Trip to the North Pole and Beyond

yep, we're still alive and we've returned from a trip to the north pole this past, weekend. my parents asked if we would like to have a family outing for a gift this christmas, so we booked tickets on the thunder mtn. line up in horseshoe bend and went on the north pole express! below we have a little recap of our trip...we started off riding a packed train and got off at the 'north pole' with snow coming down! we ate cookies and milk by an open fire and looked at the 'town'. then, on the ride back, santa came for a visit. bentley was real excited to see him until he plopped down on our milk-spilled seat. he got him to talk to him by having him give him 'five', while bridon pulled on his beard. what a nice guy. we sure have a nice grandpa and grandpa..thx!









we also attended our ward's christmas party that nite. it was little bit different as we all dressed in our best and watched a really neat musical program in the chapel and then had dessert afterwards in the cultural hall that had been COMPLETELY transformed! the parts i was able to sit down and watch were awesome and it really made me think about the events and people surrounding our savior's birth and everything he has done for us.

last week, ben went to his LIA meetings in pocatello, so i took the opportunity to tag along and dropped him off. i went and visited old college friends, erica and angela and kids, and stayed two nites in shelley. we visited and did the dreaded, christmas shopping (it's always so much easier with others!), ate out at craigo's pizza for lunch, and then took the kids to a christmas lites and train 'special'. it was fun to see these girls again!! on the way back, i met lisa at mom and dad's and we did some holiday baking...got all my christmas bread made and enjoyed being with family, especially sampling some mints we thought rivaled crest, but ended up excellent after a good chocolate dip!

as of now, i am not quite ready for the big day to be here. i think i may be going nuts again with my crisis living in the office with taxes and sharecrop and all that other, crazy stuff. i did make a list of all the gifts i want to do next year starting in june! (that is if i don't have a crying baby all summer...and waking up in the nite still) i just may have to downsize! just one batch of sugar cookies last nite with an almost 3 yr. old and a fussy little guy almost did me in! where is my christmas spirit?! i'm sure i'll regain it as i take them out to deliver to neighbors and friends!