The Santa Train

December 12th we were so excited to ride the Santa Train out in Elgin, Oregon. The cost was one canned food item per person. Hailey really likes trains, so she was excited about riding on the train, and with Santa on top of that. What a day! We got a really great seat and the view was just gorgeous. The river was all frozen over and snow covered everything. Hailey wasn't scared of Santa at all. She talked with him and laughed with him. Such a good girl.

I'm very excited to get on the train...... have you seen my other mitten???

No, but seriously, my left hand is getting cold

Our train car all decorated for the Santa ride

Hailey and Santa

Look mama!

So pretty!

Sitting with Nana & Papa

Santa, Hailey & Papa

Sitting with Daddio

So.... Santa isn't my Papa?? Alright, I think I understand...

The frozen river

Pretty!

Hailey and I sporting our turtlenecks

Victorian Santa

La Grande had a Victorian Santa here in town today. I have never seen a live Victorian Santa before. We made sure to get out and see this Santa, as he cannot be the same old boring mall Santa everyone gets to see. And I was right, this Santa was beautiful. A beautiful set up for him to sit in and all. A better set up then the one I used to work at Fashion Plaza in Newport Beach, California. And absolutely no line. And get this, you bring your own camera and take pictures, or you can pay the professional for the pictures, but only if you want to. I LOVE La Grande!

We got Hailey all excited to see Santa, and when she got there she stared at him in awe. That same, stars in her eyes when daddy gets home from work look. It was so cute. He called her over, and she gladly marched right up to him, sat on his lap and began to tell him what she wanted for Christmas.

I couldn't have been more happy with that Santa then if I had gone to a large city and stood in line for hours. In fact, I was more pleased than I have ever been with a Santa. Besides, those lines bring out all the ugliness in parents, and that's just not what Christmas is about.

All dressed up to see Santa

So excited

Literally jumping for joy

Mesmerized by Santa

Telling him what she wants for Christmas

Listening for Santa

Smiling for daddy

Look at this set up, a real decorated tree, presents, a fire place, pretend fire with lights, pretty candles, decorations and stockings. Beautifully done.

Christmas Tree

I totally uploaded these pictures backwards. Oh well. We got our Christmas tree this weekend. We have been going to the same place for 3 years now, and always find a great tree. This tree farm is in a lady's backyard here in town. She has a great view of the mountains, and we just really like that she has a large variety of sizes, and types of trees. Plus they always live through the holidays and don't smell like trash (don't ask, we just had a tree from some charity that smelled like trash one year...ICK! Then it died before Christmas even got here...that was a bonus I guess)

Hailey got to help decorate the tree for the first time, and she did really good. She even put the angel on the top of the tree, with help of course. Sweet girl!

Decorating the tree

Timber!!!

Watching daddy cut down the tree

We found the best tree

Nana & Papa's tree

Helping Nana with the tree cart

Hailey likes horses, and his lady's neighbor has some. They were what Hailey enjoyed most about getting the tree. The whole time we were cutting down the tree she said "can we go see those horses?"

Pony Tails

Looks like my little girl is growing up. Her hair is finally long enough to put into a decent pony tail. *Sniff sniff* Where has the time gone?

Hailey Christmas Pictures

Here are a few pictures we are going to use in our Christmas card this year. Hailey is soooo cute!

Trick-or-Treat

Hailey had her first real Halloween where she got to actually go trick-or-treating. It's always super cold here at Halloween, and most of the time it's very windy. So this was the first time we felt that Hailey and her little immune system could finally handle the cold. My grandma, my Gumun, made Hailey a white kitty costume for Halloween so she could stay really warm. That really worked out, because Hailey's favorite movie right now is AristoCats, and the mama kitty on there is Dutches, she is all white.

Hailey had a fantastic time trick-or-treating. We had watched "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and Hailey LOVED it, L-O-V-E-D loved it. We literally watched it 15-20 times this year. They say "tricks or treats" and Hailey was a little confused about how to say trick-or-treat. But after she said it the first time, got candy in her little pumpkin, then looked up at her dad with those huge blue eyes and said "Daddy I want MORE candy" with such determination. After that, she was ready to power through the whole Adams strip and get lots of candy. She walked the whole way and had a huge smile on her face and a pumpkin full of candy in tow. It was awesome. Funny part is, she doesn't really like sweets too much, so it's just sitting in the top cabinet waiting to be eaten. LOL! Oh well, we made fabulous memories, that is all that matters.

When you are dressed like a kitty, you must act like a kitty


Meow!

Do I HAVE to wear the hood?

Alright, I will wear it............ for now

Walking with Papa

Alright, the hood has to go

Hailey and Nana

I got some candy

Trick or Treat

Let's get more daddio

The First Snow of the Season

October 29th was the first snow of this season. Well, the first snow that stuck for a little while. So pretty when it snows. I'll let the snow speak for itself. Beautiful! =)