Blog catch-up

This past weekend, my college girlfriends and husbands all got together for our annual Christmas party. It was WONDERFUL to see everyone and catch up on everything that is going on in each other's lives. We also had two cuties to meet, and two lives to anticipate and celebrate! Jane and Jude were born about a month apart (Jude being the oldest), but unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of him! frown I loved seeing Summer being a mommy in person! Emily is expecting her first child, and Melinda is expecting her second son within days of each other. So exciting!! I really do love how I feel like we all pick up right where we left off, even if it has been months since seeing each other. I love you ladies! Oh, and thank you Pops and ZZ for letting C and G have a sleep-over with you. I definitely enjoyed being just "Andrew and Cyndy" (plus Jane, ha) for a few hours!

Em getting ready for Baby boy White!

You can just see Melinda's baby bump!

Jane, meet Summer. Summer, meet Jane. smile

I look super weird here, but I love the candidness of this picture!

The girls

Fast Forward to last night. I have a few blogs that I look at everyday... ok, multiple times a day! ha On one of my favorites, the mom talked about taking their kids on the "minivan express" to look at Christmas lights in their town. We had just watched the "Polar Express" with the kids, and of course anything train related is a HUGE hit with G-man. I was SOOOOOO excited to do this with them, that I was practically giddy the whole day. HA Andrew just kept laughing at me, b/c I was so excited. Secretly though, he was just as excited. Don't let him fool you! wink

We put the unsuspecting kiddos to sleep as usual. Andrew stepped out, and I did prayers and kisses. Once I turned off the lights, a shrill "Toot Toot" filled the air. I just LOVE Ceilidh's expression here. Graeme looks totally terrified. ha

The best daddy ever playing the role of conductor. "All aboard! Are you coming?!"

Once the kids realized we weren't kidding, that they could actually get out of bed; they ran downstairs to grab their tickets. The conductor is rapidly punching away in good ole' "Polar Express" fashion. I wish I had video tapped all this! If you Andrew at all, you know he can mimic just about anyone's voice. His Tom Hank's conductor voice was quite convincing!

Pure excitement!

Graeme was enthralled with his ticket being punched!

Jane didn't get a ticket this year. wink

The "Blazer Express" wouldn't be complete without hot chocolate and popcorn!

Andrew downloaded the music from the movie when he boards the train, and the music that plays when they are serving hot chocolate. I thought Graeme was going to flip out at this point. Ceilidh asked me where the dancing waiters where! ha

We drove around listening to train/dancing music, drinking hot chocolate, and eating popcorn while looking at Christmas lights. We have a home in the area that has music synchronized with a light show. It is pretty remarkable.

I hope this becomes a Clendenin tradition. We had SO much fun!

Fast Forward again to this morning. Santa showed up at the library!!!!

Sweet Calissa! She is Andrew's second cousin and a story time friend of Ceilidh and Graeme!

Trying to get Jane in! Cheer up, Ceilidh! ha

Story time friends!

She is so protective of him.... when she wants to be! wink

One last sweet story:

This morning as I was getting ready for story time, I was debating on whether or not to take them to meet Santa (again). They have seen him at the mall, tree lightings, and parades. We "do" Santa and are fine with healthy make-believe, but we really try to focus the advent season on Jesus. As I was worrying and contemplating all this, I start hearing this raspy little voice singing, "Away in a Manager." When I walked into the playroom, Graeme had their princess tent up (the stable), on his knees with a blanket over his head (Joseph), and singing to a baby doll (baby Jesus). I admit it, I shed a tear! ha He told me, "Shhh... I singing to Baby Jesus!" So sweet!