Santa and the Polar Express

This year for Christmas Chris' Mom bought us tickets to the Polar Express in Williams, AZ. It was so fun. We were able to go with Chris' cousin who has 3 little boys, so that made it even more of an adventure. She also gave us money to but some new Christmas pjs for the occasion. Tate's were so funny. Az you can see, they were these dorky striped pants that kind of reminded me of an elf. I thought they were so great. Tanner's were the footy ones and on the side that you can't see they have a picture of santa and say, "Santa's helper" or something like that.

So for the ride you get on the train and they start by giving you cookies and hot cocoa. Then they read they story "The Polar Express." By that time you have reached the "north pole" and Santa comes on board the train and gives each child a bell. Basically the night follows the plot of the book. Everyone is dressed in costume and the car is all Christmasy, so it makes the ride even more fun for the kids.

Before the train ride we also took a horse drawn carriage ride around downtown Williams. Tate loved that. He is still obsessed with horses.

The boys:

The conductor walked through our car:

The cookies

Waiting for Santa to get to Tate
Santa and his gift to Tate

My first Triathlon

Hello. I finished my first sprint Triathlon. I have wanted to do one for a while now, and then when my friend Mary Anne did her first one in July I was inspired! There was some girls from church who were doing their first one at the same time, so it was fun to have them there to ask questions and everything. Two of my room mates from EA were there as well. They both CREAMED ME. But we won't talk about that! :) I am already plotting how I am going to improve my time next year. I see how they can be addicting like people have told me they are!

Girls from church:

For some reason I was really concerned about what I was going to wear. I didn't know if I should wear a swimsuit and then throw clothes on over and then I didn't know how I would wear a sports bra too. So you see it was quite the dilemna. I ended up getting these Nike quick dry clothes that I swam in, and then just threw a shirt on to bike and run. (Sports bra built in) I was happy how that part worked out.

The breakdown:

Swim-400m 10:44

Bike-10.3 miles 54:20

Run-3 miles 28:01

Total- 1:33:05

I wasn't quite as fast as I wanted to be. I wanted to finish under 1:30, but I have some adjustments that I think would take at least 10 minutes off my time. For one, I had a mountain bike. All these people kept passing me on their road bikes. It seemed they were pedaling not nearly as hard as me and going significantly faster! Frustrating.I think that would shave 10 minutes right there. And I just need to run faster and swim faster. Sounds genius, eh?

I hear there is one in Pima on April 30th and May 1st. I think I will do that one. Any one else want to join? Party in Pima!

Swim:

Bike: (I can't get over how cool I look)

Run:

Friends Kristal (on left) and Marlee (the ones that creamed me) Ok, well Marlee had a baby in Sept. so she did a relay and only did one segment, but she would have creamed me. Kristal got 3rd overall for our age group. She kept telling me how out of shape she was and how she hadn't trained. :)

I would like to thank my sponsor and my photogtapher:

And thanks to my mom who ended up watching the boys that morning!

It was seriously fun and I am already looking forward to another. It was the perfect excuse to have to get in shape! It was annoying some days to think "I have to go swim today, or I am never going to be able to do the triathlon" but in the end I am so glad that I had that extra incentive.

Halloween

Halloween was like 3 months ago. I do want to document the event, though, because someday I aim to compile this.

First of all, I LOVED my little puppy dog. Tate was Nacho Libre his first halloween and the next year he was yoda, so I have never had a cuddly halloween character to snuggle. I thought he was so cute. I especially loved his little ears and tail.

Tate was cute too, just not as cuddly. My little cowboy:

The Thursday before Halloween we went with my parents to a trunk or treat. Chris and I went as ??? Squints and Wendy Peffercorn. I want to try again next year, but find a red lifeguard suit or something. I think it would be better. When I look at the pictures of myself that night, I realize that I indeed was not meant to be blonde or have long hair.

My mom and her two grandbabies:

For Halloween we went to Pima. We had never been there for Halloween, and it was really fun.

This is the family:

They had a couple of little carnivals that Tate loved. It is so fun to watch him now that he is old enough to do this kind of stuff.
My little guys:
Before we went out at Halloween night we carved our pumpkins at Grandma Smith's house.

Tanner is such as funny mess!

It probably looks from this post that I favor Tanner. For the record, I love both my children equally.