North Pole Express

The past couple of years we've heard about the North Pole Express and seen several people on Facebook taking their kids. I didn't realize you had to buy tickets in July though! Thankfully, they remodeled a car and offered tickets in November. My friend, Misty, forwarded me the email with the info on the new car and I bought tickets immediately.

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum has set up a train ride to the North Pole and Santa, Mrs. Claus and his elves all come onto the train. The elves hand out Christmas ornaments, cookies and milk and Santa and Mrs. Claus stop to talk with the children and take pictures. The big thing to do is wear your pajamas like in Polar Express.

Ready to go! 

Waiting to board the train.

So excited

Finally on the train!

Mommy told her she was getting milk and cookies, so she
didn't care about Santa and wouldn't smile for a picture with him.

Or for one with Mommy and Daddy!

Smiling again after getting her milk and cookies! Spoiled rotten girl! 

 This was a really fun way to start off the Christmas season. I'm sure we'll do this again next year! (If I can remember to buy tickets in July!)

Taylor's Bedroom Re-do

Since we are having another little girl, we are using the same nursery furniture and bedding. Therefore, Taylor is getting a new "big girl" room and our guest bedroom is getting a makeover! First, she got to pick out her bedding. I found a couple that I liked online and then asked her which one she wanted. Every single time, she picked the same bedding set. So, that's what she got! Then, she got to pick her paint color. Every time we asked her she said purple and pink. Everyone knows purple is my favorite color, and I'm not a huge fan of pink, but since the nursery is purple, we went with pink. I can't believe it! Next, she helped Daddy paint the walls in her new room and helped Mommy and Mama Donna paint her bed (which was my bed and Mama Donna's bed when we were little girls).

We continually had to find new places for her to paint. She ended up painting the entire backside of the headboard because she didn't want to quit painting when there wasn't anything else low to paint.

Oh, so much paint on her! It's been a while and I still find paint in her hair!

I've been holding off on posting this until I take pictures of the final product, but so far, that hasn't happened. Here's a picture of Taylor her first night in her new room!

McWane Center Holiday Party

Last month, we purchased a McWane membership for the next 12 months (with a $20 off coupon from BirminghamMommy.com!). Tuesday night they had their Holiday Party, so we took Taylor. She had a blast! She has fun every time we go to the McWane center!

One of her favorite things is the big lite brite, but it's hard to get a picture of that. They also have lots of different trains set up. One is set up like a city, another is Harry Potter themed, then there are several more smaller set-ups. Taylor and Daddy had fun looking at those for a while. Then, we tried to go make a gingerbread house, but they had run out of supplies. Thankfully, they hadn't run out of Christmas cookies and decorating supplies. Mommy, Daddy and Taylor all decorated and ate a Christmas cookie!

Then, Taylor decided to play checkers. Although, she had more fun stacking them up than attempting to play. 

 After getting some more snacks and hot chocolate, Taylor slid down the slide to the second floor to see the Clifford the Big Red Dog exhibit. She decided to color him a picture (well, several) and put it in the mail.

After Clifford, we walked over to the cafe where Taylor took our order, prepared it and rang up our bill. 

What would you like to eat?

No, I think you want a hamburger.

We finally made it back upstairs to ride the train and zip line. We weren't sure if she'd ride the zip line, but she LOVED it. In fact, she wanted to ride it "twice".

We ended up staying longer than Mommy wanted, but Taylor had so much fun, it was well worth it! I think many McWane dates might be in Daddy and Taylor's future come January!