The Polar Express by Denny Lynn

There is so much magic at Christmas! Since I love trains, and I love Santa, Mama and Daddy made arrangements to take us on the Polar Express! We went to Lubbock on our way to Oklahoma. I was so excited I could hardly stand it! We had read the book and watched part of the movie, so I was ready. 

John was pretty excited, too. He also loves trains!

We got on and got our seats! We were all seated together as a family.

You get to go in your pajamas, just like in the book. I took along my blanket, too. I was ready for an adventure to the North Pole!

They read us the story and served us hot chocolate just like in the book. They sang and danced through the train!

The conductor came through and punched our tickets. He punched each one with our initial! Mine had a D.

John's had a J.

When we got to the North Pole we all waived to Santa and the elves. Then they came on the train with us!

I was so glad to see Santa! He asked me if I had been a good boy and what I wanted for Christmas. I told him a big boy bike and a helicopter with a rescue hook to save Teddy from the water.

John told him he wanted a bike, too. Then Santa gave us each our very own silver sleigh bell!

We love the sound they make and know that they are a pretty special keepsake from our trip to the North Pole. Even though we couldn't see them, I know reindeer pulled the train for us - I think my sleigh bell came off Rudolph!

John's was from a reindeer, too - we just don't know which one.

When we got back, we took a minute for a picture on the caboose. It was a pretty special trip for all of us!

Christmas at Darcy's by John Lee

I am so very excited for Christmas! Before all the family fun starts, we have our party at Darcy's. This year me and Mama made fun scarves for all my friends. They are stuffed animals cut in half with fleece in the middle. We found neat animals for everyone and used lots of fun colors!

We also found some inexpensive gloves and added them to the packages.

For my fun food treat I made donut reindeer. I love donuts, so this was perfect for me!

I took chocolate donuts and added red M&M's for the nose. We had candy eyes that worked great!

The final touch was antlers made out of pretzels! They came out so cute!

While everyone else played Christmas-oke and sang on the microphone, I danced and sang with the snowman!

We made fun crafts. I made a gingerbread man! He was very well decorated.

And of course, we have presents! I loved everything I got from my friends! Including a personalized sign to go in my room! I think they liked their scarves, too! I am so happy to get to have such a fun place to go everyday!

Christmas at Darcy's by Denny Lynn

We always celebrate Christmas with our friends at Ms. Darcy's. This year Mama and I made hooded towels for everyone. They were really fun.

We wrapped them up with roll-on soap from Avon and put everyone's name on it!

We made each family a "Root"deer set to take home. I was really good at sticking on the noses!

I think they came out pretty cute!

For my fun snack, I made peanutbutter cracker snowmen, which I learned about at the Collegiate 4-H party. I chose different colors for each person.

I was happy with the way they turned out.

At the party we had game time! We played Christmas-oke and got to sing our favorite Christmas carol into the microphone. I sang Jingle Bells!

Then we made gingerbread men and Christmas trees. I was very particular about my gingerbread man.

Mama spotted an elf - sent to check on us and report to Santa. They are quick little guys and very sneaky. We started a hunt to see if we could catch one! We each got a notepad. Holly and I found tracks in the kitchen!

When it was time to pass out presents, I gave everyone their special gift. They also had special things for me! My favorite part is giving my gifts to each friend.

John and I got to give Mama the hand tree we made for her and Daddy. It is a very special Christmas tree they can keep to remember how little we are - we won't be for long! It was a wonderful party. I love celebrating with my friends.

Happy Birthday to Me! by John Lee

Yay, yay, yay! Monkey Party! I got to have a monkey party for my birthday. We had it early so that we could begin our holiday travels. Mama made me Monkey Pops! They came out kind of cute! We also had monkey bread with candles in it! 

We made banana nut bread in a jar for all the families, complete with a John Lee magnet!

We had special goody bags with everyone's initial on them. There were monkey dishes, coloring books and all kinds of monkey stuff for everyone to take home!

We also had monkey crafts! I made a yellow monkey mask on a stick. We also had monkey mosaic balls, standup monkeys and foam trees.

Everyone entered through the jungle (the water heater box with streamers inside) and then they got to add a tree to the playroom jungle!

My favorite treat was a banana, but the monkey poop (raisins) was a big hit with all my guests!

I got so many wonderful gifts - at first I just wanted to open and play with each thing - finally I figured out that there was always more! I was very excited about everything I got.

Mama and Daddy got me my very own firetruck that really goes. It scares me a little when it goes in reverse, but otherwise I love it. I race Denny on his Thomas the Train!

I am very attached to all the tools I got! I even slept with my new hammer and screwdriver.

After it was all said and done, I took my new presents and put myself to bed! It was a really fun day with lots of love and laughter and I was exhausted!

Happy Birthday, John by Denny Lynn

John is finally two! I was very excited to help get ready for his monkey birthday party in December. I got him the perfect present, a box of Caillou story books! I wrapped them in a monkey bag!



I choose a monkey mask to go with my monkey shirt for the party.

My favorite part of any party is always the games! This time I really liked playing five little monkeys. One person was blindfolded to be the alligator. The alligator would try to catch us while we sang the five little monkey song: "five little monkeys, swinging from a tree, teasing Mr. Alligator, can't catch me"

It was a really fun day with lots of excitement. I liked playing with all John's new toys!





I am so glad we get to do special family things like fun birthday parties!