Polar Express

This year we drove down to the train museum for a ride on the Polar Express with some friends from Mom's work. That's where I met my new adopted little brother, MJ. He is 2 years old and LOVES older women. He took one look at me, smiled, and grabbed my hand.  

The affection was mutual. He is a charming little mayor, calling people out by name, working the room like a mini boss. 

We got to ride in the caboose to a giant field, aka. The North Pole. It was too dark to get any good pictures, but it was a fun place. Except when they told me there were coyotes in adjacent fields, and a nearby big cat rescue where panthers occasionally escape. Those info bits kind of ruined the night for me.

There were some super fun, extremely dangerous fire pits organized for roasting smores in the field. It was exciting for the parents to sit on dry bales of hay while the kids waved around sharp flaming sticks of melting marshmallows wildly in the air. Then there was that one time when Ryan crossed into spaz-out mode and almost fell backward into the low fire pit. We didn't last very long in that area.

At the end, we all got to see Santa. I knew he wasn't the REAL Santa. Real Santa is at the mall. But I didn't tell the little kids that.

I think we are going to ask MJ's parents if we can take him home with us forever.