Photo Shoot Outtakes

Yesterday after lunch we got all dolled up to take a Christmas photo. Then came the hard decision of where to take it. It was warm, and natural light is always better than flash, so we headed outside. But the cloudless day made for some harsh light. We went by one of our big trees to see if that would soften it up a bit. Then came our next challenge: convincing Desert Boy to stay put.

Then Desert Girl had some issues.

We switched to a different location and Henry wanted to be in the photo while Desert Boy puffed out his cheeks.

Oh yeah, Henry, it's all about you!

One, two, three, kids, open your mouths. At least it was a change from Emma eating the grass.

She was happy eating the grass, though, and it made her smile, so we let her do it.

We kept trying and never ended up with the perfect posed photo. But we did get this one. Sometimes the best photos aren't the posed ones.

Visit with Santa

We went into town last weekend and Desert Boy had a chance to chat with Santa. And he sure chatted. They had a long discussion, and I didn't quite hear all what Desert Boy wanted. I heard dump truck and fire truck, which was a surprise because usually he is too focused on trains to think of other things.

I'm not quite sure what Desert Boy thinks of Santa, but he was happy about getting a candy cane.

They had really cute decorations up, so we tried to get some posed photos. Desert Girl didn't want to cooperate.

Aunt Tana was with us, which was lots of fun. Desert Boy always gets excited to see her and didn't leave her side.

I couldn't get Desert Girl to smile either. Ah, well, it could be worse!

We're going to go get our Christmas tree this weekend--Desert Boy is so excited about Christmas coming. He wants it to be right now so he can open gifts.

Special Night

Last year Desert Boy was fascinated by the Christmas train at the Border Inn. When it was put away, he cried. Almost every time we went out to the Border for the next year, he asked if the train was going to be there. Denys appreciated his memory and invited him to help her set up the train. Of course Desert Boy was more than happy to oblige.

He didn't even bother to take off his coat, he was so excited. This little boy can sure work up a lot of enthusiasm!

He was very curious about how this train worked. It runs on batteries, different from his wood trains at home.

Dad helped a bit, too.

Meanwhile Emma was happily exploring everything and was attracted to the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree. I think we're going to have to figure out a way to keep her out of our Christmas tree at home once we put one up.

Denys set up her village inside the track, and then it was all ready to go. Except for one problem. The fuzzy white snow had gotten caught around the wheels of the train last year, and it wouldn't let the wheels turn freely, so the train kept stopping. Out came the needle-nosed pliers and began operation Remove the Snow.

Nomi graciously corralled Emma for awhile, keeping her from more trouble.

Operation Remove the Snow was successful, and then it was time to watch the train go around and around the track. And around and around some more. And around and around. While we adults went on to other things like talking and chasing Emma, Desert Boy didn't move from the train table. He wanted to watch that train go around and around some more.

My husband tried to get Emma to pose for a photo, but she had other things in mind. She is getting quite rambunctious.

I think we could have left Desert Boy at the train table all night. He was happy as could be.

I imagine that we'll be going back out to the Border quite a few times in December. We had a delicious salmon dinner while we were out there--one of the best dinners we've had at the Border. So it won't be a hardship for any of us to go back!

Advent

We pulled out an Advent calendar in anticipation of Christmas. Desert Boy really enjoys opening the doors, and this particular one has fun little pictures behind each door, just right for his age. Some day we might get one of those Advent calendars that has chocolates for each day, but then I'm afraid we'll have to get one of those every year because we'll be addicted!


We also have our Advent wreath out. We light one candle the first week of Advent (this week), then two next week, and so on. Desert Boy gets the point that the more candles that are lit, the closer we are to Christmas. But his favorite part is blowing out the candle after dinner.

Why is he in his pajamas? Well, this is a staged photo. Last night we were doing something special so we didn't eat dinner at home so we didn't light the candle. We did it instead this morning. And that something special will be the subject of the next post...

Silver Sage Band

We were lucky to catch a performance by the Silver Sage Band this last weekend. We usually get to hear them once a year, and we really like their music--and their humor! They play old-fashioned country and cowboy and sheepherder songs.

Desert Girl was entranced. She really likes music, just like her big brother. I hope they both learn to sing a lot better than their parents! Fortunately, they both don't seem to mind our off-key singing. We've been doing more lately to get ready for Christmas. Maybe it's a good thing it's winter and cold and all our doors and windows are shut tight!

Desert Girl was sporting a flower clip that we had picked up from the craft fair held earlier that day. We found lots of treasures at the craft fair. Desert Boy wasn't happy when I told him some of them were surprises and he couldn't look at them until later, like at Christmas. He put on his perfect little pout and declared, "I want Christmas to be now!"

Desert Boy. Blinded by his Mama using the flash. I'm nice like that. And I didn't even give him the camera so he could reciprocate.

I didn't manage to get a photo of any of the dancing. It was fun to watch, with the younger kids doing their interesting dance moves. Later we watched some swing dance instruction. I'd like to learn how to do that someday. I wonder how hard it would be to get lessons way out in the middle of nowhere?

Okay, this photo wasn't taken at the music program, but I figured I should include it since it was musically oriented. Desert Girl loves sitting at the piano and playing. It won't be too many years till she can play better than me!

A Snowy Train Ride

We headed to the East Ely Depot on a cold, snowy Saturday morning to ride the train. It was the annual food train, where you donate food and then get to ride the train. The bad weather deterred some people from riding the train, but we just added extra layers.

Desert Girl looked at her brother for guidance on this adventure. Desert Boy is an old hand at train rides. Well, at least for a three-year old.

Each train in the car had a wood stove in it, but it was still a little chilly. So I put Desert Girl in her warm oversuit.

Oh my goodness, can she get any more adorable? She garnered lots of attention from other train rides and the conductors.

She was pretty good at hamming it up.

Desert Boy enjoyed hamming it up, too.

He was in charge of the tickets.

It wasn't snowing much as we left the station and went on the tracks along the side of town. I wanted to get some different photos from the last time we took this route, last November. I think I mostly succeeded. Even though it was cloudy and cold last year, the views looked a bit different.

One thing I hadn't noticed last time were the city stables. Farm animals aren't allowed inside the city limits of Ely, so anyone who wants to have horses (or other large animals) can put them here.

We saw Dale at the train crossing, waving to everyone on the train. It was fun to wave back.

The Renaissance village was all decorated, and we hope we can visit sometime soon to enjoy the festivities there.

The passenger cars were also decorated in Christmas decor, which became obvious when we went through a tunnel and the little lights brightened the car.

Last time I wasn't fast enough to get a photo of the ore cars that were placed in the ravine to help stabilize the banks, but this time I got the shot I want.

The old West town looked forlorn in the snow. In fact, as we went up the canyon, it snowed harder and harder.

The fake cemetery has some amusing epitaphs.

It was a cold and snowy scene from the train.

Desert Boy really wanted to see the snow plow train, but it wasn't that snowy.

On the way back we amused ourselves with treats and photos.

Desert Boy even took a photo of Desert Girl and me that came out well.

It was a fun train ride, and we're already looking forward to our next excursion. The train holds many Polar Express rides during the next month that include visits to the North Pole to see Santa Claus. To find out more, check out the Nevada Northern website.