Christmas Card Outtakes

Our Christmas card was nothing over the top this year.  One Sunday afternoon it was lightly snowing so I put together a little outfit for Elle and took that baby outside for some quick pictures.  Elle has never really had the chance to get bundled up and play in the snow.  Last winter we had several opportunities but it always seemed to fall on a time she had a cold or was just getting over one.  This winter the weather has been so mild (I should be knocking on wood as I type this).  If we are going to get snow I want it all before December 25th, after that the ship has sailed in my book.

Anyway, it was pretty cold out and I'm the crazy lady who has her 2 year old outside in a little poncho trying to get a good picture.  In between pictures I would throw her heavy winter coat on her. :)

I love these pictures of her trying to catch a snowflake on her tongue.  This was completely unprompted and just the reaction she had to seeing snowflakes falling around her.

About 20 minutes after we went back inside, I changed Elle and was putting her down for a nap.  It started snowing much harder and the grass was completely covered.  I briefly contemplated getting her dressed...again...and taking her back out for pictures with a blanket of snow but quickly changed my mind.  We got a picture that worked for our Christmas card, Elle got to sport her fancy red poncho from MawMaw & PawPaw and the hat she is wearing is the one she wore home from the hospital.  Granted it was waaay too big for her then and is a bit too small for her now but it worked!

All Aboard the Polar Express!

The Polar Express was at Union Station this year and lucky us we just so happened to get the invite from Santa to travel to the North Pole. ;)  It took some work to get the invite, Me, Mary and my co-worker Kelly were all on computers at the same time as tickets went on-sale trying to find 4 tickets Mary and I could purchase.  We finally found 4 seats...in VIP but we went for it and I'm so glad we did!

After a stomach bug almost derailed our trip we made it to Union Station to board the Polar Express!  We checked in, got our tickets then played around in the lobby area.

In the back room they had the movie playing.  They had this timed out so perfectly.  As soon as the credits start rolling it's time to walk outside to the loading area to board the train!

Our table was in the back of the train car by the kitchen which was perfect.  Bear had a front row seat for all the dancing chefs that would pop out of the kitchen.

Once the train started moving the conductor came around to punch your ticket, this was one of my favorite parts.  Elle loved it, I can't remember but by the looks of this pic Hen wasn't loving it. :)

This face right here is one I love so much!  It's her serious face...when she's ok and likes what's going on but thinks it's serious business.

Next they came dancing out of the kitchen carrying hot chocolate and cookies and singing "Hot Hot, We Got It!".  I don't know if it's just because I'm pregnant and craving sweets but this hot chocolate was the best I've ever had.  It had a bit of cinnamon in it and it came out the perfect temperature so the kiddos didn't have to wait for it to cool.

As the train made it's way to the North Pole they read the book version of the Polar Express.  The made an announcement that we were getting close and the train car filled with cold air.  These little touches made the whole thing such a neat experience!

Looking out the window as we pull up to the North Pole, Mary looks just as excited as Henry!

Santa's on board!

Santa took his time with each kid on our train car.  Bear wasn't in the mood for Santa.

Santa gave each kid a bell from his sleigh, which were big hits with all 3 of our babes.

Next they invited each kid out of their seat and into the aisle for some dancing.  Henry eventually came back to his seat but Elle stood at the front of the train the whole time music played.  She didn't realize the dance party was over.

Soon we were back in St. Louis.  Riding the Polar Express was such a fun experience, I hope we are able to go next year as well.

One other memorable moment of the night.  Due to street closures we were forced to take 70 home which for us means no comfortable place to stop for about 20 minutes.  Mary was driving and I was in the back with the babes.  Bear was in full meltdown mode to the point he was making himself sick he was so upset.  Mary and I immediately thought he had caught the stomach bug.  He wouldn't take a bottle and he just screamed anytime I would try to give it to him.  Once we made an emergency stop at McDonalds to calm him down and with Henry telling us "Me's really hungry!" we went inside to get food and give Bear a break from his car-seat.  Turns out this little Bear just wanted to munch on some french fries.  He ate until we rolled him out of there and then fell asleep the rest of the way home. :)

Christmas 2014

We started Christmas Eve this year with a normal Hylton tradition...racing out the door to Christmas Eve mass.  We went to mass at the old church and met the rest of the family.  The pew was a little tight so Eric ended up standing in the back and Elle and I went to sit with everyone.  Church was a little bumpy for Elle.  All was good until she started eating the candy cane I had been promising her all day.  I started to worry about her choking so I bit off the hook and she screamed "mommy, no eat my candy cane!!" during a silent part of mass.  Lovely, put all eyes on the large pregnant lady for eating a poor little toddlers candy cane.  Soon after she went into a meltdown so to the back of the church we went to find daddy. :)

I love this picture of Bear watching the big kids run around.  Looks like he is dying to join them!

After mass we all went in separate directions.  We headed to Eric's parents, Mary and Nick headed to the Voss family Christmas and Mom, Dad and Will headed out for some appetizers.

I don't have any pictures from the Hylton Christmas, Elle was a little clingy so taking pictures would have been a little tricky.  We had dinner and then opened presents.  Elle got a balance bike, some new books, clothes and shoes.

Next we headed home to put out her treats for Santa and the reindeer.  Eric swears Elle told him we need to leave out a beer for the reindeer...I'm suspicious. :) We ended up leaving him the cookies we made and a coke in a glass bottle.  I have said for years that when we have kids Santa will get an old fashioned coke at our house.

We put our little Christmas babe to bed and got to work.  Santa had everything ready to go so it didn't take long.  My elf had been assembling everything for a few weeks. :)

Christmas morning was so much fun!  I was so excited for Elle to get up that I think I ended up waking her.  The first thing she went for was her pony, Buddy.

The kitchen was a close second, she played with that all morning.

We opened presents and listened to Christmas music.  One of my favorite presents was from Eric and Elle.  They each picked out an Alex & Ani bracelet for me.  Elle picked out one with a pink charm.  She is so proud of those bracelets and I love that Eric included her in shopping and picking things out.  Overall, it was such a fun relaxing morning,

Next we headed to mom and dad's for more present opening...Mom and Dad seriously spoil these babies!

Henry had a bit of a stomach bug so him and Mary skipped the Voss Christmas day celebrations and laid around mom and dad's house with us all day.  Most of took naps and laid around.  Eric was on a bloody Mary kick so he drank and played video games with Will all afternoon before we all sat down for Christmas dinner.

The day flew by but it was so much fun!  We all went home to rest because the next day we were invited by Santa to ride the Polar Express to his house at the North Pole!!!