So I didn’t have much time to post last week because I decided to try and make our family of 5 matching PJ bottoms for Xmas. So…um…in retrospect, I decided that sewing is a lot like giving birth…you don’t remember how painful it is until you try it again. Suffice it to say, the boys have matching PJ bottoms, but Brian and I…have sort of the failures of my attempts (which I think are currently wadded up in the bottom of my sewing bin). I’m not going into details here, but it wasn’t pretty. I spent about 8 hours of time exactly matching my plaid material to the pattern, making adjustments etc etc only to make 1 tiny last minute mistake that pretty much made me throw in the towel (and maybe I collapsed on the floor of the kitchen and had a good cry…maybe)

So now I have some blog catch-up to do!! Big time! Let’s rewind to Friday, December 11th when Auntie Denna and baby Nathan came for a visit!!

It was total love-at-first-sight for the boys. They were all over Nathan (seriously…we had to drag them off the poor kid!) Brady is hiding behind giant sha-sha. Why does Nathan suddenly make my boys look like giants???? Sob sob!

Not the best pic of my cute nephew, but it shows the love….oooooh the love!!!

Auntie Denna and I had fun as well. We went to a neighborhood party on Friday (so fun – Murder Mystery!!) Saturday, Bri took all my boys so we could enjoy some not-often-had sister shopping. Too bad the day was cruddy and raining (but…we emerged triumphant with boots and a sweater each). Sunday, Brian had a Bear’s game and we were scheduled to do “The Holiday Express” which is a trolley ride to see Santa (requires some walking and waiting outside). Unfortunately, it was FREEZING that day with predicted wind-chills in the negative 20ies. I spent most of the day wondering if I was even going to take my crew. Denay was out as soon as we understood how bad it was outside. No need to take a 2-month-old out in the freezing cold!

We (me and the boys) decided to go with the rest of the neighborhood crew. It wasn’t as bad as predicted and we didn’t have to wait in a line like last year (which was for at least 20 minutes). It was in and out of “the North Pole”…the boys had a blast and I was beyond relieved that it went so smoothly. Afterwards, we collected Denna and Tot (Nathan = nater-tot= Tot) and went for pizza at a neighbor’s house…kids all in jammies…awesome!

They had a train set up at the place where we checked in for the Polar Express (a local elementary school gym). Brady LOVED it…he even waved good-bye as we left and said “bye bye schoo schoo!”

Ryan, Brady, Logan, Aiden and Mackenzie:

Heading out to our trolley: Logan & Mackenzie

I had to sit a few rows behind my kids. Here is Brady on the trolley listening to the conductor read “The Polar Express”. They have these movements and sayings that the kids are supposed to repeat and copy. Brady was always a tick behind everyone else…but in such a stinkin cute way!!

Logan on the trolley:

My boys with Santa. This is “the real Santa” says Logan (and he’s AWESOME by the way!! The other cool thing is that each child receives a bell “from Santa’s sleigh” – just like in the book The Polar Express). Logan expressed concern this year that something would happen while Santa was away from his workshop (like bad guys might break in). I reminded him of the elves – they protect the place while Santa visits the boys and girls! Notice the giant cookie in Brady’s hand? Well, when you exit the trolley at the North Pole, Santa’s tent is on the left and, up a bit further on the right, is the coffee and cookie tent. Logan, Aiden and I departed the trolley and went directly to see Santa. I looked around and noticed, in a panic, that Brady was missing. I think we all know where I found him!

After we visited with Santa, it was officially time for cookies and hot chocolate (coffee for mama!)

Brady and Jackson were having a very intense and very hysterical conversation…about what?…I have no idea, but it was cute and I had to take a picture.

Usually there are reindeer in the area you can see behind the kids. I’m sure it was far too cold for them this year. Instead, they had a BIG GIANT bonfire. Here are the kids enjoying the warmth: (starting from the left in his bright orange “traffic cone” coat:) Aiden in mom’s rainbow scarf, Maddie, Logan, Mackenzie, Brady and Jackson.

Brady got mom’s orange scarf :)

Right after these pictures, a trolley arrived and there was no line to get on. We called to all our friends waiting in the coffee hut and RAN to board. It was awesome! We sang songs all the way back. The whole trip (from boarding at the school to arrival back) was about 45 minutes…perfect for a Chicago negative-20-or-something degree day. I was proud of myself for even attempting this trip alone without Brian (who was suffering in the cold watching the Bears get totally slaughtered). The boys loved it and…that’s the most important thing!