The Polar Express Rail Runner Ride

Jack and I rode the Rail Runner for the first time today. We went with our playgroup on a Polar Express themed ride. The kids wore pajamas, drank cocoa and ate cookies, heard the story, and got a bell. Another mom in the group planned the event. Sadly, her daughter was sick so she wasn't able to come!
We got on the train at Bernalillo and rode north for about 35 minutes. That stop was in the southern part of Santa Fe, not where you would get off to do touristy things (time did not allow us to ride that far). We did all the organized activities on the first leg of the trip. Then on the way back, everyone ate the lunch they had packed.

Here Jack is helping me carry the picnic lunch and the thermos of cocoa. He was a little down when we first arrived because we had a hot chocolate disaster in the car on the way. We stopped at Starbucks and Kelly helped us out with cups and lids and napkins, and hot water for our cocoa. Unfortunately, the thermos I brought (just purchased yesterday) was not really for hot drinks. The steam caused the lid to pop off and about a half gallon of cocoa wound up on the floor of the passenger side of my car. Luckily, it was cocoa made with water and not milk, so it actually smells kind of good instead of nasty and sour. The floor mat soaked a lot of it up. A few of my books on tape were seriously damaged in the incident, but luckily nothing too important. Anyway, we had enough time to go back to Starbucks, where we got a bit of a refill, and there was still plenty of cocoa for all the kids (just not the moms too).

Jack's buddy from KidZone. He says they are "best friends."

Here with a couple of buddies. They were the big boys on the trip.

Here Miss Sarah reads The Polar Express. This is a long story and the kids listened so well!

Clowning around with a couple of friends at the depot in south Santa Fe. We had to get off the train and wait for 12 minutes outside for the southbound train. It was pretty cold! Not sure if it helped or hurt, but there was a bit of snow on the grouind at the station. Jack ate some of it before I could stop him. It didn't seem too dirty. :)

Here Jack and his friend look out at the countryside. It was pretty rural out there. I was distracted by things going on in the train so I didn't see too much. We passed through a nice grove of cottonwoods.

Jack seemed to have a blast on the train. The trip was a great success, all the kids were super! They looked so cute in their p.j.s. The other passengers on the train were very kind and accomodating to our group. We will definitely have to do this again next year.

Here it is!

Here is the decorated tree. If it seems like the tree is a bit bottom-heavy, it is because is was mostly decorated by people under 4 feet tall. We only broke 2 ornaments, and both were non-sentimental, plain silver balls. AnneMarie took the close up shots.

Cutting down our Christmas tree!

For the first time ever (even for Nathan & me), we cut down our own Christmas tree this year. We went north to the Jemez mountains and got a permit for $10. We went on Friday afternoon, we actually got AnneMarie out of school early so we could finish up before dark. It was COLD out there, but pretty dry. There were a few patches of snow in shady areas. The roads are pretty rough but there was only one scary driving moment (and I was the only one scared, I think). It was a really great afternoon.

Jack found a little bit of snow and threw a couple of snowballs at me.

At first we just hiked around looking for the perfect tree to take home.

My little snow bunny. She is very sensitive to cold. Her teacher actually called me yesterday because her ears got so cold at recess she was crying. (Why she did not put up either one of the two hoods she had on, I don't know.) Anyway, for the tree hunt she wore an undershirt, turtleneck, sweater, leggings, jeans, socks, soccer socks, snow bibs, coat, gloves, boots and a beanie. Sounds like overkill but actually just right for AnneMarie.

Here they are, waiting for me to bring a decent saw. Our future tree is on the left.

Our dear friends Colin & Deona cut down a tree every year. This year they taught us how it is done. Actually, this year they dug their tree out and plan to keep it in a bucket for as long as possible. They are currently living in a travel trailer so it will be a strictly outdoor tree.

Shelton is 6 and you can guess what he wants for Christmas.

Sadie Jo is riding in style. Colin found that pink and purple striped hat on the ground in the woods.

Here it is! AnneMarie spotted it from the truck and she wasn't having any other tree. This one is perfect, she says.

Bringing the tree down the steep slope.

It was pretty tall! We cut off about 2 feet after we got home because it was too high (and our ceilings are vaulted and pretty high). I think it is over our 10 ft. permit limit.

Deona was kind and thoughtful enough to bring cocoa for the kids to have afterward. These kids were SO good! It was really cold out there but they did not complain at all. Cutting down our own Christmas tree was a fun time with friends and may be the start of a new tradition. Now we have it home and set up in the stand but not yet decorated. I will add some more pictures when that gets done.