Polar Express 2015

This past weekend we went for a ride on the Polar Express in French Lick. I say this every year, but it's the best way to kick off the Christmas season!

This was our fifth year at the Polar Express. If you are interested in reading about past years (or seeing how much Ella has grown) you can read about them here:  2014 2013 2012 2011.
Things were a little different this year brining a baby along. I seriously forgot how much work it is and how much stuff you need with a baby. I can not complain though. Minus losing some sleep Paige was SO good. She was content to do whatever we were doing and was even good on the train. I thought it may be too loud for her, but she did great. 
We headed out early on Friday. I wanted Paige to nap in the car, and she did exactly that. We didn't hear a peep out of her the whole way. We did hear from Ella. She likes to ask how much longer, and then gets irritated when I say "not much longer." God love her!

Luckily, we made it before it started raining. I was bound and determined to get a picture infront of the train (as we do every year), and we got it. It is my favorite picture! 

We headed over to the hotel to see the Christmas decor before going to lunch. 

 The lobby of the French Lick hotel is SO beautiful. 

Paige was pretty excited about her first hotel stay. I bought this outfit after Christmas last year and here she is wearing it now. 

After we checked in and got settled Ella and Autumn decided it was time for a swim. This was the first year they could get in by themselves since they can both swim. It was nice to be able to just sit on the side and watch. 

Paige was taking a nap while they were swimming but woke up screaming after about 30 minutes. I think she was scared since she didn't know where she was so I held her for the rest of her nap until it was almost time to go to the train. She isn't used to sleeping in a pack and play, and it definitely wasn't easy for her. 
We quickly got ready and headed over to the train once Paige woke up. It was raining and unseasonably warm. You never know what the weather is going to be like. Some years we have gotten away with no jackets and some years we have froze. You just never know. Ella and Paige looked super cute in their matching Christmas jimmies. I ordered these this past summer, and they turned out just as I had imagined. 

The hot chocolate song is my favorite part along with the hot chocolate and cookies! I wish I had one right now!

Arriving at the "North Pole"

Aside from it being a little too warm on the train we had a wonderful time! I was so worried Paige may cry, but she seemed to enjoy it too. It was bedtime once it was over, and although she was tired she was still happy. 

Once we got back to the room we were starving. We ended up ordering room service. We kept Paige up almost two hours past her bedtime. To keep her occupied while we waited for our food I gave her a bath in the sink. She had the best time splashing around. Even though it was past her bedtime she still had some smiles left for us. 

Paige was out like a light when she finally got to bed. She slept for about two hours and woke up crying. I held her for awhile while she slept. At  around 2:30am I put her in her pack and play and she slept until 6. It was an exhausting night, but we survived!

Overall, it was a great trip. I was worried about how Paige would do, but I think she did great. We are so thankful to my parents for taking us all on this trip. It's a big expense and something they don't have to do, but gladly do for us every year. You guys are the best!  

Thanksgiving 2015

We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Two healthy, happy girls, a place to call home, family, friends, our health, and I can't leave out our dogs!  I count my blessings everyday but especially on Thanksgiving. I'm thankful for a blessed life that I am happy to live. 

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with my family. We switch back and forth each year so we don't have to rush or eat two meals in one day. We enjoyed time spent with family and my mom's dumplings. It's not Thanksgiving without dumplings. My dad even took the girls to visit great peep at the cemetery. We miss him on Thanksgiving, but I'm sure he was looking down from heaven smiling. 

It was a great Thanksgiving! 

Ella and Paige | Weeks 25,26, and 27

I am SO behind on my weekly posts and with the holidays coming up I will probably only get worse.   Better late than never! Over the last month or so I have felt like our life may be getting back into some kind of normal. It's still busy and exhausting, but we have managed to hang out with some friends which is good. There for awhile it seemed hard or just too much work to do anything. I have started running consistently again which in turn makes me a happier person. Even though I'm tired and would rather sleep in most Saturdays, I still go do it and am glad I did when it's over.  Ella is already well into the second quarter of school which I can not believe. She is chugging right along. It is so obvious that she is on the verge of turning seven. She is maturing and getting so independent. I love the stage she is in, but I'm holding onto that last little bit of innocence she has left.   Life is not slowing down and with the holidays approaching I'm sure it will only get busier. 
Here are a few pictures from the past couple of weeks!
Adam has been a guest on a show on twit tv (geek central) a couple of times lately, and Paige was so into watching him. I get the biggest kick out of it too!

Is there anything sweeter than a sleeping baby? I think not!

Ella lost another tooth! She locked herself in the bathroom one night and pulled out her other front tooth. It was ready, but it definitely took some work. I am so glad she did it, because teeth just gross me out. 

I seriously have a thing for cute winter hats. These trapper hats are my favorites!

Adam went on another week long trip a couple of weeks ago. I was worried how it would go, but it ended up being a pretty easy week thanks to my mom. She stayed with us all but one night, and it made things so much easier. Not sure how I would survive without her sometimes. 

The one night my mom didn't stay with us Ella and I had a slumber party together. She thinks it is so special to sleep in our bed, because it doesn't happen often. 

Paige is still happy as a lark when I pick her up from Mom's morning out. I am so glad I have that morning every Monday to run errands by myself. I get everything done, and then I don't have to drag her out very much during the week. 

I still haven't figured out how a baby can be as happy as she is. 

 They were all smiles picking up Daddy from the airport. We were so excited to have him home. Unfortunately, Adam came home feeling pretty crummy. He picked up a cold while he was at his conference and was down for a couple of days after he got home. It never fails! 

 Paige was happy to have him back!

The following Monday after Adam got home Ella was sick. She got his cold and for some reason ended up throwing up as well. While she was throwing up I heard a loud bang. Our closet shelving fell off the wall for the second time. I had to laugh about it. This was the second time this has happened. The wire shelving has seen better days and is going to be replaced with wood shelving pretty soon. Thank goodness!

Paige started sporting her Thanksgiving outfits. She is so proud! 

She wakes up this happy every single day! 

I have been trying out some baby food lately. I am still unsure if she likes it or not. She willingly opens her mouth, but most of it ends up on her chin. I'm not sure if it's the taste or texture she doesn't like. 

This past Saturday Sarah and I ran the Drumstick Dash. I thought we would take it slow, but we ended up running five miles at a 9:40 pace. I haven't seen that pace in a very LONG time.  I wanted to quit many times, but I wouldn't let myself.  It was a great five miles of good conversation! Next up is the Hot Chocolate 10 mile run in St. Louis!!