trains, trains, and more trains

On the day we left St. Louis we visited the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.  I had told Grant this summer that if he was potty trained we would go there. 

It didn't happen.  I had a few posts about my potty-training angst, if you recall.

So, now that we are over and done with that stage with Grant (thank you, God!), we were able to go and see all the trains. It was almost train overload!  There were trains everywhere, and they were huge!  The boys were able to climb into a few cabooses (did you know they stopped using those in the 80s?) and play inside the cab of a train and see the tender as well.  Caroline climbed in and out of a lot of the trains, which meant that I climbed in and out of a lot of trains.  I would definitely recommend it for any train lovers.  There was also a small building that had old cars and other forms of transportation.  (The boys didn't care about that part as much, but we liked it because it was inside and WARM!)  It was a great way to spend the morning and use up some energy before driving 5 hours to come back home.

The boys showing each other some love

one of the cabooses--Caroline and I are in the background, trying to gracefully and carefully exit the car, which was a bit challenging with her little legs.

Jack with one of the trains--these things are huge!

Ryan and I standing with Caroline (who was about to take off) in front of the massive wheel.  It's crazy how big these things are!

This was a snow plow on the front of one of the trains.  I don't think it went very fast, but it's crazy to think that there might be so much snow on the tracks that they would need a plow that big.  I think maybe it blew the snow out of the way, but I cannot remember.

This train reminded me of "the little engine that could," except for the colors, of course.

I think we would like to go back when the weather is warmer.  It was a bit chilly to be wandering around the train yards, but I think we all had a good time.

 

When we were at the museum the boys got something from the gift shop for early birthday presents.  Grant chose a train set and sat with it on his lap for almost the entire trip home.  When we got home he wanted batteries immediately put into the train so he could play with/watch it.  He also added his little M&M fan that he got in his stocking and turned it on just when the train passed.  I guess he's still interested in trains--scratch what I said in my other post about his interest waning!

Christmas #3

Finally we are to the last Christmas we attended. :)  We headed out to St. Louis to spend it with my family, and it was great because both of my sisters were there. 


Before the Christmas Eve service the boys helped my dad put out the luminaria.  In the past Jack has been the only one to help him, but this year Jack asked Grant to help as well.  It was so sweet that Jack thought of him and did not need to be told to share.

the whole Edwards clan

Papa read "The Night Before Christmas" to the kids, and the two toddlers sat with him to look at the illustrations.  Jack had the story memorized because of a read aloud story that my parents sent to him.  It was amazing how well he could recite it!

Our tradition is that my youngest sister passes out the gifts.  Each year that we've come since Jack was born, though, the kids have wanted to "help."  Melanie tells them go whom each gift belongs, but generally we still have to make a few adjustments.  This year Caroline may have caused the most switches to be made, but she looked cute while making mistakes.



Jack drew this picture for Grandparents Day at school and gave it to my parents for Christmas.  They loved seeing it, and he was so excited to have them open it. 

Caroline got a little dollhouse and liked playing with it.  (She also got that little tutu she's wearing, which is over another skirt and a pair of leggings--so girly.)  Ryan and I are already surveying our house and wondering where we are going to put the birthday gifts after making room for the Christmas gifts. 

The boys received these sleeping bags for Christmas and camped out next to each other in them the night before we left.  I love how well they've been getting along lately.  They seem to go in these spurts where Ryan and I begin to think, Hey, maybe they are best friends.  And then it ends abruptly.  We shall see how long this one lasts...

Chevy's fun

I have always liked Mexican food.  Okay, maybe not always.  There was a point in time when I did not like beans, but it was kind of hard to stay in Costa Rica for a month without eating beans--so now I eat and enjoy them.  That relates to Mexican food because it's also much easier to find delicious food at Mexican restaurants when you eat beans.  Just in case you wanted to know...

I now have one more reason that I like Mexican restaurants--well, make that three: Jack, Grant, and Caroline.  These places are notoriously loud and bright and colorful and family friendly.  I like that as the parent of loud, busy children! 

So, on Friday, when were at my parents' house, and they suggested going to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants (Chevy's), Ryan and I were all for it!  We celebrated my nephew's second birthday, and it was a lot of fun to sing to him and hang out with my family. 

My sister, Melanie, and Grant have a sweet relationship.  It was nice that she and her husband, Greg, were able to come out from LA to spend Christmas with us.

The server we had was so great.  He brought out ice cream not only for the birthday boy but also for the 3 other non-birthday kiddos.  Caroline loves ice cream and did a great job feeding herself with her spoon.  And don't you just love her little pigtails?  I just cannot get enough of them!

The birthday boy, Barrett, did not want to wear the sombrero but loved playing with it.  Here is my brother-in-law, Tim, Barrett, my new niece, Audrey, and my sister, Megan.  That baby girl is precious, and I *may* have a few more pictures I'll post later. :)

Melanie and Greg are such good sports.  Jack really wanted them to sit next to him in the back of our mini van, and they obliged.  I know Greg was a bit squished because I've sat in that seat, and I feel squished--and I'm at least 6 inches shorter!

Christmas #2

As I think I mentioned before, we have 3 Christmases: one with Ryan's family, one with our own family, and one with my family.  We take turns visiting our families over the holidays and never spend Thanksgiving or Christmas at our own house, which, as the kids get older, may change but works for now.

So, before we left to do Christmas with my family, we had our own at our house.  It basically involved Ryan reading the Christmas story, singing "Happy Birthday," and opening gifts--no special meal, no special tradition, nothin'.  I could have done more, but we were leaving in the afternoon for St. Louis, and I still had to finish laundry and pack--all after a busy week of work and preparing for my school Christmas party.  There is only so much I can handle!

The kiddos had fun, and Ryan and I did well this year.  They all seemed to like their gifts--yay!  A couple of years ago we decided to just do 3 gifts for each child.  It helps because their birthdays are pretty close to Christmas, but it made my life so much easier once we made that change.  I know some families have some significance to each gift, but I just buy three.  Perhaps next year we will change that, too.

Grant received a train car from Jack.  Jack went shopping and thought of Grant when he saw it in the $1 bin.  Grant was so excited that he hugged it.  So sweet.

Jack chose a wand for Caroline, which broke 2 seconds after she opened it.  There is something to be said for the age recommendation "4+".

Jack with his gifts: Whiff (a Thomas train from "Misty Island Rescue--he likes the glasses on it.), Pandy (the stuffed panda bear), and the Diego outfit and rescue pack.

Caroline got a backpack, purse, and toy phone.  She walked around with her backpack and purse all morning.  I love it!

Grant playing with a couple of his gifts: Hiro (from "Hero of the Rails"--a Thomas movie) and a drawbridge.  He still loves trains, but I think his obsession is beginning to wane slightly.  I feel a bit sad when I think about it as I associate him so closely with trains.  Perhaps I'm wrong, though.  Maybe he will always have a love of trains.  It's sort of sad when you see your child grow out of something that has always interested him. :(

My little jingle bell

On Wednesday night we had our preschool Christmas program.  The lighting is lousy, but here are some pictures from the event.  Our coordinator decided to have someone read a story (Jesus, Me, and My Christmas Tree), and each class played a role from the story.  Grant's class was bells, and they all wore bell necklaces and jingled all the way.  I'm just excited because, although he had his thumb in his mouth most of the program, this year Grant actually stood up and looked like he was participating.

Grant is the one on the corner of the stage in the argyle sweater sucking his thumb.  It's kind of dark, I know, but you get the idea.

Now it is a bit lighter but harder to find him--sort of like a preschool "Where's Waldo?"  I think this may have been close to the end--or at least the end according to the 2/3 & 3/4 year olds.

I love that Jack brought his camera to take pictures.  He liked being the experienced big brother and sitting on the other side, taking pictures.  I think he may have even been (dare I say it?) proud.

Jolly Days

On Tuesday we took our annual trip to Jolly Days at the Children's Museum.  It is so fun: a slide covering the stairs, "ice" skating in socks, storytime with Frosty the Snowman, a model train, an "ice castle" with a slide, "ice" fishing.  Hello...what's not to love?  The crowds weren't even too bad because of the staggered winter breaks.

Jack wanted to earn his elf ears, so he completed this Elf-in Training test.  He had to visit several areas in the Jolly Days exhibit and apparently fill in all of these steps.  (I was with the other two while Ryan helped Jack.)My favorite answer was the "Fish Wish" (step1).  Jack had to catch a fish and say what the fish's wish was.  If you cannot read what his paper says, he told Ryan that the fish was wishing that he hadn't gotten caught.  I thought that was pretty clever. :)

Grant enjoyed fishing.  He almost came to blows with another boy over a pole and fish, at which point I intervened and removed him from the ice fishing area.  I then *tried* not to glare at all of the parents, wondering who brought in the 3 year old bully.  (Oh wait, I suppose it could have been Grant's fault, though.  Hmmm...good thing I didn't say anything to anyone.)

Caroline brushed the reindeer's fur and made it shiny.  She loves brushes.

Grant finally ended up at his favorite spot: the train set.  At this point I think he was staring at the airplane that swings over the little mountain town.  Whatever he was enjoying, he was obviously deep in thought--notice the thumb. 

We decided to go see the Frosty the Snowman story, which was cute.  They built a Frosty while reading parts of the story.  The Frosty suit went over a person so he really did start dancing around at that part.  The kids (even Caroline) did a great job listening. 

At the end of the story, they released snow from the ceiling and invited the kids to the front, so both boys ran up and played in it.  It turned out the "snow" was really bubbles, but it looked quite realistic.

Jack with Frosty

While Caroline and Grant baked cookies in the kitchen, Ryan tried to teach Jack how to play chess.  It didn't work, but they sure looked cute and serious.  (Well, as serious as someone wearing paper elf ears can look!)  Maybe next year...

Christmas #1

This weekend we celebrated Christmas with Ryan's family.  With two nurses in the family and our travel schedule, we try to find a time that works for everyone, and last weekend was the only time when everyone could come.  The boys had a great time playing with their cousins, and these pictures show some of the highlights of our time up there. 



Ryan's mom made sugar cookies and had the kids decorate them.  Unfortunately, I don't think kids know how to pour sprinkles very carefully, and more ended up on the plate than on the cookies.  Oh well. 

Case in point--check out Grant's plate vs. Grant's cookie. 

Caroline loves pounding on the piano, and Ryan likes playing around on it.  It was cute to see them "playing" together.  She is becoming quite the dancer and loves moving to music.

Ryan's parents with our kiddos

my little Christmas angel

The older cousins were SO excited to open presents!  I am surprised they actually sat long enough to take this picture (although only one child was looking!) and listen to the Christmas story from the children's Bible.

Jack drew this picture for Grandparent's Day at school.  It's kind of hard to see, but he was so proud of himself.  I love that he is finally taking an interest in drawing and fine motor activities.

We had a great weekend and are now looking forward to our next two celebrations of our Savior's birthday: one tomorrow and one on Christmas day.



Christmas at the Zoo

On Friday night we headed out to the zoo for Christmas at the Zoo.  We'd never been to it before, but as members we figured we might as well check it out.  The trees are covered with lights, some of which are timed to music, and there are a few special attractions.  It was mostly just lots of fun to be there in the dark, though. 

Our first stop was the Oceans exhibit.  Grant was desperate to touch a shark, and Caroline just liked touching the water in the tank.  Yes, they are both wearing their jammies.  It was pajama day at preschool, and I just did not feel the need to change them.  It was very convenient when they fell asleep in the car on the way home.

Grant sitting in the python.

Jack wrote a letter to Santa.  He doesn't believe in him but still wanted to write a letter.  I liked they way they did it because I think their "mailbox" was really a trash can painted like a mailbox.  That's one way to make things easier.

Santa's Village was a big racket--of course!  We bought two pretzels and a hot chocolate for all of us to share. (Um, $3 for a cookie to decorate?  I don't think so!)  Jack, at one point, looked around and said, "They sure know how to make money.  I need to figure out how to make money."  He is his Papa's grandson!

Caroline would not look at me for a picture (that is her new thing--it's lots of fun!), but I caught this one of her laughing at her brothers and daddy.  Too cute.

It's hard to capture how pretty the lights were, but this gives an idea.  They were especially beautiful as they reflected on the lake.  We all  had a good time, and I think we'd definitely go again next year.