signs of the season

This week...

We baked sugar cookies.

With lots of decorations.
I thought this one looked particularly yummy with that red goose turd-looking thing on top.

Notice the Christmas helicopter? It reminds me of how Santa used to visit the Air Station kids, arriving in a helicopter.

In a first for his lifetime, after choosing the biggest cookie of the bunch, Finnian could not finish it.
Perhaps it was the cup of green sugar crystals he dumped on it?

We waited for the North Pole Express to arrive by watching model trains in the warm station.

Isaac and his pal Jack heard the whistle and saw the steam as the train pulled into the station.

Santa visited us on the train trip, and gave each child a Christmas bell.
Princess Snowflake, our car's "elf," actually made a bigger impression on the boys. 

We dropped the Clauses back off at North Pole Station before we chuffed away towards Connecticut.

We got Xavier's stocking back from the embroiderer's.
Then, the boys discussed the best order to hang the stockings.

I can't believe Finnian's stocking was the first pattern I ever used!
Now it's been used three times. They are hung and ready for Christmas Eve!

Finnian's been reading Christmas stories to his younger brothers.
Today he read The Polar Express. I'm not kidding you. That's a big book!
And the little ones patiently listened as he sounded out the biggest words.

We went to the Coast Guard Christmas party and the boys saw Santa again.
Two times in one week!
Finnian gave him a high five and Isaac said "I want a train!" Twice.

They both danced the night away to a kid's band.
We're all ready for bed after that week!