The kids really don't get the whole concept of Santa and him bringing presents and all that. So before Christmas Isabelle and I were talking about what she hoped Santa might bring her for Christmas and I suggested that she write him a letter to let him know. 

" I should write him a letter? " she asks me quizzically

"Yes," I reply " you know Santa is a busy man and it's a lot of work to think  about what each kid would like the most for Christmas, so sometimes it helps if you write a letter."

" I should write him a letter and he will bring me presents?" she asks again

"Well, you have to be really really good too, " I say.

"OK, mommy, I will write Santa a lot of letters! I will write a I and an O and an S and a T and a..."

you get the idea : >)

Today we picked up our Christmas tree.  We had a fun morning at the farmers market, then headed to the lot with all the boy scout dads and a few boy scouts.  We visited this place last year, as they have lots and lots of trees to choose from.

The kids liked to run on the ground through all the trees, but we didn't let them.  When you're carrying a tree that is taller then you, its hard to see little things darting out in front of you.  So they helped us select trees.  Although, I think David just said, "That one!" for every tree we walked past.  We eventually selected a Douglas Fir that matches me in height.

We tied it to the top of the car on home we went.  The kids went down for naps, which gave me the opportunity to get the tree off the car, and trim the lower branches to leave room for all the goodies.

Then came the decorating part.  Now, as many of you know, the time it takes to decorate a tree rises in proportion to the number of children taking things off the tree.  So we pretty much spent the rest of the day applying ornaments.

Well Autumn is certainly here.  This weekend we got all bundled up, since we had a gust of the ol' north wind, and headed to the park.  Boy, was it still cold.  And all that wind blew most of the leaves from the trees.  Well, there's one thing we remember from childhood and cold autumn days.....

David is almost potty trained!! On December 4th, he just ran into the bathroom at the same time Isabelle went in to take care of her own business.  We have had a little training potty in the bathroom for a few months to get David used to it.  He's been sitting on it almost every night before bath time, but that's all he would do, sit.  Well, on Tuesday, he followed her in there, pulled down his pants AND took off his diaper, (which itself has been a whole new game of put-the-diaper-back-on-the-partly-naked-little-boy-as-he-runs-around-the-house,) and pee'd into the little potty!  After that we've been keeping him in underpants, and only diapers during night time and naps.  He's so proud of himself, and so are we.

Then he did himself one better, and went poop in the potty on Wednesday!

We still have a few accidents, maybe once a day, but he's really getting consistent about this little milestone.

Sorry, no pictures.  ;-)

Last weekend we took a trip to the railroad museum in Old Sacramento.  They were having a special train ride with Santa called "the Polar Express".  In reality, it was more of a leisurely run south along the river, but the kids, and most grown-ups loved it anyway.  
The museum brings out many of its classic restored rail cars from the 20's-50's, although not all are completely restored.  We didn't get to ride any of the real old (pre 1900) though.  But each car was unique nonetheless.  The kids had a blast!  Getting on a big train, pulled by an actual steam engine was almost all they could stand.  When we were waiting to board, the train pulled up, and you never saw so many fingers pointing and hearing so much "Look, look, look!"

The inside of the cars were also decorated with the usual holiday fare, and each car had a conductor which would point out some of the sites and history as we passed.  Then, of course, Santa came through.  He also had an entourage which provided a little light humor for the adults, and led everyone in a sing-along of a few Christmas jingles.  And the kids got a little present too, even if they didn't know what the guy in the big red suit was all about.