Getting Ready for Christmas

Christmas Season is here! 

The Polar Express in Danville was the first event to get us in the Christmas spirit.

Dressed in Illini pjs for Polar Express

Cole & Caden with a Polar Express conductor

Cole wanted to ride in the front of the train.

Caden chose the caboose.



On the "Polar Express" (a school bus), we stopped for hot chocolate and candy and sang Christmas carols.

Nana, Caden, & Cole at the "North Pole" (Danville's Civic Center), where we listened to carolers and a reading of The Polar Express

The next day, we attended Danville's Festival of Trees' Heroes Luncheon.

Two heroes and a mom

Cole was thrilled that Star Wars was playing in the background.

Cole with the super special visitors

Caden looks ready to take on Darth Vader and his stormtroopers.

It was great to see a high school friend, Meg and her daughters at the luncheon. Cole is mad in this photo because Caden had just won a raffle prize (Spiderman poster for his bedroom).

It took over a week, but the house is finally decorated for Christmas. 


Cole's turn to add the finishing touch to the tree

Breakfast with Santa at Laurel United Methodist Church...pancakes, cookie decorating, and a visit with Santa



Cole took his meeting with Santa very seriously.

Sharing his wish list...Playmobil Secret Agent headquarters is the big request.

Caden shared a revised (i.e., shortened) list with Santa that included more Spy Gear. We've agreed to mail the long version.

Kieran considered sitting with Santa a form of torture.

Papa, Nana, and the boys in front of Laurel's tree

Our family

Kieran at 16 months

Papa was on babysitting duty over the Polar Express weekend. They had a great time together! 

Loves looking at books!

Hanging out with Aunt Shannon in Rankin



Keeping Kieran away from the Christmas tree is a daily battle.



Good thing he's so little because he loves emptying and sitting in baskets.

Kieran is talking (lots of "oh," "ooh," & "ball" with the Christmas decorations ups) and on the move.  He loves to be a helper.  If everyone else is laughing, he joins in even if he doesn't understand what is so funny.  He's the smallest of our three boys even though he started out as the biggest.  He's a fantastic eater, but too active to pack on the pounds.  He still has not reached 20 pounds.  We're amazed daily by how much he understands! 

Cole's Field Trip

Cole's preschool class visited the Illinois State Museum during their "I" week. 

Cole enjoyed pretending to be an explorer in the play area.

Cole, Tyler, & Will going on an adventure

Kieran had fun digging for fossils.

Disney World 2011

Way back in October, we spent a fun six days at Disney World.  We arrived on the Saturday afternoon before Columbus Day.  Compared to our fall trip in 2008, the crowds were quite a bit heavier.  The one-day holiday really boosted attendance for our week.  I'm sure it was still less busy than summertime though.  We actually had to do some waiting and take advantage of fast passes this time.  The weather was not pretty when we arrived, but thankfully it stopped raining and blowing on Sunday at lunchtime.  We were thrilled to put the ponchos away!  The weather was perfect for the rest of our visit!    

Getting ready to fly out of St. Louis.  Kieran did awesome on his first plane ride!

Cole & Caden on the Magical Express to Bay Lake Tower

Kieran's napping spot for our vacation--He put himself to sleep usually twice a day for good naps. All the excitement wore him out! 

The view from near our elevators at Bay Lake Tower--This hotel is new and attached to the Contemporary. It was nice to be so close to Magic Kingdom, our favorite park.

Heading to Magic Kingdom on the first day--We took a bus because it was raining.

Caden enjoying his mouse ears ice cream at Mickey's Backyard BBQ before taking a very chilly, windy, and rainy boat ride back to our hotel. We had a very wet (despite the ponchos) but fun first day!

On day #2, we headed back to Magic Kingdom for a full day of fun. We snapped a quick photo during a break from the rain. 

Escaping the rain to meet Aladdin & Jasmine

Cole & Caden with Aladdin & Jasmine

Cole scored a kiss from Jasmine. In 2008, Princess Aurora gave him one. He does appear very kissable.

Cole playing on the slide that gave him a black eye in 2008

Enjoying a carousel ride and happy that the sun is out!

Caden

Cole using his muscles without luck

Caden's turn to try

Kieran's first ride on Dumbo

Curt & Cole on Dumbo

The fast spinners

Kieran & I tried to spin as little as possible

Kieran taking in the crowd and excitement--He was so good!

Cole at Casey's Corner

On day #3, we headed to Hollywood Studios.



Cole transformed into Spiderman while...

Caden & Curt rode Tower of Terror. (Better Caden than me!)

Caden & Cole in line for Star Tours--They LOVED it and rode a few times with different experiences each time!

Cole riding a speeder bike

Caden's turn

Lunch at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

Toy Story Mania!

Such a fun ride!

Cole (sweating off his Spidey face) & Caden in the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids area

Caught a Green Army Man for a photo

Caden became a Clone Trooper.

Chatting with Phineas & Ferb

Saying good-bye to Hollywood Studios

We spent that evening at Magic Kingdom's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Kieran was thrilled to have his own "boon."

Cole dancing at Stitch's Dance Party while Curt & Caden rode Space Mountain

In line for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin--still a family favorite

We LOVE Disney at Halloween time!

Before heading back to the hotel, happily exhausted

On day #4, we were at Epcot. Cole, Curt, & Caden rode Test Track first.

We ate lunch at Biergarten, a German restaurant. Here, the boys are watching the performers.

Caden & Cole outside of the Nemo ride; Kieran enjoyed this ride too.

Cole getting some love from Mickey

Caden joined us to meet Donald after riding Mission: SPACE with Curt.

Kieran did not want to get too close to any of the characters!

We spent a couple evenings in the pool at Bay Lake. All of the boys had fun in the splash pad area.

Kiearn trying to catch the water

The boys spent most of their time going down this water slide.

On day #5, we started out at Chef Mickey's for breakfast.

Kieran swatting at Pluto's nose

Kieran's first haircut--She put tons of stickers on his shirt, so he was distraced the entire time. I still use this genius trick for his haircuts. Disney knows what they are doing when it comes to kids!

Getting his first mouse ears after his haircut

While Kieran got his hair cut, the big boys transformed into cursed pirates at the Pirates League. Here, Cole is taking the pirate oath.

Francis Chipcutter (Cole HATED the name!)

Caden taking the pirate oath

Francis Chipcutter & Batholomew Stormwater

Curt & our cursed pirates finishing Splash Mountain

With Mickey & Minnie

Enjoying an ice cream snack



Kieran looks like such a BIG BOY with his haircut!

Cole hitching a ride out of Magic Kingdom

On day #6, we ate breakfast at the Crystal Palace.

After finishing breakfast, we walked through Cinderella's Castle and headed back to the hotel to pack.

Disney does not disappoint! We had a fantastic time and cannot wait to go back!