Trains and Santa

This is how desperate I am to get the picture from Paul's last post off the top of my blog! I've mentioned that I'm behind on blogging and I really am determined to get caught up...so bear with me.
These cuties and I all went one night with some friends on a tour of some houses that are decked out in model trains. I know...who knew that this was a HUGE obsession with some people. There is a local club that puts our their trains for a few nights around the holidays so the public can come and see/enjoy. I was BLOWN AWAY at the amount of time/money/acreage spent on this hobby. Their wives must be very understanding...or have worked some kind of a deal that makes it tolerable.
The above two pictures are of a two car garage at one of the houses. It is completely filled with train parts, sets, materials. Paul has NO room to complain about my two tackle boxes of jewelry items after seeing this. Seriously, the pictures do not do it justice.
This is a view looking back into that two car garage. I think they said that one acre of land on this lot was used for model train tracks. I'm glad we were able to enjoy it, but...weird!!
The kids did have a great time looking at all the trains and decor.
I had to keep little hands away from some of them, but all in all the kids did great.
The best part was that at one of the houses they had Santa and the Mrs! Being the stellar parent I am I hadn't even thought of taking the kids to see Santa. Perfect opportunity to document the 2008 Santa visit! Above is sweet Nora who could have asked for the moon and these two would have brought it to her personally.

Ella was choosing her words carefully while trying to diplomatically ask pointed questions about the reality of Santa.
Max was just silly as usual...and made Santa laugh...a lot.
Jack tends to turn into a shy guy in situations like these. He was so cute and humble up there on Santa's lap. Santa MADE me sit on his lap and tell him what I wanted for Christmas. It had been a while, but it all came back to me. Lucky for me I have everything I want...and more!