other than just the sheer excitement and anticipation of Santa's big visit, is the annual school Christmas Pageant. They start prepping the kids as soon as Thanksgiving is over and start teaching them their Christmas songs that they will sing.

For weeks, Jack has been singing Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and Santa Claus is coming to Town like he's known them all his life. He even has hand gestures to Santa Claus is Coming To Town (it's a hoot). He's been so excited about it!

Well Wednesday night was the big night. I was stuck at home recovering from my hellish week of two surgeries, so Tim bundled up the boys and braved the Christmas Pageant on his own. So that I wouldn't miss anything, he went with digital camera in hand. This is one of the videos that he returned with. I was so excited! (Mason is sitting on his teacher's knee and is kind of hidden so it's hard to see him but I LOVE the reindeer hats! He kept his on the whole time!)



The boys were on opposite ends of the room and they sang at different times so he struggled to get both of them and Jack got stage fright and didn't sing until the very last line of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (which was the last song). I was sad that I couldn't go but seeing the videos made me feel like I was almost there.


Thanks Honey! I appreciate you going for me!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

A House Fit For A King....Or A Gingerbread Man!











One of my goals as a Mother is to create traditions in our home around the holidays that I can share with my boys and that they will remember when they are older. This year, I decided to do just that and make a gingerbread house with them that we can look at and enjoy throughout the holidays. It took Tim, Mason, Jack and I to all put the house together but then Jack and I decorated it while Mason was sleeping one afternoon.

These are some shots of our "decorating session". Yes, Mommy had a hand in the final product but Jack was the "design/build man" and told me where the icing needed to go and then he put the candies on. We were both very pleased with our final product and Mason's reaction was a great big "Woah!"




Sunday, December 2, 2007

Breakfast With Santa


Saturday morning we headed to The Gatesworth (aka Mimi's house) to have breakfast with Santa. We had a great meal of scrambled eggs, french toast sticks, grapes, donut holes, sausage, bacon, yummy potatoes and much much more. After we filled our tummies, we sang some Christmas songs and welcomed Santa!!!

Tim and I weren't quite sure how Jack and Mason would handle the man in the red suit so we were prepared for just about anything. We'll as we possibly expected, Mason was scared to death and screamed as soon as Santa got close. Jack was very reserved and watched Santa's every move to see what he was all about before making a decision if he was a good guy or not.

Presents were handed out and the boys both happily accepted theirs from Santa as he worked his way around the room. Jack even slapped him a "High Five"! A Mr. Potato head for Mason and new "Cars" characters for Jack - both a HUGE hit!












Before we left, Jack wanted to take a minute to have a heart to heart with Santa and make sure he knew what else was on his list. They had a nice conversation and ended it with a hug and a promise of cookies and milk to be left on Christmas Eve for Santa.



A magical day for all of us! Thanks, Mimi!!!