Trains, Angels, Bells, and Airplanes

Christmas time is here... and moving time... and travelling time... So it's been a bit busy. Here are a bunch of things that have been going on for us over the past weeks.

The first couple pictures are from a really cool train track ride that a group puts on every year--it lasts a good ten minutes or so around a large area that's covered with different light displays and music.





They had a Santa to visit too--the boys were very in the moment and said "candy canes" when Santa asked them what they wanted for Christmas.



Trevor had his Angel Choir Performance at church:



And the video:


Ryan was pretty excited for his debut on stage with the bell choir. This is just the setting up phase where he's trying to wait for the start. Trevor is more of an old pro at it:



And here's the song:



Ryan got to ride on Jayson's airplane, as he is now to officially be a middle child and cannot be neglected. Jayson, Katie, John, and Ryan flew down to Lancaster for the morning/afternoon.

Ry's birthday(s) and Texas trip

Ryan was pretty happy to get two birthday cake celebrations this year--the first with Grandma and Grandpa Quigley right before and the second with his Auntie Marie, Uncle Dan and cousins in Texas on the day.


Ry and his awesome 'Mater cake' made by grandma

We made our first trip over to Texas for the Thanksgiving break. The kids travelled really well--considering one was technically still only two at the time.


Dan and Marie were super awesome and made Ry a superman cake (as requested by Ry)and hamburgers with cheese, watermelon and grapes (also as requested)



Gracie and Trevor


Having lunch with Gracie at her Kindergarten



At the children's museum--Ry is grocery shopping



Kaya


Trev


Gracie



Ryan in the spaceship--by far the highlight for the boys


Big Chess

Dan raised and prepared the turkey this year. The kids got to watch the process. Makaya had the biggest reaction in exclaiming "Hooray!" and clapping when her daddy de-headed the bird.




Uncle Dan showing what's inside a turkey's stomach


Tractor Train ride--super cool.


Thanksgiving dinner--I was trying to get the kids to look at the camera and say gobble. Kaya was flapping her arms, and Ryan was gobbling at her. Trev and Gracie just focused on eating.




Mmm... drumstick...


Post-Thanksgiving dinner tractor train ride




They were required to sit together for a picture prior to pie eating


Turkeys

The chickens were also pretty popular. Trevor and Grace set up 'chicken school' where they would take clipboards out and mark down stars for chickens who were being good. They said they were also teaching the chickens to play freeze tag... uncle Dan declared the chickens need some rest.




Trev was trying to be one with the chickens in hopes that they'd let him pick them up


Loved the tire swing

Pumpkin Farm

We made our annual pumpkin farm visit last weekend. It was a lot of fun--both boys got to enjoy it thoroughly this year. We met Mike, Alisha, and Thomas out there, and my parents rode over with us in the spacious minivan. Everyone had ample leg room and cup holders.


Corn pit

The official pumpking measuring stick was moved inside near the activity area this year--it was harder to get the boys to stand there and make any sort of sustained and pleasant eye contact. Lots of exciting things nearby.





Ryan liked going in and out of this little tunnel area


Rubber ducky racing--they got to pump the water to move the ducks back and forth


Ryan gathered all the ducks he could find and lined them up before sending them back over


What's cooler than tractors, cows, and trains? A cow-tractor-train!








Me and baby


A piece of corn from the pit got lodged behind Trev's ear--I think it stayed there a good half hour or more until they got on the bouncy pad


Bounce pad




Mom getting some air

Bouncy Video:



Looking for pumpkins--Ryan had a bit of a hard time because he was looking for one with a happy face on it. Reading Halloween books gives children too high of expectations...




Heading back with our pumpkins




Pumpkin heads


Petting zoo--goats!


Goofy boys--Ryan is quacking loudly for this picture