our big adventure

we woke up this morning with zero plans

and a full "bean jar" 

our bean jar is a reward system we've been using recently

every time the kids do something good or make a good choice 

they get to put a dry kidney bean in a mason jar

we usually wait until bedtime and evaluate the day

and they get their beans for the day

 it takes about a month to fill it

and really motivates them to get their pjs on quickly, 

be reverent for scriptures and prayer, help clean, etc.

last time they filled it we went to the movies and saw "wreck it ralph" 

this time we went on an adventure

today happened to be the first day the "front runner" train 

was going from provo to salt lake city

and it was free today

so we braved the cold (37 degrees) and stood in line for almost an hour

(michael and the kids went to get hot cocoa and almost missed our train)

and finally made our way on 

 trying to keep warm in line

so happy to be warm, on the train and drinking hot chocolate

 eleanor was so cute bundled up

michael enjoying his hot chocolate and a view out the window

as excited as all the kids were

olive is currently the most interested in trains

so it was fun to watch her take it all in

 we made our way to the city creek mall and walked around

we let the kids play in the kid area

and then at the disney store for a while

 olive made a friend at anthropologie

 and we braved our way back to the train station 

michael was wearing eleanor, hazel was sitting on the front part of the stroller,

the back seat of the stroller had all our purchases, noah walked (thank goodness)

and olive insisted on being in the wrap

it was a crazy day with the weather

and the super long lines and long train rides

but it was so nice, a fun adventure, the kids loved it

and we met some of the nicest people

the kids felt like it was a really good use of their earned beans