Gingerbread House

Today we had a great playdate with my friend Rachel and her girls, Chloe, Heidi and Julie. The girls made a gingerbread house and decorated cookies. Here is Rachel building the structure.

Chloe is holding it together for us.

We just got one of those pre-baked kits for like $9 at Joann Fabrics. It comes with everything including candy (though we added some more for the fun of it).

Jill sat on the table enjoying the MANY cookies that were stealthfully handed to her by one girl or another when no one was looking.

We all had a great time! These fun playdates the girls are having over the Christmas break really make me wish I could stay home and do fun stuff with them all of the time! I am so thankful for the holiday season and all the great experiences there are to have!

Christmas Train

Since my girls have both been really into some of the train exhibits we have visited lately my parents kindly offered us their Christmas train.

Here is Jay setting it up.

Jane the poser!

The girls LOVED it!!!!

Jane is waving to Santa. As the train goes around he says, "Ho, Ho, Ho".

Unfortunately we aren't able to keep it up long term this year because even though Jill LOOKS really composed in these pictures she actually had to be held back several times to keep her from tearing it off the track. We'll set it up again next year (of course then we will have another little crawler around so that might have to be another temporary set up as well).

A visit to the Gaylord

Jay and I have been wanting to take the girls to the Gaylord Texan hotel during this Christmas season because we have heard from many people of all the Christmas decorations they have and because neither of us have ever been. After seeing my friend Laura's blog post the other day I got new motivation to go. Jay and I met our friends Nancy and RIchard there. Their little girl Jennifer is a very good friend of Jane's. When we first got there the girls were excited to exchange presents.

Then they led us around the hotel looking at all of the decorations.

That pic above is them looking at the trains. Who would of thought my girls were such train fans. I might have to get a little Christmas train for them next year.

Right after this picture poor Jennifer jumped off of the bench and took quite a spill and hit her mouth so we took the girls for some ice cream.

We tried to get some posed shots here and there. I like this family one on the sleigh.

Nativity Exhibit

This afternoon my mom and I took the girls to see a nativity exhibit at a church in Colleyville.

Just an aside: when I asked Jay if he wanted to go, the conversation went something like this:

Jay: You are going to see what?

Me: a nativity exhibit

Jay: What do they have there?

Me: Nativities, like over 1,000 of them!

Jay: You are going to see over 1,000 models of the same thing?

Me: Yes!

Jay: Have fun!

And we did! My mother actually collects nativities so I think she really enjoyed seeing them. She said she wants to go back next year alone so she can really spend some time inspecting them. Jane was really excited to go because she thought she was going to get to "meet Jesus" and poor thing she was HIGHLY disappointed when she realized baby Jesus wasn't actually there. My favorite part of the exhibit was dressing up for a picture of us in a live nativity. Here are some shots we got of some of the nativities, not even close to all of them because like I said there were over 1,000.

They had one room that was all children nativities. So cute! Jane was especially excited to see one of the Little People nativities like we have at home. It is a BIG hit with both Jane and Jill at our house (actually Jill is playing with it right now as I type!) Here are some pics from the kids room.

Like I said though, my favorite part of the exhibit was dressing up for the live nativity. As you can see I dressed as Mary and mom is one of the wise men and the girls are both angels. I think Joseph must be around back tending to some sheep or perhaps swapping traveling stories with the other two wise men?

Prairie Lights

Thanksgiving night my mom and I took Jane to see the Christmas lights in Grand Prairie. There is a drive through lights display called "Prairie Lights" out there.

You can't tell from this pic but this was a really cool part of the drive.

I made the mistake of mentioning to Jane that we might get to see Santa at the Christmas lights display so the ENTIRE time Jane said things like, "I don't see Santa, Mommy" and "Santa, where are you?" Towards the end of the drive there is a spot where you can park and there is a carousel and concessions and there was also a magic show and a walk through portion that we skipped but the REALLY important part was of course Santa. It was fun to see Jane with him because this was the first year she was really excited to see him. She walked up to him like he was a celebrity (which of course he is to a three year old). She jumped up on his lap and told him what she wanted for Christmas and then smiled really big for her picture. If only Santa had been even half as joyful as she was (he was a little humdrum).

Here she is right after her Santa picture. Still reeling from excitement perhaps.

The Trains at North Park

Today my cousin Kerri and I took the girls to see the trains at North Park Mall. It was a great time. When we got there the girls were given conductor hats.

They didn't last long.

So Kerri thought she would give it a try.

It was a pretty cool display that had a model of downtown and of Mount Rushmore and the White House and New York City.

I didn't think Jill would get much out of it but actually she really liked it too!

After the train display we headed to the library (did you know they actually have a branch of the Dallas Public Library in the mall?) Jane found a nice reading spot.

Jill also found a good spot and an Eric Carle favorite.

Yeah, she's tracking words already. ;)

After a few good books Kylie and Jane made turkeys at the library's little craft table.

Jill met and played with a friend while the big girls made their turkeys.

All in all it was a really fun day with my bestie cousin!!! Love ya' Kerribear!