Christmas activities

We have been having a lot of fun this month at our house. The first week of December we decorated a ginger bread house and brought home our Christmas tree.

Avery invited the neighbor girls over to help and they did a fantastic job. They loved eating the candy & frosting as much as decorating with it! Sugar highs were soon to follow. Even Blake got in on the action for a few minutes, but you can't keep that boy still for long.

This year we decided to go on the Chelatchie Prairie Railroad Christmas train. You depart the train station in Yacolt and it takes you on a 30 minute ride south, past the depot where Santa is waiving to everyone, through a tunnel and then back to the depot. There you get to warm by the bonfire (which was essential as it was only 25 degrees that morning!), drink hot cocoa or coffee, eat cookies, pick out your tree and sit on Santa's lap. Blake was COLD and cutting new molars and just wanted his blankie. We had a great time with our friends the Andersons and, although REALLY cold, we loved the dry, sunny weather.
Avery loved helping decorate the tree, as usual, but was actually a help this year! She put on a good portion of the ornaments herself. And they were evenly spaced and all!
The second week of December was the annual VPD Kids Club Christmas Party. We look forward to this each year. VPD gets the place all to ourselves and the kids have a BLAST! Pizza, cupcakes, tons of room to play & run, and a visit from Santa! Blake will not have anything to do with anybody in a costume, so he opted out of telling Santa what he wants for Christmas, but he did give him a high five.
Avery & I have been baking too. We made sugar cookies for our family & friends, and made some extras for the preschool party too. Tonight we made peppermint bark and this weekend we are planning on making spritz & fudge. Oh how I love the Christmas season!