Coco, Trains, and Santa

We took the kids to the Kansas City Christmas Train. It is good free fun for the holidays. The Christmas Train is a holiday tradition in the KC area. Santa pulls in on the train, which is decorated for the holidays. Brendan loves the Christmas train because it has a face on it like Thomas the Tank Train. Inside the train they get to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus. The interior is decorated with a collection of Santas. There are also toy trains running throughout. Brendan's favorite is the the miniature version of the Christmas train. You have to wait in line to get on the train, but the town provides free hot coco and popcorn. The local band also provides music for entertainment while you wait. Brendan had a blast busting out all his dance moves, while waiting. Can't believe that Christmas is only a few days away!

Staying Warm With Some Coco

With One Of Santa's "Little" Helpers lol

Getting Ready To Board The Train

With The Big Guy

The Replica Of The Train

Brendan Dancing While Waiting To Get On The Train~

An 1855 Christmas

We had a real fun day out at Missouri Town 1855's Christmas Celebration. It is sort of a family tradition for us to attend the event. Nothing puts us in the mood for Christmas more than a good old fashioned Christmas. Missouri Town 1855 is located at Lake Jacomo, Missouri. It is a living history museum, and they do a special reenactment of a Christmas past every year. There is so much to see and do there, and the kids love running from one building to the next to experience something new.

Naughty Trying To Blow Out the Candles

This year was different from past years, because it was slightly warmer than usual. We are having wacky weather here in Missouri. All the snow we got the other day is all but gone. Today is supposed to be 61 degrees, and tomorrow is supposed to be 16 with more snow. It is a weather roller coaster. It was also incredibly windy. I felt like I was back in South Dakota with all the wind!

The kids had a very Christmasy time despite the warmer weather. They got to string popcorn, sing carols, make a Chrsitmas sachet for the tree, eat cookies and pulled taffy, and listen to stories of Der Belsnickel. The Belsnickel is a German form of Santa. He is like a Santa helper, who carries goodies and a switch. He helps find the good kiddies (for the treats), and the bad kiddies (well for the switch). Brendan was all big eyed when he heard this Santa gave out "whoopins" to the naughty little boys and girls. I think he was a little nervous! lol However, he managed to skate by and receive a treat from the Belsnickel.

Der Belsnickel

Grateful For a Candy Cane Instead of the Switch

Stringing Popcorn

Decorating the Tree

The sights and smells of an old fashioned Christmas surround you at Missouri Town. The smell of pine, mixed with, oranges, spices, and the fireplace are just heavenly. We got to sample raisin bread, sugar cookies, a spiced warm tea, and pulled taffy. McKenna thought the old fashioned taffy tasted like candy corn. One house had a hanging Christmas tree. The lady of the house explained how all the homemade ornaments told the story of Christmas. How the animals represented Noah's ark, the star is obvious, the balls on the tree stood for the neverending cycle of Jesus, the garland represented the shroud of Jesus, and angel on the top for the angels that appeared to the shepherds. There was also a sponge on a stick next to the tree, which I had never seen before. Apparently it represents the sponge with vinegar that was place on Jesus lips, and also had a prctical purpose. If a spark flew from the candles on the tree, they would dip the sponge in a nearby bucket of water and snuff it out.

Pulling Taffy

Spiced Tea

The Original Stove Top Stuffing

We really had a great time at the Christmas Celebration. My crew even managed to find the last bit of snow, and have a snowball fight. Overall it was a real great family day.

Can't Keep My Monkeys Out Of The Trees

Snow Day

"At Christmas, I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled shows,
But like of each thing that in season grows."
~Shakespeare

Yay a snow day! The kids have just been going nuts waiting for a snow day, and they finally got one. My kids love the winter, and playing in the snow. We didn't get a great deal of snow, but school was closed anyway. The small town school, that McKenna attends, has alot of bus riders from the country. If the buses can't make it on the country roads to pick up the kids, well then they have no school. We had a lot of rain before it snowed, so there was a layer of ice on the country roads, and the buses can't drive on the ice. So the kids got their wish. The snow was too powdery to make a snow man, but they had fun tossing it around, and making snow angels. They also went on sleds being pulled by the quads. They had so much fun. I made a huge pot of stew to warm everyone up after all the outdoor fun. I love snow during the holiday season.

My Little Snow Bunny

My Little Snow Monkey

Playing in the Snow

My Snow Angels

My Little Snow Dog

Hitching A Ride

Away They Go

The snow put Brendan into the Holiday Spirit.<