Trains at Northpark

We went to Northpark Mall today to check out the new model trains this year. The kids loved it, so if you are in the Dallas area I think it is worth going to check it out. This mall has TONS of Christmas activities. Santa has story time, puppet shows and different bands were there playing Christmas music.

Not our best family photo, but its what we got. :)

Part of the train exhibit.

They have the Santa and his reindeer up every year. I thought I should have a photo to remember it this time! The reindeer are made of pecans, and it looks like Santa's beard is made of marshmallows. I am sure it is all in their brochures, I just did not get around to reading up on it.

Mason & Kate checking out the ducks.

School Christmas Party

Mason, Kate and Caroline celebrated Jesus' Birthday today at school. The parents got to attend their chapel time and then went to their room to make crafts and eat cookies of course! They were so excited and had a great time.

Tonight I got to go to our ABF (Sunday School) ornament exchange for the gals in class. Ahh, so nice to have the chance to talk! And I did "steal" some really cute handmade felt ornaments a girl in our class made. Maybe I can find the time to follow in her footsteps and make more for my tree.

Kate and Mason with their teachers.

Caroline with Daddy.

Gingerbread Village

Yesterday we continued our second year of making gingerbread houses. Last year we just did one, this year an entire village! They LOVED every minute of it. For me it was a little messy, but worth the excitement for them. This morning somehow they had managed to take all of them upstairs to their room, without making a mess!?! This afternoon I also found a princess in one of the houses, so they have really been playing with them! (Not just for looks or food at our house.)

Tonight we went through the Christmas Journey which is a drive through live nativity at the First Baptist Church of McKinney. It was really neat. A long line, but I think it was worth it. I hope it will help the kids have a better picture in their head when they hear different stories about Jesus this coming year. Kate seems to remember EVERYTHING, so I am sure I will hear about different parts quite a bit. I did have to explain when we got home that we did not go to the real Bethlehem, we were in McKinney and that they were pretending. I think Kate thought she was seeing the real thing! :)

Mason and his house.

Kate and her house.

Caroline and her house

Our Village

Making Marshmallows

Our first experience making homemade marshmallows, yummy! First we tried to make peppermint ones, the kids actually like them, but I think they are a little too minty. So, second time we have tried original vanilla flavor. We could not have just plain white around Christmas, so we added red and green! The kids LOVED eating the left overs on the spatula and in the bowl and mixer. The main part where they could help was dipping them in powdered sugar. I think Caroline might be eating these for supper!

Can you tell we like it?

Kate and Mason helping dip all of the marshmallows.