A Lady and Three Men : Christmas Festivities + A Ride on The Polar Express

Christmas with kids is just plain fun. There was so much excitement from our two little boys this year. I feel like it gets more magical as they get a little older.

Sprinkling reindeer food on the front lawn...

Santa's gifts to the boys...Ellis got a big stuffed Dory, a new book, Mickey Mouse underwear, and a new water bottle and RF got a new truck, a new book, a Charlie Brown t-shirt, and a Melissa and Doug Responsibility Chart.

This boy LOVES Dory...

Happy with his new truck on Christmas morning...

Ellis's present to RF was a new train...I think he liked it...

Too busy playing to give me a real smile...

A Dory snow globe...

Enjoying their gifts...

Christmas morning play-doh fun...

Some train time...

Table is set for Christmas lunch - ham, dressing, macaroni and cheese, creamed corn, butter beans, rolls, and dessert. YUM.

Christmas night Meme arrived from Mississippi and we ventured over to Chimney Park for some Christmas light fun. I love my little family...

Monday morning Meme and I loaded up the car with two little guys and headed towards the mountains. We stopped in Chattanooga for a little park time to run off some energy. Mr. Ellis enjoyed the large stone statues of animals...

Full of energy...

Overlooking the river at Coolidge Park in Chattanooga...

"I've never seen a blue rhino, mama."

A cool music-making sculpture in the park...

The boys loved the bell part of the sculpture...

Just as we were getting ready to leave the carousel opened, so we hopped on for a ride...

Mr. Ellis enjoyed himself...

And so did RF...

A quick bite to eat for lunch and a little further on our drive allowed for a stop at an antique/thrift store outside of Pigeon Forge. RF enjoyed a $3 bag of train cars...

And Ellis enjoyed a $3 bag of trucks and a school bus...

We made it to Gatlinburg!

Hanging in the hotel lobby while we checked in...

He just had to push the buttons in the elevator...

Checking out the hotel room. I had to unplug the phone as RF kept picking it up and pretending that he was working "in his office."He even picked it up and said, "Hello, police. Can you come get my mommy? She won't let me have anymore candy." Goober.

We set out to explore for a while and Mr. Ellis enjoyed some time in the sling...

Checking out the Gatlinburg Christmas decor...

Tow-Mater...

You can't go to Gatlinburg without stopping at the Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen --- so many yummy treats...

Watching the taffy machine. I'm pretty sure I have a photo of me when I was younger, too...

Pizza and Indiana Jones as we rest up for our train ride the next day...

This kid loves trains, planes, cars, and trucks...

ZONKED.

Sweet brothers...

Breakfast at a local pancake restaurant to start our day and of course these two had to play with and stack the jellies and creamers...

Mickey pancakes and eggs!

Playing in the rain that was falling off the gutter...they laughed and laughed.

Rainy, rainy, but tons of fun...

The Chocolate Monkey and his banana car...

Overlooking the river...

Two ducks swam up...

Then two more flew in...

Then two more swam up...The boys enjoyed watching them swim and dive for food...

The drive from Gatlinburg to Bryson City takes you through the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The beginning of our drive through the park included evidence of the wildfire from earlier this month...