In case you are like me and didn't know this until recently, I will inform you that there are traveling toy-train conventions. We checked one out the other day. 

This is a set that spanned a 5 square yards. Everyone stood around watching the train circle the miniature rural town. It doesn't look that exciting in the photograph, but it was Benjamin's favorite attraction, and we almost could not get him to leave with us to look at anything else. (Good thing we're bigger than he is.) 

 There were about 20 kiosks set up too, each with an entire miniature scene set up, with incredible detail. There was a Lego city, a metro area with bullet trains, a prairie scene with a coal train that rode through the plain and then into the dusty little town. My favorite was a train kiosk that had a little U.S. town scene that looked like the old west, but as the train went around the circle, each town scene seemed to progress in time about two decades. So the train traveled from about 1830 or so to about 1990 (I think). It was pretty neat. I am kicking myself for not getting more pictures of it now, but a small part of it is in the two pictures below.

Adele's favorite attraction, and Benjamin's second favorite, was the ride-on Thomas the Train. The policy was that the cutest kids had to sit in the caboose.

Elsa is spending her Birthday with Paul this year. 

But that didn't stop us from is having some delicious cake. 

After all, I have had ten years of these beautiful baby blues  in my life. 

That's something to celebrate. 

Ben's Hammer

Ben likes to "bop" things (and people, we are working on the people part though). So, when we took his Christmas gift card to spend at Target, he picked out a big (but soft) hammer, perfect for smashing things. He takes it all over the house, threatening, whacking, smashing, you know, "guy stuff." 

That's his hammer in his left hand. 

It makes him look very tough, and intimidating. And no binkie, blankie, and bib in the world are going to change that. 

This is his "nap-nite" time face, cause pillaging gets a fellow tired. 

Ben's Hat

Dress Up

The other day we watched Zoey and Zaylor for the night. Zoey had a good time with Adele and playing dress up all night. Here's one of the fabulous outfits they found.

Way Late for Church

This is how Sunday is going for us, so far.

Dancing at the Mall

We went to the mall and a song was playing in one of the stores...Adele approved of the music choice.

"Sword Fight"

What can you do with used wrapping paper rolls?

Christmas Time 2011

Oh yeah! I have a blog!

It's been a while so this will be one big long November - Christmas post.

Also, how cute is Elsa cuddling her kitty-cat?

And how cute is Elsa when she treats her 1 1/2 year old brother like a tiny baby?
My girls:
We got passes to the community center, so we get to swim year round inside. So far, we've been once!
And here is a shot of me, I took it to show Ryan my snazzy earrings. It was "wear your peacock earrings to work" day at my job. I work with several people who also own peacock earrings.
Benjamin made sure to get his rest as he geared up for the holiday chaos and stress.

Thanksgiving at the Robisons.
And right after Thanksgiving, we put up a tree. To hide behind.
She was not terrible interested in letting me take a picture of her.

Zoey donated an old play skirt to Adele, who wore it for about 72 hours before taking it off once. It's still her favorite thing to wear a month and a half later!
And as Christmas approached, we started baking. And as soon as my mixer comes out, my "helpers" hang close to lick them clean for me when I am done.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh! Giant lion invasion in the Dickens/turn of the century rural U.S. Christmas town!!!!

Shopping for last minute Christmas items. Can you find anything unusual about these clothing racks?
And finally, Santa came, and he brought a train track, and two trains.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I got to spend the first seconds of the new year watching some beautiful people watching fireworks above town at midnight.

And then the first morning of the new year, Sunday, my beautiful daughter tried, as she has been trying for years, to drive me nuts.

Elsa Sue? Why on Earth won't you just let me take a picture of you without you making a face like a mentally disturbed gumball?

Anyway, picture her smiling like a normal person, and you can see the pretty dresses she and Adele got for Christmas.