Gingerbread Train

On Christmas Day Zach, Grandma H and I took on the project of making a Gingerbread Train. We were a bit apprehensive of it at first. Not sure how it would all turn out.

Then Zach started to really get into the whole decorating process. He really took the lead and spearheaded the whole operation.
I think the Gumball roof decor was his crowning achievement.
Though the careful application of candy to the caboose was also meticulously performed.
Grandma and Zach were pretty excited about their final product.
Wait a second! There's a wheel missing already!
Zach was also pretty insistent that the caboose be filled with cargo.
Ah Ha! There's the missing wheel!
I was kinda surprised but my uber-picky child actually really enjoyed eating the gingerbread. He kept going back for more.

Christmas Morning

Everything the boys had hoped for and more!

My little elf was more than happy to play with all the paper lying around, and his toes of course.
The ONE think Zach asked Santa for, repeatedly, was a new Emily train. Santa did not disappoint.
Grandpa Haymond also surprised Zach with a train, a bit more life sized train.

He obviously enjoyed it.
Other highlights were a new purse for me, a router for Jason, a annoyingly noisy toy for Kyle and a TAG reading system for Zach (from Grandma Haymond) He's actually "reading" a book to himself as we speak.

Jason worked the night shift for Christmas eve so he got home just in time for all of the present festivities. My mom got to come and visit for a few days which was perfect because I wasn't too excited to spend Christmas eve by myself. All in all, it was a fairly low key, but also enjoyable day. Thanks so much to all of those who sent us gifts. We loved them all!

Christmas Eve

Santa came and the space under our tree was filled with goodies. The snow started falling as it got to be evening. It was that perfect kind of snowfall. Big, Fat, Slow flakes that just floated to the ground. It looked like a dream! Our neighborhood has a tradition of lighting luminaries along each house's driveway. I just had to run outside to take a picture of our first Christmas in our new home.

I just thought it was very Thomas Kinkade- especially the Narnia style lamp. Love it!

Once there was a Snowman!

I know I've been pretty awful with updating recently so here's some catching up.

Christmas Eve was a bit weird because of Jason's schedule but it actually ended up working out pretty well. He worked that night so during the day we got to play. There wasn't a ton of snow so Jason shoveled a patch of our backyard together to get just enough for Zach's first snowman.
He had a carrot for his nose.
Look! They're practically twins!
Jason even managed to find some coal from a burned up piece of wood in our backyard. PERFECT for the eyes!