TeXmas

Texans know how to put the X in Christmas.

With no snow on the ground, many homes compensate with extra sparkle and very big garden decorations.

I didn’t have my camera with me on our neighborhood Christmas light ride, but enjoyed the daytime look the next day.

Texas ‘snow’ looks like this.

Pickup trucks abound.

We savored cookies and sweets throughout the holiday week.

Mom cooked a moveable feast which we packed in the trunk to dine at my brother’s home.

My brother took me on a Polar Express ride with the Palatine Historic Railroad.

We were served hot chocolate to the song of the soundtrack.

Then we read along to the Polar Express book by Chris Van Allsburg and waved at Santa who awaited us at the North Pole.

Then he joined us aboard and gave each of us a bell.

We can hear it ring, yay!

It was a lovely train adventure that I hope to take again in daylight.

My sister-in-law found glasses that create prismic shapes, and I had fun seeing deer (Rudolph) in headlights on the long ride home.

Holidays with family are the best.