Polar Express

The Polar Express was actually my second train ride, my first ride was in a snow storm with my Papa in December of 2008.  It was from Vancouver, Washington to Wishram, Washington.  

Papa had come to take care of me while my mommy was recovering from surgery.  While he was staying with us there was a huge snow storm, the gorge freeways to The Dalles were closed so he had to stay 8 whole days instead of the 2 he had planned on. 

We had fun - a couple of those days there was no school because of the storm so Papa and I got to spend the day together and we made my first Gingerbread House (see below).

Papa wanted to get home - he missed my Nana and decided to ride the train home- even the train was too full the first day he tried to leave so he had to wait, by the time the train had a couple of seats I was out of school for the Christmas holiday and we both took off on a fun adventure to The Dalles on the train, it was a couple of days before Christmas.  The two hour trip turned into a 4 hour trip and we waited for hours to board the train.  Once we got on the train the conductor told everyone there was a special treat for everyone, Papa and I went to the lounge to find our treat - it was a huge Subway sandwich for each person on the train - boy was I hungry after the long wait - it tasted really good!

This time the train ride was just for fun - my cousin Abigail (Abby) and I rode it with Nana and Papa.  We got to sing Christmas Carols, drink hot cocoa, eat Gingersnap cookies (not as good as my Nana's though), and we got to see Santa and sit on his lap and tell him what we wanted for Christmas.  Here are some pictures...

Abigail and me (Madison) standing in front of the Christmas tree in the train depot.

Me, Abby, Santa and the Elfs

Me, Papa, and Abigail riding the train

We are singing our Christmas Carols - I love the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". My favorite part is about the "Five Golden Rings!"

Havest Fest

On Saturday we all got to go to the Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Fest.  It was a lot of fun.  We got to do a lot of fun events.  I got to go with Mommy, Leroy, Nana, Aunt Carrie, Tim and my cousing Abby.

Here are some photos:

Soccer 2009

This is my first year playing soccer and I love it!  Here are some soccer pictures of me.

First Missing Tooth - September 29, 2009!

I lot my first tooth! How exciting - It feels so funny, my tongue keeps playing with the spot where my tooth use to be.  

The Tooth Fairy brought me $1.00 - my Nana said that was inflation (whatever that means!).  She said she use to get a quarter - boy that wouldn't buy anything now days!

First Day of First Grade

Today was my first day of First Grade.  We are in the process of moving back to The Dalles and in the meantime I get to stay with Nana and Papa and start school until we get moved in our new house.  It is cool!  I love being back in The Dalles - it is great to go places and see people you know.  I went to The Dalles Wahtonka High School Burger and Ball Bash on Friday night with Papa and Nana and there was lots of people who knew me - it was so much fun!  We even won the game!

Here are some pictures of me on my way to school - my Nana ALWAYS takes pictures of us on the first day of school.  My Mommy and Aunt Carrie use to hate it but it is fun for them to see all the pictures now that they are adults.

the famous picture taken in front of the front door - fun to see how tall we get from year to year!

carrying my HEAVY backpack - all my school supplies. I hope it isn't this heavy coming back home with homework!

in front of Nana & Papa's house

heading into my class room

I got to ride the school bus today after school to Nana's work - that is so much fun!

Summer of 2009

Hi, it is nearing the end of summer and I have been very busy. I have gone to day camp, the zoo with Leroy, the park, watched lots of baseball with Mommy while Leroy coached, stayed with my Nana and Papa, went swimming, played with my Cousin Abigail and Aunt Carrie, had a visit from my Patti Patti (Grandma) from California. Where has the time gone...it is almost time for school to start. My Aunt Carrie, Abby, Nana, and I went to the summer night library program and got to write a story and do some drawings for a book that is being published. It was a lot of fun. I will be in first grade this school year.




When I am at my Nana and Papa's I get to do a lot of paper crafting, painting on wood cut outs, and baking. It is so much fun. Here is a picture of me baking Dipped Gingersnaps that my Nana enteres in her company's baking contest and won First Place. The recipe is from her good friend Sue - so I guess that makes them both winners! You can find the recipe on my Nana's blog (http://stampinwizard.blogspot.com/)

Another thing I got to do is help my Papa build a deck and put in French doors. We did such a nice job. Papa always says I am a big helper. Here are pictures of me hammering, putting in bolts, and staining the deck. I love it that Papa let's me work right beside him.