Santa Train

The Polar Express~

Lights are gleaming far across the snow

You're not dreaming

May I present the North Pole!

If it's penguins you expect to view

You surely haven't guessed

They all live down at the other end

With a little luck we'll be on time

There's no need to stress

Cause that's the way things happen

On the Polar Express

Boom boom the whistle blows

That's the sound of her singing

Ding ding the bell will ring

Golly look at her go!

If you want to join us come along

I'll check my manifest

Cause that's the way things happen

On the Polar Express!

~Tom Hanks

 

On December 12, 2009, Max, Sterling, Auntie Becca and I went to Downtown North Bend, WA to ride the Santa Train. I had purchased the tickets off my friend Nicole, as she was unable to go. We had no idea what to expect, but thought that it had to be good because it sells out every year. We arrived at the North Bend Train Station at 1:00 pm, and quickly loaded onto the train. All the seats in the main cabin appeared to be occupied, so we plopped ourselves on the wicker chairs in the old "fish car."

 

We rode in the old fish car, which did not smell of fish, all the way to Snoqualmie. The ride lasted about 20 minutes. The boys looked around and took in as much of the scenery as they could. When we deboarded in Snoqualmie town, we were directed to the Santa waiting area. The line was about a mile line, and the air was as cold as it is in the Great White North. We were freezing. We finally got into to see Santa and the boys looked on in wonder. I took lots of would be great photos, but alas...my flash did not pop up in Manual mode, and all my pictures were black. Boo. But Auntie Becca took some cute shots. Maybe she will send them to me someday ;) .

 

We went from Santa to the gift shop. There, we picked out a train book for the boys. The train shop was great, filled with tons of Thomas the Tank Engine memorabilia and other Snoqualmie Railroad paraphernalia. I can't wait for the boys to be into trains. It will make the trip so much more fun. After the gift shop, we headed to lunch at the Snoqualmie Brewery. Unfortunately, they were extremely slow, and we had to take our lunch to go.

 

On the train ride back to North Bend, Max fell asleep in mommy's arms. It was the perfect day, and a tradition that I am looking for to continuing with my Maxwell, Sterling and Auntie Becca. I loved it!

 

Trip To Yakima

What A Wonderful World~

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky,

Are also on the faces of people going by,

I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do,

They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow,

They'll learn much more than I'll never know,

And I think to myself what a wonderful world,

Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.

~Louie Armstrong

Last Monday, December 7, 2009, we went to visit Nate's Gramma Francis. Nate is adopted and Gramma Francis is his biological grandmother. We adore her! We decided that it would be the perfect "weekend" to visit her because it had not yet snowed enough on Snoqualmie pass to make the drive dangerous. It was a good thing we did, because it has been snowing all day. We had a great visit. Max had a wonderful time playing with Gramma Fran, and he loved her carpeted floors. Carpet equals traction, something we don't have in the Nemo house, and traction makes practicing crawling a much easier task. Nate and I also got seperate nights off, where we went down to the Yakima Legends Casino and tried our hands at gambling. It was the first time, in the history of visits to Gramma Francis's house, that we all three came away with our original seed money. We had a blast and Max can't wait to see his Gramma Fran again. Hopefully, we won't have to wait until Spring.

Max playing with Gramma Francis and getting up on all fours. The boy will be mobile soon!

Giving Gramma Francis the standard Maxwell flirty grin. He's a charmer.

Once again, charming the pants off everyone, and playin' with his rattle teddy.

Getting pissy at mommy, because she won't leave him alone...to play in peace.

8 Months Old!

Handprints on the Wall~

I can't describe this feeling,

way down deep inside.

"The Itsy-Bitsy Spider"

was the first thing that we tried.

An' "Patty Cake, The Baker's Man,"

with your hands, so very small.

You could always stay this young,

And I wouldn't mind at all.

Days go by so quickly;

Summer turns to fall.

Seemed like only yesterday,

that you began to crawl.

So don't be afraid to take that setp,

I'll catch you when you fall.

An' I don't mind if you leave behind,

a few handprints on the wall.

~Kenny Rogers

He's such a hambone. This month, the month sticker photos were the most fun to take. He is so full of personality these days. He yells, babbles, coos, squeals, and still makes "baby pterydactl" noises. He is just so much fun. He started army crawling, he spins, and he rolls to where ever he wants to go. He plays with toys, in addition to putting them in his mouth. He has mastered the pincher grasp, and can but food into his own mouth, but prefers to be fed beause it's faster. He loves broccoli cheddar soup, bananas, and yogurt. (He also loves ice cream, cake, and the insides of donuts...but don't tell anybody!) I think that life with baby Max is just going to keep getting better.

Just a few more....

In Your Eyes~

In your eyes

the light the heat

in your eyes

I am complete

in your eyes

I see the doorway to a thousand churches

In your eyes

the resolution of all the fruitless searches

in your eyes

I see the light and the heat

in your eyes

oh, I want to be that complete

I want to touch the light

the heat I see in your eyes

~Peter Gabriel

These are just too beautiful not to share. I love every single one.

I Got Me a Real Nice Camera...

Into the Lens~

Here, by the waterside

There, where the lens is wide

You and me

By the sea

Taken in tranquility.

Taken, taken so easily.

~Yes

This past Tuesday, December 1st, I received the Christmas present I have wanted for years. I purchased my gently used Nikon d60 Digital SLR camera off of ebay, which was a very a scary proposition. It turned out to be one of the best purchases I have ever made. Along with the mint condition d60 body, I received an 18/55 mm lens, in addition to a 55/200 mm long range lens. The seller also included the camera bag, battery charger, two how-to DVDs, and a lens extender. I am on cloud 9. I can hardly put the camera down. I cannot wait to unlock all that this piece of equipment has to offer. Below are just a few of the shots I have taken so far. I am currently awaiting the arrival of my digital card reader, at which point I will be a picture posting fool. Enjoy!

My favorite subject, of course, in his "bubble tubby," with his polka dot rubber ducky.

Maxwell discovers the drain mechanism that doesn't really open the drain.

 

It's naptime in the Nemo household, which means more photo opps for mama! ;)

The precious cargo, strapped into his big boy car seat.

Singing along to songs, at least we think he's singing. He could just be yelling at us to turn the music down.

Sitting in Grandma and Opa's front yard, looking at all the exciting things to see.

What a handsome boy in his overalls and train hat.

He melts my heart.

Precious boy!