TravelingMel

Today the boys and I decided to experience the west. That's what was promised to us by the Wild West Winterfest organizers.

And experience the west, we did. As we do everyday since we live in the west. We did have fun though. There were kids' activities, a horse sale (good thing Big H wasn't with us or they'd have another horse ), dog agility, wagon rides and a whole lot of animals to check out and even some to pet.

Anders ropes a (wooden) steer with the help of a Bridger Rodeo Club member.

Anders is ready to ride. Finn watches on. In this flag event, Anders must ride his steed to a couple barrels, and plant his flag.

And, he's off!

The flag is safely in the barrel.

The boys check out a horse trailer.

Checking out a horse trailer.

Taking a ride on a horse-pulled wagon.

Holding hands and goat watching.

Cute, cute piglets.

The rare chicken-pony.

A couple weeks ago we went to the Livingston Holiday Stroll. There were a couple places where you could get your picture taken with various holiday creatures: namely Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus.

Frosty was a little creepy in person, but he looks pretty good on camera. Anders was not that into either experience, but did enjoy eating at the Mexican restaurant and the cookie he had while listening to the Polar Express. If you think he's food-driven you should meet Finn.

The photos were posted on the Chamber's website and they are a little small, but here you go.

This weekend we took a ride on the Polar Express. This hour and a half train ride leaves from Lewistown (about 2.5 hours from here).

If you are familiar with the book "The Polar Express" then this Advent Adventure will sound familiar to you.

I tried to get tickets last year, but waited too long to buy them and they sold out. This year Big H got us tickets. Even though it is in the middle of Nowhere, Mont., it fills up quickly.

After boarding the train we were served hot cocoa and cookies by our elf. The kids were given coloring books and then the elf read the "The Polar Express". Before we knew it we were at the North Pole.

Santa came out of one of the houses and boarded the train. He walked through the cars and took pictures with the kids. He gave each child a silver bell and signed their copies of the book.

The conductor came through the cars next and stamped our tickets with the word "believe". Then we sang Christmas carols on the way back.

H and Anders eating peanut butter sammies while we wait for the train to leave.

Finny and I enjoying our sandwich.

Cookies. Now we're talking.

The elf reading The Polar Express.

Clearing the ice off the window as we approach the North Pole. The train wasn't heated and it was around zero degrees out, so it was a bit chilly. Notice I never take off my down jacket.

The North Pole.

The conductor stamping our tickets.

This is the only picture I took of Anders with Santa, so here it is.

Finn is pretty happy to see Santa.

Santa autographs our books.

Finn tries to steal something off another table. We're teaching him to go for wallets next.

The whole thing was so much fun. We've read the book one hundred times, so Anders knew just what to expect. He is super interested in trains, so it was neat that he got to ride on one (we rode a train in Argentina, but he doesn't remember). Finn loved it because Finn loves almost all experiences (except counting stars in the dark and snow when it is zero degrees).

We started to head home, but it was so cold and blizzardy that we decided to spend the night in Lewistown. We had the dogs with us, so the choice was easy; there was nothing critical to get home to. Anders went to bed easily and Finn stayed up until 10, running around, carrying trash cans and rolling all over the bed. At one point in the middle of the night I woke up to find him laying across my neck. How he slept like that, I don't know.

The drive started off snowy, but cleared up.

It did not warm up, however.

Kind of hard to tell, but H is covered in Rigby fur after he (Rigby) tried to jump out of the back of the truck at a gas station. It was quite the wrestling match.

The boys make phone calls on the way home.

For more holiday fun photos check out Henry's blog.

The holiday season has officially begun. We hung up our Advent calendar and in each date I wrote a little note with something fun to do that day, an Advent Adventure, if you will.

Some days it says things like "sing Jingle Bells three times", or "read a holiday book" (we have a handful of books we pull out just in December). Today it said "go downtown, meet Santa and hear a train conductor read The Polar Express". It's the annual Livingston Christmas Stroll.

About ten minutes before we arrived this is what the boys looked like.

Here we are with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Look how happy we are.

The conductor about to read The Polar Express.

Listening to the Polar Express.

Ringing one of the bells from Santa's sleigh.

Finn has his bell, too.

Last Saturday Mogie turned 39. Happy, happy birthday, Mogie. I couldn't ask for a better mother-in-law and I am so glad she and Big H could come over Friday night for a little birthday party.

We had a delicious carrot soup that I haven't made before, but will again. H cooked big slabs of red meat for the half of the group that goes in for that sort of thing and we had a little cake.

Mogie had mentioned that she likes gingerbread cake, so even though I didn't know there was such a thing, I decided to make it. Imagine my surprise when it didn't turn out shaped like a person.

Gingerbread cake for Mogie.

Of course, there was singing (any excuse for Anders to sing the happy birthday song--it's his favorite tune) and gift opening. Plus, the boy got to play with Mogie and Big H, so they were pretty excited.

Mogie smiles for the camera while Anders keeps his eyes on the prize.

Opening presents.

It's always Finn's party.

Hope you had a fabulous birthday, Mogie! We are so glad we got to celebrate with you.

We had the birthday party Friday night since H and the boys spent the weekend in Ennis while I painted the bathroom. More details on that fun project to come.