All aboard the Polar Express

They sure look like a happy bunch but if you only knew the whole story behind Blake's day before this picture was taken it's even more amazing to see him with a smile. It all started the night before when I was tucking Blake into bed for the night and we were getting ready to read a bed time story. When we sat down he paniced and took off for the kitchen...he had a new book that Mrs. Cantwell had given him for Christmas and on it was a ticket to the "Polar Express". I knew he had a PJ party and Teddy Bear Picnic at school the next day and now a ticket to the Polar Express...he had to bring the ticket back to school the next day...VERY IMPORTANT. Now we ran into our first delima, it was a Teddy Bear Picnic and Blake doesn't have any "Teddy Bears" he only has puppies, a giraffe, a lion and an Elephant. He was determined he had to have a Bear but with some discussion we realized an Elephant would do ok too. We set his bear on his headboard and put his Polar ticket in the Elephants hands for morning. All was well and good, everything was set for morning or so I thought. I had to go to work early in the morning so I was gone when the kids got up but poor Blake arrived sobbing down to Carrie with his Polar express ticket in pieces...RILEY!, yes our beloved pup decided he wanted to go to the polar express too and took the ticket and chewed it to little pieces. After some consoling Carrie lept into action and taped the pieces together to save the ticket. It's true the dog really did eat his homework. With all the commotion the got out the door to school but when they arrived Carrie realized that Blakes elephant was left at home, not wanting to draw any attention she snuck back home and in the nick of time got the elephant back in time for the fun to begin. So as you can see it took a lot of work on Carrie's part to ensure that beautiful smile was on Blakes face for that picture, great job Care.

PS Mom if you can get a digital copy of this picture it would be very much appreciated it was in todays CBP (December 21)on page B8