Jingle Rails

Before Bisia & Grampy had to drive back to Rochester, we headed downtown to visit the Eiteljorg Museum again to see Jingle Rails.  This was our second year going to this and it was even more amazing this time around.  They had added some more trains on a high track all the way around the room. 

Brendan was of course very into watching all the trains. Even got a rare smile on camera!

Afterwards, we walked across the street to the new JW Marriott hotel. One of the super nice managers of the hotel let us upstairs to the 31st floor to look out the windows. It was an impressive view! Lunch was also very, very good. Highly recommend the Osteria Pronto!

Christmas Dinner

Final meal to enjoy as part of the Christmas season. :)

Mamaw & her two littlest grandbabies

Sibling hugs!

Tickling toes with Daddy

Driving the Polar Express!

Cake Pops!

I really want to eat this cake pop, but I'm so tired after this long fun filled day!

Building the Island of Sodor

The island where Thomas the Tank Engine lives is named Sodor. While Katelyn had her nap, Brendan decided that we need to build the Island of Sodor for all of the engines.

Christmas Brunch

After opening at our house, we drove over to Mamaw & GrandBob's house where we had a yummy brunch with them as well as Aunt Jenny, Uncle Rob & Bobby. Brendan of course had to bring a ton of trains which he played with while we ate. He was such a nice boy and shared very nicely with Bobby who was loving all the trains. :)

Really all the kids enjoyed the trains, even Katelyn...

Katelyn had to bring her new baby doll too.

All the kids got "talking" books. Thomas for Brendan. Katelyn got Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - read by Mamaw & GrandBob and Bobby got "Frosty the Snowman" read by Mamaw & GrandBob in honor of Uncle Robbie's "Frosty No-Man!". :)

Brendan of course got more trains...

Katelyn got some Elmo things, play dishes as well as "Slave Toys" as Mamaw calls them...a vacuum cleaner, broom, mop, etc. It all came on this little cleaning lady cart. So cute! We all got a lot of laughs out of it and Katelyn was into them of course. Such a little Mommy...cleaning, cooking, and taking care of her babies.

Brendan & Katelyn gave Bobby a Little People Train set. Hopefully he's enjoying it! Brendan was tickled to give him a train. :)

Looking at the calendar the kids made for everyone

Katelyn being cute. :)

Christmas Morning

Brendan actually slept in a little bit, 6:30am...granted he was in our bed. It was awful cute though, the first thing he asked was, "Did Santa come?" Then he said that he heard reindeer during the night. :) So we woke Katelyn up and headed downstairs to see what Santa brought and open presents. As Rob & I would always say on Christmas morning...."He's been here! He's been here!"

Katelyn was initially a little blind sided by the gift unwrapping chaos, but soon came around. :)

Brendan unwrapped with rapid speed on a search for trains...with each present, as he'd start unwrapping, he'd ask, "Is it trains?" If it wasn't, he very quickly moved on.

Bisia & Grampy were very nice and got Brendan a Strider (Balance) bike as one of his gifts...he looked at it and asked, "Is it a train?" Hopefully once the weather is nicer, he'll come around and get lots of use out of it. If nothing else, Katelyn will try to get some use out of it now - riding around the kitchen. :)

Leaving Cookies for Santa

Once we got home, we still had to put out cookies and milk for Santa. We also left out some carrots for the reindeer. :)

Christmas Eve Celebration

Aunt Julie & Uncle Mark once again hosted the annual Christmas Eve party. It was a wonderful evening! The "aunts & uncles" all pitched in and got the kids each a gift to open. Brendan got a Hot Wheels Wall Track...which he LOVES! Aunt Julie was even nice enough to let us set it up on her wall and he played with it for half the evening!

Katelyn really enjoyed having some snacks on the coffee table at her level. :)

Katelyn also enjoyed her Christmas present - cooking things and a little apron, chef's hat, and oven mitt/pot holder.

Sweet Natalie enjoyed playing with both girls in the kitchen downstairs and the Cozy Coupe. Natalie also made Katelyn a little tiny friendship bracelet with her new bracelet making kit that she got. So sweet!

Katelyn enjoyed one of the reindeer cake pops...a before picture. :)

Brendan enjoyed playing with the brio trains as well...

...even after being distracted by Christmas jammies. :)

Katelyn and Cousin Alana