Polar Express

Noah's big kindergarten field trip was taking a ride on the Polar Express.  I was lucky and was able to go with him as a chaperone.  Everyone wore their pajamas.  He was so excited to go!

 All ready with his ticket.

 He got to try out the conductor's hat!

 All-aboard!

 Getting his ticket punched

While riding the train, we ate cookies, drank hot chocolate, and sang Christmas songs.  It was such a fun way to start the holiday season!

Toy Festival

Every year Walmart puts on a big Toy Festival where the toy companies are able to showcase the hot new toys for the year.  They have them on display so that the kids are able to play with them and try them out.  We went for the first time this year, and the kids loved it!

Besides being able to play with lots of toys, they also got to bring home lots of freebies that were being handed out.  They came home knowing just what they wanted, and they made their Christmas lists right away!

Sammy's 9th Birthday

Sammy's 9th birthday this year fell the day before Thanksgiving, so she was out of school.  We started the day by having breakfast at Panera.  After that we headed out to do some shopping with the birthday money she got.

 The movie "Tangled" came out that same day, so that's what she wanted to do for her party.
After the movie we went out for ice cream.

 

 Of course there were some presents. 

 And cake too!  She requested a Snickers cake.  Megan did the decorating.

 Happy Birthday Sammy!

Halloween

Halloween was a little different this year.  Since it was on a Sunday, we celebrated a little different than usual.  The first event was the school costume parade the Friday before.

Sammy dressed up like an Evil Fairy

 Noah is Jango Fett (he's the taller one)

 It was such nice, warm weather that we were able to carve our pumpkins outside!

 We did all of our trick or treating at our ward Trunk or Treat on Saturday night.  On Halloween night, the kids still dressed in their costumes and had fun handing out candy to the trick or treaters.

Fall Photo Session

At the end of October we headed out to take some pictures of the kids.  I started doing this last year when I decided I didn't like the pictures they have taken at the school.  They are always so expensive, and they really aren't very cute.  We really enjoy have our own little photo session.  We may not be professionals, but we were happy with a few of them.  Here are some of our favorites:

 And I had to add a couple that just make us laugh when we look at them: