Tree Decorating

Mom, Dad and put our tree up the day after Thanksgiving. I was soooo excited about it!

Each year Mom and Dad get me an ornament that represents something I was really 'into' that year. This year I got a Toy Story ornament. It's stocking with Buzz and Woody in it. That's the first ornament I hang on the tree.

Next I got to put the star on the tree. I first tried by myself but I couldn't quite reach so Dad helped me but I got it on the tree!

Mom and Dad thought I was chatterbox while we were decorating. When Mom brought out the tub of blue Christmas bulbs I asked, "we going to put those 'yunions' (onions) on the tree?" They laughed so I laughed and they told me they were decorations. Dad started putting hooks on them and I started hanging them on the tree. I kept saying, "This looks like a good spot. Oh here's a good spot." Then I'd jump around a little bit in all my excitement before grabbing another ornament to hang."

When we were all done decorating I stepped back, looked at it and said, "That a pretty good tree!" :)

Christmas in the Park

Last night Mom and I went to Christmas in Marion Square park and met up with Sophie, Layla, Tonya, Devon and Hadyn. It was fun! There was one of Santa's reindeer there for us to see. We also went on the lighted horse and carriage ride, listened to the band play Christmas songs, had popcorn and played on the caboose parked in the park. We did not wait in the long line to see Santa this year. (Last year we waited 2 hours) Since I already talked to him this year we just went and peeked in his house at him. I told Mom my favorite things were the carriage ride and the caboose. :)



(Checking out the tall tree in the park that they lit at Christmas in the Park)

Sophie, Layla, Cohen, Regan, Hadyn, Tonya & Devon on the carriage ride.

Playing on the caboose with Layla and Devon.

Devon and Cohen

Checking out the reindeer.

Santa

I forgot to tell you just before Thanksgiving Mom and I saw Santa at the Mall. I wasn't too sure about him at first but it didn't take long for me to warm up to him. I told him I want a Polar Express train for Christmas. I also told him I've been a good boy.

Santa Express

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving Mom and Dad told me they had a surprise for me. I had no idea what it was but we had to drive in the care for a couple hours (now I know it was to Boone).

We had lunch and hit the road. When we arrived I still had no idea what we were doing. We parked the car and went into a building. There were quite a lot of people in there. Dad and I went to the bathroom and when we came out Mom handed me a gold paper and said, "Here's your ticket." I looked around at some of the train things in the room. Then Mom pointed to the wall of windows and glass door and said, "What's that out there?" I said, "A train!" She then asked, "Do you know what we're going to do?" I said, "RIDE THAT TRAIN!!" I was so excited. Once the door opened to let us board I headed out not caring if Mom or Dad were around or not. I had one mission and it was to get on that train. I saw a conductor and he punched my ticket and everything - just like the Polar Express.

When we got on the train a couple kids behind us were singing songs from Polar Express. That made me smile. The train car inside was decorated with Christmas lights and a couple wreaths. The outside had one car that was all decorated with Christmas lights and decorations.

We finally headed out on our train ride after about a half hour of boarding and waiting. On our ride to the "North Pole" there was a man who read a poem and a Christmas book written by a local author. I mostly enjoyed just watching out the window. To get to the North Pole we had to go over this really high bridge. That was pretty cool to see below us. It took about a half hour to get to the North Pole. When we arrived there were Christmas lights, a lighted tree and a small house that I think Santa must live in. We stopped in the North Pole to watch for reindeer while they served us hot chocolate and a cookie. As we ate our cookie and drank our hot chocolate the conductor brought Santa into our train car! He gave each child a sleigh bell. I thought that was so cool!

After Santa went back to his house we took off back for the train station. On our way back we sang Christmas Carols. It was such a magical day for me. I loved it and Mom and Dad said they had fun watching me have such a fun day.

To top off the day we stopped in Ames to eat at one of Mom and Dad's favorite restaurants - Hickory Park. I liked it because Rudolph was on tv in the waiting area and I got to have chocolate ice cream after dinner. Yum!!!

Thanksgiving

How does so much time sneak away from between posts? Well today is going to be another one of those update days.

We recently celebrated Thanksgiving! We celebrated early in Cedar Falls with Grandpa and Grandma Dahlstrom & Uncle Brent, Aunt Kari and Reese.

On Thanksgiving Day we had a quiet day at home with just Mom, Dad, Marlie and me. Mom made us Thanksgiving Dinner of turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, scalloped corn, dinner rolls and apple crisp and pecan pie (from Hy-Vee) for dessert. I didn't eat much of it. I'm not big on trying new things but I did eat some turkey dipped in ketchup and tried my mashed potatoes. Instead of pie Mom got me a big sugar cookie decorated with a frosting turkey. It was YUMMY!

We spent the whole day hanging out at home as a family. We missed seeing all of our family of course but it was fun to have just a day at home with no where to be!

Writing letters

I've been practicing writing my letters and numbers. The other night I was writing them and Mom wanted to snap a picture. I just started to erase before she took it so a few letters are missing but I'm doing a pretty good job for a 3 1/2 year old I think. :)

Early Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving a little early on Saturday with Grandpa and Grandma Dahlstrom, Uncle Brent, Aunt Kari, Reese, Mom, Dad, and me. We went to Grandpa and Grandma's house for dinner. After we ate we went to the park because it was such a nice day.

Dad was spinning me on this toy. I spun and spun until I couldn't hold myself or my head up. Uncle Dolly thought it was pretty funny - so did everyone else.


Grandpa, Dad, Brent and I played a little game of kickball and we swang on the swings. When we got back Grandma, Grandpa and I played Wheel of Fortune. I love playing that game!



It was a great day!