Alex's New Train Table

This year for Christmas, when Larry's Dad and Grandfather asked what Alex wanted for Christmas we instantly told them that he would love to have a train table.  We had looked at several different ones on the internet, but couldn't find one that we loved!  The tables we found were either too small, not the right style or just not what we were envisioning in our head!  We asked his Dad and Grandfather if they wouldn't mind making one for us for Alex's Christmas present this year.

Once we got the dimensions to them, they started work on it.  The finished product is wonderful!  Alex loves it...and so do we!  The table is 3 feet by 5 feet and fits perfectly upstairs in the playroom (we have moved it since we took these pictures).  They made a space for me to put some bins underneath it for more storage (bins have been added since the pictures were taken as well).  Right now, Alex has a few GeoTrax sets on the table!

Not only is the table what we were picturing in our head, but we are blessed that Larry's Dad and Grandfather would take the time to make something so special for our boy.  I know that he will get many years of use out of it!!

Here are some pictures:

Alex's train table:

Saying Cheese while playing:

Playing with his Geotrax:

The train table:

White Christmas

This year, we had a White Christmas!  For this girl who was raised in Florida, it was absolutely beautiful :)

I started coming down with a pretty icky chest cold on Christmas Eve, so I wasn't able to get out and enjoy the snow like I wanted to!  When Sheena, James and Ava came over to celebrate Christmas, they took Alex out and built a snowman with him.  He had a great time...until later that evening when the snowman started to melt and he was devastated!  Sheena took some pictures of their snowman and the kids playing in the snow - I will post those when she sends them to me!

It was so neat waking up on Christmas morning and having everything blanketed in white snow.  The snow continued through most of the day - for North Alabama, we got a pretty good amount!

Here are a few pictures I took Christmas morning:

The front of the house on Christmas morning:

The backyard:

Our polar bear...he was actually skiing on snow:

 The front of the house again:

Christmas 2010

Christmas morning was magical...absolutely and incredibly magical!

Since my parents were killed, I haven't looked forward to the Christmas.  Regardless of what Larry did to make the day special, it hurt to know that my Mom and Dad would never be here for another Christmas.  There are so many traditions and memories that I have missed since they have been gone and I felt as though I was just going through the motions in the past few years!  This year though, everything changed for me!

There really is nothing better than seeing Christmas through a child's eyes...especially your own child.  The smile on Christmas morning, ripping through presents, the excitement about each and every present and trying to squeeze out every ounce of energy to play with the new toys right up until bedtime...it brings a smile to my face just thinking about it all!

Alex's face was priceless when he came down the stairs Christmas morning - I am lucky enough to have captured the smile on his face when he saw all his presents.  We had a blast opening up all of his presents from Santa.  My little OCD child had to make sure EVERY piece of paper was taken off of EVERY single present.  Santa was good to Alex - he got a Buzz Lightyear Scooter, a remote control Lightning McQueen Car, a remote control Tow Mater Car (I think that one is actually for Daddy to play with), a new cape with an "A" on it for Alex, a few books, 2 DVD's and of course the stocking essentials (toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, a few Hot Wheels and some candy).

The rest of the day was spent enjoying his toys, visiting with family (and opening more presents) and eating yummy food!

I still missed my Mom and Dad like crazy and it hurts to know that they will never see the excitement in Alex's (or Jax's) eyes on Christmas morning, but this Christmas I was given the best gift of all...joy and happiness!

Here are a few pictures:

The cookies and hot chocolate we left for Santa:

Our tree...after Santa came to visit:

Alex's face when he came down the stairs on Christmas morning...priceless:

Riding his new Buzz Lightyear scooter:

Buckwheat wanted to help Alex open his presents:

Bath foam soap...such a big hit in our house:

Crayon maker from Aunt Jenny, Kyle, Katelyn and Joshua:

One of the new DVD's:

He didn't understand why Santa brought him books!  His response each time he opened a book "Why did Ho-Ho bring me a book...I already have books up in my room?!":

His new cape:

Opening his Thomas the Train set:

New underwear:

His remote control Lightning McQueen:

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! 


May your holiday be full of love, laughter and family!


This year, we are looking so forward to seeing Christmas through Alex's eyes!  He is full of wonder and excitement!  


We hope you all experience the joy and love we are feeling this holiday season!


Merry Christmas!!

Santa's Village

In downtown Huntsville each year they have a little area set up and they call it Santa's Village.  There are Christmas lights, reindeer, little houses set up like "Santa's Village" in the North Pole and Santa make an appearance.  Even though we were busy getting ready for our trip and Christmas, we wanted to take Alex!  We knew that he would really enjoy it!

Santa's Village was adorable and despite the freezing cold temperatures, we had a great time!  We visited a few of the houses, in one of them Alex got to play with a few wooden toys that the elves had made!  The reindeer was a big hit with Alex - he could not take his eyes off of it!  There were a few areas set up with snow falling down (bubbles from a bubble maker) and he had a great time "catching the snowflakes"!  The line for Santa was a little too long, so we didn't get a chance to see him (don't feel bad for Alex, he saw him at the mall a few weeks prior).

We had a great time!  It is always so nice doing new and fun things together!

Here are a few pictures from our night:

Love this picture:

Playing with the wooden toys in the elves workshop:

Hugging the Gingerbread Man:

With the Reindeer:

Riding in Santa's sleigh:

With the Toy Soldier - I think he was doing his Toy Soldier impression:

Daddy and Alex acting silly:

Alex's Christmas Play

Alex had his Christmas Play at school today.  His class is singing "Jingle Bells" and ringing bells.  Alex is in the green Santa Claus shirt.  I'm not sure if he ever sang his song, but he sure did dance and ring his bell like a champ!

Here are a few pictures that I got during the play:

Ready for the singing to begin:

Ringing his bells and clapping:

Dancing...he was so excited!!

Crazy kid:

Jumping (or dancing):

I was getting a little worried for the girl next to him...he was waving his bells kind of wildly :)

No idea what he is doing in this one:

Dancing a little more:

Hugs for Mommy after his show:

Gingerbread House Decorating = BIG FAIL

Tonight, we decided to try something new.  We thought it would be great fun to decorate a gingerbread house as a family.  We had a great time, in between telling Alex not to eat all the decorations and icing.  However, the final product looked MUCH different than the picture on the box!  We just kept reminding ourselves that it was our first time, but each time the icing started to slide down the house a little more, we couldn't help buy laugh at ourselves!  Alex had a blast though, both decorating the house and eating the candy!

After looking at our poor excuse for a gingerbread house, we decided that Kid, our Elf on the Shelf, would take our gingerbread house to Santa tonight when he gives his status report on Alex.  Alex was actually very excited to send Santa a present - in his mind, he is probably thinking that by sending him a present, he should get more presents :)  So, as of right now, the gingerbread house resides in the garbage can - patiently waiting for Kid to take it to the North Pole!

Here are some pictures of decorating the gingerbread house: