SOCIAL MEDIA

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Weekending

It feels like it has been forever since I wrote a weekend post. But I wanted to do one for last weekend to remember our time on the Christmas Lights Train in Virginia City. Since the pandemic, I have been worried about making this holiday season the best. Trying to keep some traditions alive and adding new ones in place of ones that have been cancelled. 

See, every year on Christmas Eve we head to my parents best friends house for a Christmas Eve party. But not this year. We are doing a drive by thing to exchange gifts and get some goodies. And we have a Christmas dinner with Rory's aunt and uncle plus family the day after Christmas. But this year it has been cancelled because one of the family members has cancer and is at a higher risk. And I usually host Christmas dinner, but I thought I would have had surgery 3 weeks before and wouldn't be up for it. Plus our Christmas parties were all cancelled too. So things have been weird. 

Anyways, I wanted to do some fun things for the girls, so when my fellow twin mom told me about the Christmas Lights train, I tried to buy tickets, but they were all sold out. Thankfully, she called and they were adding another late train ride and we got tickets!

Anyways, onto our weekend. Saturday morning we had bagels, coffee and watched Christmas movies in the morning. Then we headed over to a walking park and the girls brought their bikes to ride while we walked Walter. 

After our walk, we headed home for some football and hang out. We had an early dinner of pizza at home and then drove up to Virginia City. When we arrived, we went to will call for our tickets and then waited outside and took some photos. The girls were a bit antsy to get on the train and cold. We did wear our big jackets, have gloves and were prepared, but with the train starting at their bedtime, we knew this was a risk.


Rory and I really enjoyed it. I think Avery enjoyed it more than Sutton because at one point Sutton said she was bored. I think she was just tired. But the crew went above and beyond. We had hot cocoa and hot apple cider at our seats (which were all socially distanced apart) and goodie bags for the girls which included a candy candy light up stick, a candy cane light up bracelet, candy cane Hersey kisses and cookies.



We rode the train for about 30 minutes on the way to Gold Hill seeing light displays and having our train light up to songs that were playing. They read Twas the Night Before Christmas over the loud speaker and then when we got to Gold Hill, we got to see Santa and his elves. He had a microphone and talked to the kids and it was really sweet. That lasted for another 10 minutes and then we headed back to Virginia City. This time going faster. Overall, it was a great experience. We just may try for earlier in the evening next time.


The girls were asleep within a minute or two in the car.

Sunday was a lazy day. We had bagels again for breakfast and watched Christmas movies all morning. Plus we did some laundry and cleaning. After I went grocery shopping, we took Walter on a long walk (over an hour) and the girls again rode their bikes. Then we watched some football, made dinner and watched more Christmas movies. Gotta get in all of our Christmas favorites this week.

The girls are at "camp" today through Wednesday and then Thursday we get ready for the big day. We still have to work all week, so at least this way the girls will have fun and stay busy. Christmas Eve we will be baking cookies, prepping food for Christmas day and enjoying the day to the fullest. What are your plans this week?

21 comments :

  1. Things have definitely been different this year for sure. That's so fun you were able to get tickets to the train ride and have a little fun. I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!!

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    1. We did have a good time. I hope you guys have a very Merry Christmas too!!!

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  2. Love how you're keeping it fun for the girls despite all the craziness of this year. LOVE the idea of that train ride to go see lights and have hot cocoa <3

    Green Fashionista

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    1. It was a fun adventure and one we want to do next year. I just hope things are a little more normal next year and Santa can be on the train.

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  3. The Christmas train looks like so much fun! When did your girls get so big!!? I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

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    1. It was a lot of fun. And I have no idea. They have grown so much! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

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  4. Things have definitely been weird this year for sure. I'm glad y'all were able to squeeze in some fun, though! I'd love to do this with our kids one year! I had it on my list for this year, and then everything got canceled. Hopefully next year!

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    1. They said they almost cancelled this year, but made it so Santa is outside at the station instead of walking the trains. Hopefully next year he can walk the trains. It was still a lot of fun!

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  5. Yes, with things being so, SO different this year, I LOVE that you found something fun like this to do. This will be something your girls will remember for years to come, I'm sure. What a beautiful night! Wish we had something like that around here.

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    1. I really hope so. It has been a wild year and I wanted to do something fun. Hopefully next year Santa can be on the train. Have a Merry Christmas!

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  6. Good for you guys getting out there and adapting with the changes this year, Danielle! I love all these beautiful photos of you guys making fun new memories!

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    1. Thank you. I really appreciate that. I love that you guys traveled for the holidays. It is nice to try to make things semi-normal for our kids. Love making all the memories.

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  7. The Christmas train ride sounds fun! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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    1. It was a lot of fun. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

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  8. That train ride sounds so fun. Hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!

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    1. It was a lot of fun. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

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  9. It has been hard this year trying to make up for all the missed traditions, but hopefully we have all started some new ones! The train ride sounds really fun. I always get nervous planning things later in the evening, because if Zoe is going to meltdown, it is usually some time after 5-pm to bedtime since she doesn't nap anymore. I hope that you guys have a very Merry Christmas!

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    1. We did start a few new ones and I hope to carry those on! That is my thoughts on planning something later too. It was a risk and Sutton did get a bit cranky, but overall it was ok. I wouldn't have done this if they were younger though. I would have waited until we had an earlier time for it. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

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  10. Great post and cool photos..Happy christmas

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