Weekend review: Trains, Santa and a Fire truck! PICTURE HEAVY!

Yay!!! Christmas week! We had an awesome family weekend! I am so ready for some much needed time off as well as time with family. Anyways, before I go on and on, here are some pictures from our weekend adventures.

Late last week, I came home to this. JOE had piled all of her Doc McStuffins characters including her medical bag on my scale! Not sure of what to make of it but it sure did make me laugh :-D.

On Friday, we decided to take JOE to National Harbor to ride the train. Last year when we stayed over for New Year's the train had already closed so we figured this year, we would make it a point to go there so she could ride the train.

This picture was taken on our way in there. Ummm...who pissed off my child? LOL...I am sure she wanted something and we said no :-).

And here is my little JOE riding the "choo choo train." She really enjoyed it and when the ride was over, I tried to get her and she said "no momma, no thanks!" Too funny. I was going to pay for another ride but then they said we'd have to get back in line. Ummm...NOT! I told her we were going to go see one of the Peeps and that enticed her enough to get off the train.

Video of her riding the train. She had a great time. 

We were going to try to get a late lunch/early dinner from Rosa Mexicano because I was craving their guacamole but the wait was too long and we had other plans so we decided to continue on with our planned adventures for the day. View on our way to the restaurant.

The next stop was a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Our former community does this every year. Last year, JOE was TERRIFIED of Santa but that's not the case this year. Here she is with Mrs. Claus.

They also had people making balloon toys for kids. JOE asked for a snow man. Ummm...this looks more like a funny creature made into a sword.

JOE didn't care though. She loved it!

The tree at the Community Center.

And then the moment of truth. Time to take pictures with Santa. At first, she was unsure. 

But then we were able to get a smile out of her :-D.

After the visit with Santa, we went outside and they were letting kids play with the bell on the Fire Truck that brought Santa. But instead of ringing the bell, JOE and a couple other kids got to get inside to check it out. She really liked that.

Then we headed home. And even though it was late, I was determined to make cookies for Christmas. I pinned a couple of recipes on Pinterest a couple of months ago. 

They turned out DELISH! 

Cookie dough, ready to go in the fridge. I often love cookie dough but since this momma is pregnant, I can't have none of that. Oh well...there's always next year! 

Peppermint crunch Oreo Cookies

Cake batter chocolate chip cookies

All wrapped up and ready for distribution to my family.

The next day, we went to Church and had a great time. Before we left for Church, JOE wanted to take a picture with her kitty cat. This was one of the gifts she got for her birthday. It actually meows!

After Church, JOE went to her babysitter's while J & I had some much needed adult time. We went to the movies to see The Hobbit :-). It was a good movie and I enjoyed it. However, I think it was more enjoyable because I had seen the previous 2. J hadn't seen them and it was hard for him to follow. Check him out half way through the movie :-). Hopefully, its not the company. Then again, he was also tired after staying up late into the night trying to finish one of JOE's Christmas presents.

After the movie, we picked up JOE and headed home. While J worked on JOE's Christmas present, I finished up the cookies and made dinner. We had fried plantains, sauteed broccoli and bacon wrapped filet mignon. YUM!

I told JOE the cookies needed to cool. Why was she trying to use her napkin to cool them?

And since I can't drink alcohol right now, a glass of Martinelli's was in order :-D.

The original plan was to exchange/open presents on Sunday night but JOE's present wasn't done so we decided to wait until Monday. 

On Monday bright and early, JOE said "momma, downstairs, presents NOW!" She hadn't forgotten apparently. So down we went. 

This was definitely a hit. It took J over 5-hours to put this thing together but the look on JOE's face when she saw it was priceless!

She immediately went to work playing with everything.

On Monday evening, after J & I had dinner, we decided to open up the rest of our presents. Here is JOE "reading" her Christmas card.

JOE loves Minnie Mouse a.k.a "Mia". When I spent the day with JOE last week, she helped me pick out her stocking stuffers. This was one of the items. Minnie Mouse sneakers.

She loved all the items but she got really excited and started dancing when she saw the piano her Aunt/god mother got her.

My child now thinks she is a real pianist and can play. It is too cute!

Overall, we had a busy but wonderful few days as a family. Next stop, our gender reveal celebration with my family. Can't wait to share the gender of #2 with you. I'll be sure to post about it on Thursday. 

But in the meantime, head on over to the poll at the top right corner of this page to vote on if you think baby #2 is a boy or a girl!