Every year, a nearby town puts on an elaborate celebration called "The Christmas Train". It runs for several weeks and is supposed to take you back to a simpler time. It is set in an Old West setting, where you walk on gravel streets and the shops all around are in old western looking buildings. It is really neat.
You board an amazing train and it takes you on a 15 minute ride where you witness Christ's birth, His death and His resurrection! It is an incredible witnessing tool for the lost. And you will just tear up as you go through it!!
A big group of my family went this year and all brought our little ones. Maxwell wasn't able to make it, of course, but Luke and Hollie came along. Maxwell will enjoy next year. Levi absolutely LOVED it!!
Daddy and Levi played around while waiting for the rest of the family to come!
We ate before we went, at a local BBQ joint, and Levi played with Grandma almost the whole time. He loves her!
You can't tell in this picture, but Levi was wearing a special outfit with a red train on it. How appropriate!
Levi and I totally bundled up for the whole ordeal. How cute is the warm suit he's wearing! It was lined with lamb's wool. Oh, how warm!
He has really taken a liking to Auntie Hollie! He just laughs at her and then buries his head in her neck. It's adorable!!
My boy was NOT going to get cold! :)
Wonder where he gets those beautiful eyes? ;)
No strollers allowed on the train! What would I do without Husby? My "little" baby is not very little...and he gets heavy after long periods of time!! He weighs more than most 1 year olds. Ha! No. Seriously.
I LOVE this picture. Weebie looks SO happy and just like the kid from A Christmas Story where he's so bundled he can't move. Oh, this makes me laugh. He loves his Glam*Ma and Grandpa!
Family Shot!
Sweet Weebie Boy was so excited to see Christ's birth played out, since he's been learning about it and all. But, the whole thing was a little much for him and by the time we made it half way through the train, the poor tired lamb konked out! Sweet Cheeks.
Momsy and Me!
Me, Hollie and little cousin Sam!
It was a wonderful time. It is completely Christ oriented and it's awesome to celebrate the meaning of Christmas. CHRISTmas.
After the train ride and experiencing the little western town, it was time.
Everyone hold your hats.....
WEEBIE MET SANTA!!!!!
Levi has a bit of a fear of beards. He often screams at my dad and my brother because they have pretty big beards. So, I was a tad concerned about the whole Santa experience. I sat Weebs on his lap and he looked at his beard and started frowning.
"WEEBIE BEAR! It's SANTA! You LOVE Santa", I screamed in the highest, sweetest voice possible.
He looked at me and the red splotches had already formed around his eyes. He looked away from me, back at Santa and then back to me again. And then...he SMILED.
And grabbed Santa's beard.
He was mesmerized.
Like his Mommy.
This is the photo we ended up with and Santa's beard makes Levi's ear look elfish. But that's okay. He's my little elf.
**
Day 15.
Day 16.
Day 17.
So far, our story is as follows:
Caesar Augustus said that a census must be taken. So Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to register. Mary was going to have a baby. An angel told Mary her baby would be the Son of God. In Bethlehem, it came time for Mary to have her baby. But there was no room for them at the inn. So she had her Son in a stable. She wrapped him up in swaddling clothes...and laid him in a manger.
In a field nearby, shepherds tended their flocks. An angel appeared and the shepherds were afraid. "Do not be afraid," said the angel.
"I bring you news of great joy. Today in Bethlehem, a Saviour has been born. He is Christ the Lord. You will find Him lying in a manger."
Then, more angels joined the first one.
Can I borrow Levis warm lamb suit? Although I wont look as cute in it as he does, it would sure keep me warm! Love the pics and I SOOO recognize that BBQ joint. There is NOTHIN' like it.
ReplyDeleteWe have a train like that near us, I'm hoping to take our little man this weekend. And the Santa pic turned out absolutely adorable!
ReplyDeleteYour posts always make me smile :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun family time! Too bad Max couldn't come along. I could have babysat him, you know! I love the picture of Darin and Max on Day 17-what a great shot of Darin looking up at the camera.
ReplyDeleteI've never commented on your blog before, but I love reading it and seeing your delight in little Levi. I had to comment today though because if the Christmas train that you went to is at Camp Dry Gulch, that means you drove right past my grandparents', plus other relatives' houses! They live just a few miles west of DG. I grew up in Pryor and my parents still live there, but I've never gone to the Christmas Train. : ) Small word, eh?! I guess this only makes sense if you truly went to DG. If it wasn't DG, sorry!!
ReplyDeleteLevi looks so cute. Looks like he had a great time!
ReplyDeleteThe family pic in black and white looks great.Just like rest of them!
How fun! My little guy has that same outfit!
ReplyDeleteThis looks fun...I wish we had something cool like this in our town! It looks great! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the Christmas Train. We were supossed to go this year but just never got around to it. So sad! Levi looks adorable all bundled up!
ReplyDeleteWe tried to do that last year, but the tickets were already sold out. We must do it next year. I'm in love with Levi's grey striped outfit. LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had fun, and that Levi was safe and warm. Looking forward to a wonderful Christmas week with both grands here (plus their parents). :)
ReplyDeleteIs that at Dry Gulch in OK?? It looks just like Dry Gulch if not. I grew up in Pryor and have many fond memories of going to the Christmas train with my family and youth group. Actually, one of my good friends from high school still works at Dry Gulch, and he absolutely loves putting on the train for everyone. It's soo neat! I want to go home and go this year!! :)
ReplyDeleteHe is adorable.
ReplyDeleteI had a very similar pramsuit for my little boy when he was a baby. He also had a matching hat with teddy bear ears. He looked so cute in the outfit and it certainly kept him snug during the cold British winter.
ReplyDeleteI love the way Levi is looking adoringly up at his daddy in the advent photo. A lovely picture.
SO cute!! It's amazing how almost every picture I see of Levi he is SMILING! He's so precious! Glad you all had a great time at the Train!
ReplyDeleteFirst -Love little Levi's train suit...super cute! Second -Love the black & white family pic...adorable! Lastly -if you don't mind me asking, what kind of camera do you have and what setting do you use to take your night pictures outdoors?
ReplyDeleteYou guys look like you had so much fun!
ReplyDeleteHOW FUN!!!! My nieces went to this!!! I wonder if yall saw each other!! cute pics :)
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of camera do you use? Your photos are always superb! Any tips for a beginner?
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