Wednesday, December 13, 2006
BACK IN THE TRAIN GANG
The Christmas Train, Sierra Railroad Dinner Train
December 12, 2006
Remember THIS?
These pictures were taken on the Sierra Railroad dinner train two years ago. Well, now, we're baack... with a slightly older cast this time around!
Troy's kindergarten class went on the SIERRA RAILROAD Christmas train for a field trip, so of course the rest of us just had to tag along. Well, most of us, anyway. Poor Lance couldn't join us because of school.
There was a strange feeling of deja vu as we waited to board that train. Two years ago, we capped our Thanksgiving dinner train trip by watching the newly-released movie, "The Polar Express". This time around, we were living it. The Christmas train's theme is...you guessed it: "The Polar Express"!
All the children were dressed in pajamas, their favorite stuffed toys in tow...
They also had elves, a conductor, and pajama-clad attendants serving cookies and hot chocolate.
But nothing compared to the grand finale of the trip: a visit from the man in red!
It was such a joy to see the looks of wonder cross my children's faces.
The train ride ended shortly after that. As we stepped back down on the tracks, we saw Santa one last time. He gave Troy a hug. The smile on my son's face was just priceless.
And now, all my kids are tucked warmly in their beds, with visions of snickerdoodles most likely dancing in their heads. I'm ready to retire myself, still hung over with the magic and wonder of it all. Who knows? Maybe I'll wake up to the sound of a steam engine waiting to pick me up in the middle of the night.
Now that's a pajama party I wouldn't want to miss!
The Christmas Train, Sierra Railroad Dinner Train
December 12, 2006
Remember THIS?
These pictures were taken on the Sierra Railroad dinner train two years ago. Well, now, we're baack... with a slightly older cast this time around!
Troy's kindergarten class went on the SIERRA RAILROAD Christmas train for a field trip, so of course the rest of us just had to tag along. Well, most of us, anyway. Poor Lance couldn't join us because of school.
There was a strange feeling of deja vu as we waited to board that train. Two years ago, we capped our Thanksgiving dinner train trip by watching the newly-released movie, "The Polar Express". This time around, we were living it. The Christmas train's theme is...you guessed it: "The Polar Express"!
All the children were dressed in pajamas, their favorite stuffed toys in tow...
They also had elves, a conductor, and pajama-clad attendants serving cookies and hot chocolate.
It was really good hot chocolate too, rich and creamy with marshmallows floating on top. Kids and kids-at-heart savored the sugar rush as they stared at the passing scenery. We sang Christmas carols, the parents getting a glimpse of the upcoming Christmas program, as their kids proudly demonstrated their sign language skills, singing and signing "Silent Night". The hobo from the movie came and sang to each table, and the kids got to sit on the floor in the train's aisle as an elf read them a Christmas story.
But nothing compared to the grand finale of the trip: a visit from the man in red!
It was such a joy to see the looks of wonder cross my children's faces.
The train ride ended shortly after that. As we stepped back down on the tracks, we saw Santa one last time. He gave Troy a hug. The smile on my son's face was just priceless.
And now, all my kids are tucked warmly in their beds, with visions of snickerdoodles most likely dancing in their heads. I'm ready to retire myself, still hung over with the magic and wonder of it all. Who knows? Maybe I'll wake up to the sound of a steam engine waiting to pick me up in the middle of the night.
Now that's a pajama party I wouldn't want to miss!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Friday, August 18, 2006
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS, Part 2
This was how Lance looked during Crazy Hair Day at school.
Yes, Back to School Night is done, the days are getting colder, Labor Day is fast approaching, and Summer 2006 is coming to an end. So before all the details are blown from "the jasmine in my mind", let me give you a rundown of one of the most enjoyable summers my family has ever had.
1. Fourth of July
Actually, that should've read Second of July, because that's when the BIG celebration took place. Our family was invited to the home of some Adventist friends, where the kids went swimming and everybody feasted on veggie burgers, chips and potato salad. After sundown, we settled in to watch the awesome fireworks display. The kids got to light their own sparklers too!
2. Camp Meeting
It was such a wonderful blessing for our family to go to Camp Meeting. I was apprehensive at first, since I am admittedly the least outdoorsy person you could ever imagine, and the thought of roughing it in a tent isn't exactly my idea of fun. But the Lord had other plans for us, and when we got to the Adventist Campgrounds in Soquel, CA, we found out we had a cabin!
It was almost like the Lord was saying, "Just get yourselves there and I'll take care of you." God is so good.
The Campgrounds were also just a short drive away from Capitola Beach, where the kids got to play in the surf during down time.
We were there for over ten days, and it was such a renewing experience. For more on our Camp Meeting trip, read my article in 87 GENTLE STREET.
It was also during Camp Meeting when we celebrated...
3. Troy's Fifth Birthday
Yes, Troy's fifth birthday landed right smack in the middle of Camp Meeting! They sang "Happy Birthday" for him in the Kindergarten tent, and we threw a small party for him in front of our cabin. Troy got the Hulk cake he requested, which we supplemented with yogurt with sprinkles instead of ice cream (no freezers in camp!). After our sixteen pint-sized guests washed it down with pink lemonade and fruit punch, we dispatched them to their afternoon programs, thankful that we didn't have to deal with the early afternoon sugar rush!
What a wonderful blessing it was for Troy to celebrate his birthday during our very first Camp Meeting. It will be a memory for our kids to treasure for the rest of their days.
We also got to meet so many new friends in Camp Meeting, and some of them invited us to...
4. Vacation Bible School 2
Since the children really enjoyed VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL at the beginning of the summer, we decided to send them to another VBS, this time at the Parkwood Seventh-Day Adventist church, in north Modesto.
Unlike the "FIESTA" theme in our church, Parkwood did "The Road to Bethlehem" this year. The central theme was Jesus' birth, and the children were divided into the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe got to register in the "census", and then they got to explore the "Market Place", where they dyed their own pouches, made their own perfume, fashioned lamp holders out of clay, decorated their own mosaic boxes, made their own coins and assembled their own flutes. They also did Roman Legionnaire drills, played games and sang songs, and in the middle of the week, they got to witness the coming of Baby Jesus!
Each day, while the kids worked up an appetite, the smell of baking bread wafted through the premises. And when it was done, it was divided among the twelve tribes, who all partook of it after saying a prayer.
It was so touching to see my children learn more about Jesus each day. With both Vacation Bible schools beginning and ending the holiday season, and Camp Meeting right in between, this whole summer seemed to be one big lesson on how to get to know God better, not just for our kids, but for Lorenzo and me as well.
And the learning continues, now that the kids are back in SCHOOL. And I, for one, firmly believe that when there is learning...
...the blessings are sure to follow!
This was how Lance looked during Crazy Hair Day at school.
Yes, Back to School Night is done, the days are getting colder, Labor Day is fast approaching, and Summer 2006 is coming to an end. So before all the details are blown from "the jasmine in my mind", let me give you a rundown of one of the most enjoyable summers my family has ever had.
1. Fourth of July
Actually, that should've read Second of July, because that's when the BIG celebration took place. Our family was invited to the home of some Adventist friends, where the kids went swimming and everybody feasted on veggie burgers, chips and potato salad. After sundown, we settled in to watch the awesome fireworks display. The kids got to light their own sparklers too!
We also received good news that day, because that was when we found out we were going to...
2. Camp Meeting
It was such a wonderful blessing for our family to go to Camp Meeting. I was apprehensive at first, since I am admittedly the least outdoorsy person you could ever imagine, and the thought of roughing it in a tent isn't exactly my idea of fun. But the Lord had other plans for us, and when we got to the Adventist Campgrounds in Soquel, CA, we found out we had a cabin!
It was almost like the Lord was saying, "Just get yourselves there and I'll take care of you." God is so good.
The Campgrounds were also just a short drive away from Capitola Beach, where the kids got to play in the surf during down time.
We were there for over ten days, and it was such a renewing experience. For more on our Camp Meeting trip, read my article in 87 GENTLE STREET.
It was also during Camp Meeting when we celebrated...
3. Troy's Fifth Birthday
Yes, Troy's fifth birthday landed right smack in the middle of Camp Meeting! They sang "Happy Birthday" for him in the Kindergarten tent, and we threw a small party for him in front of our cabin. Troy got the Hulk cake he requested, which we supplemented with yogurt with sprinkles instead of ice cream (no freezers in camp!). After our sixteen pint-sized guests washed it down with pink lemonade and fruit punch, we dispatched them to their afternoon programs, thankful that we didn't have to deal with the early afternoon sugar rush!
What a wonderful blessing it was for Troy to celebrate his birthday during our very first Camp Meeting. It will be a memory for our kids to treasure for the rest of their days.
We also got to meet so many new friends in Camp Meeting, and some of them invited us to...
4. Vacation Bible School 2
Since the children really enjoyed VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL at the beginning of the summer, we decided to send them to another VBS, this time at the Parkwood Seventh-Day Adventist church, in north Modesto.
Unlike the "FIESTA" theme in our church, Parkwood did "The Road to Bethlehem" this year. The central theme was Jesus' birth, and the children were divided into the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe got to register in the "census", and then they got to explore the "Market Place", where they dyed their own pouches, made their own perfume, fashioned lamp holders out of clay, decorated their own mosaic boxes, made their own coins and assembled their own flutes. They also did Roman Legionnaire drills, played games and sang songs, and in the middle of the week, they got to witness the coming of Baby Jesus!
Each day, while the kids worked up an appetite, the smell of baking bread wafted through the premises. And when it was done, it was divided among the twelve tribes, who all partook of it after saying a prayer.
It was so touching to see my children learn more about Jesus each day. With both Vacation Bible schools beginning and ending the holiday season, and Camp Meeting right in between, this whole summer seemed to be one big lesson on how to get to know God better, not just for our kids, but for Lorenzo and me as well.
And the learning continues, now that the kids are back in SCHOOL. And I, for one, firmly believe that when there is learning...
...the blessings are sure to follow!
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