A time to be thankful, a time to reflect and also a time to celebrate! This year our Thanksgiving was celebrated with great family. Uncle Chase came to stay with us for the whole week. The kids loved having him around. He got lots of snuggles and attention from our little ones. Thanksgiving morning started at home. Mommy in the kitchen cooking for our feast and daddy, Chase and the kids eating cinnamon rolls in front of the TV watching the Macy's day parade. It is hard to believe that 4 years ago mommy and daddy were there in NYC for the parade! Later in the day we went over to Aunt Ellie and Uncle Bill's house. Ellie of course had her home all fantastically decorated for the holiday. It was such a warm, comfortable and homey feeling. This was just one of my favorite centerpieces she had out for the kids table.
We tried to get a couple shots of the kids together, this one was the best one out of the ones we took and neither kid is looking at the camera!
Here is our smiley princess!
Showing her pearly whites. She has 4 teeth in fully and two on each side on top just poking thru plus one on the bottom left just poking thru. Poor little peanut is getting them all at one time!
She loves to roll all over the place on the floor. Belly to back and back to belly, she knows how to get around!
I love my Uncle Chase!
That Saturday after Thanksgiving we took Chase to the airport. It was a sad day as we said farewell, but knowing we will see him again in just a few short weeks made it a whole lot easier! Since the weather was beautiful that day we thought what a better way to enjoy the nice weather than to go out for our annual picking out a Christmas tree! We headed out to Wickiup Tree Hill in search of the perfect tree. The have SO many to choose from. Long needles, short needles, Frazier Fur's, and the list goes on...and on...
You can even have a teal colored tree if you want!
We let Dylan lead the way this year. He paused for a brief moment trying to decide which way to go, and then...he was off!
Danielle snuggled with mommy in the Baby Bjorn and we followed right along.
Dylan came across a little tree that he really wanted to bring home for him and the baby. It was a cute little thing. But we persuaded him to keep looking for a BIG tree!
And he found one. A really full one with a needle perfect for the star we would put on top. It seems we always mis-judge the size and then we get it home and have to cut some off the bottom. This year this one fits perfect. A little rounder than the ones in the past but it works, this is the perfect tree for our family this year!
Daddy cut the tree down and then we were down the hill to take it home.
Brad debated on having them come with the Gator to carry the tree for us. But then him and Dylan decided that they could just drag it down the hill.
We had them put the tree on the shaker to get all of the access needles off so it didn't make a complete mess once inside the house. They netted it for us and we were off to home to decorate our tree.
Thank you Wickiup Tree Hill for once again helping us in our family tradition of helping us to find the perfect Christmas tree. Maybe next year we will take a Gator ride in search of the perfect tree!
We also have had the fantastic opportunity recently to ride the 'Polar Express'! Mommy and Daddy purchased tickets over a month ago to ride the Polar Express train to the North Pole in Boone. We have anticipated this day ever since. Part of the experience is to dress the kids in their pj's for the train ride to the North Pole. We snuggled the kids in their pj's, slippers and blankets and we were off to Boone.
Danielle sure was excited to ride the train for her first time.
After a 2 1/2 hour car ride poor little peanut was fast asleep. Dreaming of the fun night yet to come!
We arrived in Boone to the Scenic Valley Line at about 5 pm, in time to pick up our tickets from the will call window and wait inside the Depot for the Conductor to tell us, 'All Aboard'!
6 PM departure was fast approaching. The kids waited patiently to board the train. Dylan had his Polar Express book tightly protected in his hands.
Brad was very very excited to be with the kids, taking them on their first train ride!
The train was very festively decorated for Christmas. This experience sure put our family in the Christmas spirit. Tis' the season for family traditions.
It was fun to see all of the kids dressed in their pj's, even some parents, the elves and conductors were dressed in their pj's too! We browsed up and down the train cars in search of which one we wanted to ride on.
And we picked one, 'the little train that could!'
We waited in line and the Conductor punched our tickets just like the do in the Polar Express movie. The Polar Express book and movie are a favorite of mommy and daddy's, and we felt like we were experiencing it in real life!
Our train car was all decorated for Christmas. Complete with garland strung with white lights all around the train car. Each train car had a 'Elf Story Reader' and a 'Helper Elf too'.
We got settled into our seats the the big train whistle blew and we were off, to the 'North Pole'! The Elf story reader introduced himself and began to read the Polar Express. We followed along with our book and we felt like we were a part of the story!
After the story was over the reader asked all of the little ones questions about the book. It was so cute, they would raise their hands to answer the questions. What a magical experience. Once we arrived at the North Pole we saw Santa's house on one side of the train and live reindeer on the other. The little ones were naming them one by one and picking out which one they all thought was Rudolph! When the train stopped our Elf handed out cookies...YUM!
Then the helpers came around and handed out Hot Chocolate, perfect for a cool winters night!
After the cookies and hot chocolate we heard a little rustle from outside our train car, the door opened and in came Santa Claus! HO HO HO, MERRY CHRISTMAS he boasted out loud! All of the kids cheered and Dylan said he spotted Elmo! Shortly he realized it was Santa Claus and was just as excited to see him. Santa came around and handed each of the kids a shiney Silver Bell, just like in the Polar Express book and movie. The sound of ringing bells filled our train car! Soon Santa waved farewell and we were on our way from the North Pole back to the train depot. On the ride back we read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' and even sang Christmas Caroles. The kids also paraded up and down the aisle so everyone could see their pj's! This was a very memorable experience for our family. It definitely put us in the Chrismas Spirit. Lots of memory's were made and we hope to do it again next year!
The kids slept the whole car ride home. Danielle was a little sad to have been woken up. She is a true princess complete with the pukered out lip when she is sad....
And the full fledge scream when she really isn't happy. But a nice warm bottle took care of that and soon after she was tucked in her bed and fast asleep. 
We are very thankful for all of these wonderful memory's we are making this Holiday Season. We are thankful for each other, our beautiful children that complete our family. We can't wait for what else this Holiday Season has in store for us!***************************
On another note. The day after Thanksgiving our family lost a wonderful Uncle. Uncle Tom Randklev passed away that Friday morning. He was a beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle and Friend. He will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him. He had such a will for life. His sudden passing shocked everyone around him. His services were this week, the huge outpouring amount of love and support that came for him and the family was truly amazing. People waited for hours and hours to greet the family. We want to pass along one of the poems off of Tom's funeral card. Well said, to the point and a very important message:
Remember what a smile's for;
Show off those pearly teeth.
Try to make one friend a day,
That's not beyond your reach.
Try to find that spot of good
In each one that you know;
And live each day so you'll be missed,
When your time comes to go.
Try to see the other side;
Take time to understand.
Recollect you have a heart-
Include God in your plan.
Have some time for everyone,
And let your good side show.
And live each day, so you'll be missed,
When your time comes to go.
May you rest in peace Tom. May Linda, your children and grandchildren find comfort knowing you are with the lord. You are greatly missed.
In memory of Thomas Allan Randklev: 1943-2009~
Until next time. Keep the ones you love close to your heart. Don't take any day for granted as you never know what tomorrow will bring. Live each day as if it was your last. We love you Danielle, we are very thankful you are our daughter.~
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