Stringtown Polar Express

We heard about this family that has put on a train ride/ meet Santa thing for years for free but since it has grown, you have to make reservations and if picked, you get a call. 

So last week we got a call saying we had been picked! 

The stars ( our schedules) aligned and we got to go on Monday. 

We first check in and wait in their garage where we can watch Polar Express on a giant screen. 

When its our turn we sit down outside and hear safety instructions

Here we go! 

We go on a little train ride to the North Pole to visit with Santa.

all along the way there we listen to Christmas music. 

We get to visit with Santa and tell him about Robots and candy canes

Will was super excited to see Santa,  get a candy cane and a new shiny bell. 

Sam was just excited to get a candy cane. all he would day was "go, go"

After we visited with Santa, he expressed to us that the true meaning of Christmas was centered on Christ. 

So before we got back on the train, we started singing "silent Night" 

We got back on the train and rode by beautiful paintings of Christ.

It was so very sweet.

After we got of the train, we had the opportunity to write to military personnel and to missionaries. 

It was a wonderful Family Home Evening. 

Today we threw a surprise birthday party 

for my sweet sister in law.

We drove up to her house around noon 

to have lunch with her little family.

Little did she know that her younger brother would be driving down from Rexburg for a weekend surprise! 

My sister in law is a wonderful person. 

She is always thinking of others. 

There has never been a moment where she 

wasn't there to lend a hand. 

My babies loves her. 

I love her. 

And her family loves her too.

Thank you for letting us crash all day today! 

We love you. 

Happy Birthday 

Family Reunion 2012

Back in December my family had their first official

 Alvarez family reunion. 

I obviously forgot to post these pictures and write about 

it so here it goes.

The reunion was held in Fallbrook, CA at my cousin Stephens 

club house. 

It was on a Saturday and it rained cats and dogs but we didn't let that get in the way. 

Nothing can stop the Alvarez clan from having fun. 

literarily. 

OUr family is so blessed and unique. The love that is shared and felt is like no other. Its amazing how close we are all. I am so grateful to be an Alvarez and to represent such a special and wonderful family. 

My cousin Melissa and Oswaldo did an amazing job organize this. With the help of cousins and aunts/uncles we pulled it off. 

it was such a great night. 

These are all the photos I found in my camera but I am hoping to collect more from my cousins. 

My Mom's father Manuel Alvarez Arroyo 

Grandfather's parents. 
I think my cousin Oswaldo looks like our great grandfather in this picture below

All the cousins. 

 Shirts I designed. 

 Cousin Karla pulled an all-nighter creating an awesome video of the family when we are all super little. 

 Each of our grandparents kids stood up and spoke. They talked about the beautiful memories they shared with their parents. 
I bawled most of the time.

Just a few pictures of the food that night. Each sibling brought a special food that their mother made. We even had chinese food! 

 Tio Manuel brought some lotions, colognes  and other things that our grandparents wore and that brought so much memories.