Merry Christmas!

Christmas was a bit of a whirlwind (isn't it always?) this year. Since we moved I've gotten involved again in activities we essentially ignored back in Virginia. It's fun, but creates a SCHEDULE! Aaaccckkk!!! Anyway, part of the craziness was that Mormor (that's Mother's Mother in Norwegian) came to visit for a couple of days, Princepessa's Godparents (and their kids) came to visit for a couple of days, and Oma & Opa (that would be Mr Top Gun's parents) came for Christmas and the five or so days after that. 
It's been many years since we had visitors for Christmas. While it's always nice to have visitors... what was really neat (for the kids, that is), was EVERYONE bought them gifts. Normally they get a check or a gift card. This year they got PRESENTS from their grandmothers. And LOTS of them! The kids had a grand time opening the presents and they've had an even grander time playing with them.
The highlight of the trip for us, however, was the train ride they all took up in Georgetown CO on the last day Oma and Opa were visiting.  They had such a fun time on the train they even went to visit the Train museum in Golden CO on the way back out of the mountains.

Here's Butch

Tiger and Butch checking out the ravine

Sundance loves trains (ok, they all do)

Princepessa is just too darn cute for words!

Oma and Opa had fun on the train too

SURPRISE! Santa and Mrs Claus came by! Butch was a good boy and didn't tell everyone that Santa was pretend and St Nicholas is real.

She liked the train ride I think

All the kids got a sleigh bell too!

Nope, he's not having fun. Not at all. ;)

Everyone squeezed into one picture. Sundance and the Princepessa on the left, then Mr Top Gun, Opa, Oma and Tiger, finally Butch on the right end.

We love our warm winter mittens made by mommy - and candy canes too. ;)

Opa's a big hit anytime he comes to visit - all the kids like to follow him around and help fix things

Tiger really likes trains too.

The Colorado Train Museum has a train yard and they had a wonderful time climbing all over some of the trains.

Still small enough to get a ride most of the time!