3rd Annual Polar Express Party

This is the 3rd year my sister-in-law Melissa has thrown a Polar Express Christmas Party for all the kids and every year she finds a way to outdo herself! It is always such a magical and fun night for all the kids (and all of us as well!) This year we had a packed house with Grandma and Papa H, all our siblings and kiddos plus Melissa's brother, wife and 4 kids came up from Colorado Springs to join in the fun.

The kids showed up in the jammies and the night included making gingerbread houses, making reindeer food, jumping in the bounce house, eating dinner, having hot chocolate and cookies, a special entrance onto the polar express train, Papa reading the Polar Express book and finally watching the movie (part of it anyway until they decided it was more fun to run around after one another - lol)

Gingerbread House Making...






Magic Reindeer Food!


Craziness in the bounce house...


When we came up from the basement Melissa and Brad had a fog machine going, a train headlight and rumbling train sounds...Papa was dressed up as the conductor and took all the kids "tickets" so they could climb aboard the Polar Express :)






All the kids onboard the "train" and ready for the conductor to read them the Polar Express story!


Brady's 1st Polar Express party :)



All the kiddos with the "conductor"


Brady got ahold of the train whistle...


Chase with his candy train that Grandma made for everyone


Hot chocolate time!



Movie Time...


Another successful party - thanks Aunt Melissa for making it so special!

What A Difference A Year Makes!

Dec 30th, 2010
On our way to the hospital to meet our sweet new "baby" (we didn't know the sex!)


Dec 29th, 2011
Playing with my sweet 1 year old Brady Bear on his Birthday "eve"!!!

My Hard Working Boys

Chase definitely inherited Craig's love for the outdoors and for working in the yard. As soon as we got some snow earlier this month these 2 were out playing in it and shoveling it into piles :)

School Christmas Party

Chase's daycare had their annual Christmas party complete with gingerbread house making, singing Christmas carols and a visit from Santa who gave a book and a sucker to each kid.. so much fun :)

Random Christmas Fun!

Our 1st advent calendar... Chase loved having it as dessert every night if he was a "good boy" :)




And a special Christmas package from my sister, Jim & Ben... how thoughtful!!

Our Official Santa Picture!

Cookies With Santa

If you haven't noticed yet...we have met Santa quite a few times this Christmas season :) We have had a chance to meet him all over the place and Chase has been LOVING it. Luckily he is amazed by Santa so he could see him 5 times a day for the next week and still be excited every single time :)

Last Sunday one of our neighbors invited us to their annual Cookies With Santa party! It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen - seriously:) We all brought some cookies so their dining room table was covered with hundreds of cookies and there were about 25-30 kids there with their parents waiting for the arrival of Santa. Once he arrived he walked in with 2 big bags full of toys for all the kids. We had each brought gifts for our kids and put their names on it and secretly given it to my neighbors. Then all the kids watched with excitement as Santa pulled out each present one at a time and called out a child's name. That child would run up to Santa, sit on his lap and say what they wanted for Christmas and then they opened up their gift. It was adorable and Chase had an absolute ball!

Our neighbors, Lance & Erin, were fabulous hosts with lots of yummy food and adult beverages so we could enjoy the Christmas magic as well :)

Santa Arrives!


I am just in love with this picture...how cute with all these kiddos so excited and waiting their turn!


Finally a great smile from Chase with Santa :)


Loving his new legos from Santa!


Our neighbor's daughter, Ashlyn - she is such a cutie


Brady's not so sure - lol


Our good friend and Brady's babysitter, Michelle, with her sweet daughter Zoey


Another neighbor friend of ours just had a baby 3 weeks ago and Santa got a chance to hold baby Blake! He's so tiny!!



Had to add this last photo of Chase playing in the basement after Santa left - rocking out!

Early Christmas!

Since we are going to be in California for Christmas this year, Grandma & Papa H wanted Chase & Brady to open their gifts early this year. Last Friday night we had Craig's work party and the boys stayed the night with Grandma & Papa. When we dropped them off we took a few minutes to watch the boys open up their presents!



Chase was pretty thrilled to get to open some presents


Trio Blocks! He was sooo excited!


Helping Brady open some gifts up!



A new stuffed animal :)


Thanks for all the great gifts Grandma & Papa H!!