Checking in

Kurt is always in charge of buckeyes, Annabelle likes to help him with that.

Mom & I made our favorite Sugar Plums.
(I promise I only wear overalls around the house)

It’s a long day but it sure is fun.

Note to self:
Self. Take pictures of all the cookies next year.

Once again a kind soul agreed to take our family picture at the entrance. Nate was a bit anxious to get in and not so much about the posing. I was too busy envying the woman’s coat, it was so super cool.

Nate was totally transfixed by the large train display.

Both kids *loved* the outdoor, fast running riding train.

And getting their pictures in the train cutout.

We went on a wagon ride which gave us another fabulous view of the millions of lights, plus allowing us to see some of the hidden things behind the buildings.

The bonfire was great; Annabelle was being silly and wouldn’t keep her tongue in her mouth.

She also had a big story to tell Nana about how the fire was built. It didn’t really make sense as it involved a princess, a jack-o-lantern and a flying elf.

When a strolling band went by, both kids broke out in dance.

They are both already asking when we can go back again.

First we went to the mall to ride the train. The look on Nate’s face looks so serious, almost sad, but it is neither of those things. When Nate is on a train he is in the zone. He goes beyond the smiley happy child of usual, he goes almost trancelike.

After the kids rode the train they were having fun trying to catch the popcorn that was projected on the floor. There was dancing, hopping and lots of giggling.

Annabelle ran into one of her friends from music class and they wanted to ride the train together, so they did. Nate at this point was over the mall, over the train and wanted to leave. Once Nate has had his lunch he goes into nap mode, so Nate & I sat this one out while the girls had their fun.
Neither child would talk to Santa. He was pretty cool too, but they wouldn’t do it.