Presidents, Piano and Parks

The kids were out of school last Monday for President's Day! Deedee offered to take us to Adventure Landing, and we were excited.  Clare's excitement continued when she hit the jackpot on this arcade game and won 1,000 tickets!

 

They just kept coming!

 

We also played miniature golf.  Graham shot three holes in one!

 

 

The Go-Karts were a big hit.  We did a few partner rides,

and then Clare was tall enough to take off on her own! Watch out drivers!!

 

Graham, Jane, and Sydney drove the smaller version, and they loved it. The weather was so beautiful, and it was nice to be outdoors to take advantage of it!

 

 

Clare continues to play piano.  In fact, she has her first recital in a couple of weeks.  Her lessons are on Thursdays, and LoLo usually takes her. This week, it was up to me, and since I had the younger three with me, we snuck off to the park during her lesson. The weather has been so warm, and the kids are loving it!

Three little monkeys swinging on the rings....

 

Graham has always loved being outside!

 

I love this picture. Jane is such a sweet big sister. She takes her role seriously, and Graham knows he can count on her to be nice.

 

 

 Some fun-filled days this February! 

January Recap

We sent out 2015 with a "champagne" toast, and excitedly ushered in 2016!

 

January is a slightly quieter month for us in terms of activities.  Clare does have swim though, and she "needed" a swim cap!  She thought it was hilarious!  Maybe it'll shave a few seconds off of her times???

 

 

Graham earned some money for doing some chores, but he was really thrilled when Casey gave him his old wallet!  He carried that thing around with him for days.

 

 

Jane and Sydney have started a gymnastics class, and they are CONSTANTLY cartwheeling, handstanding, backbending, etc.  The good part about having a twin is that you always have a spotter!

 

 

One weekend in January, we had the privilege of seeing Brody's band perform.  My kids loved watching him play guitar!  We were impressed!

 

Graham is playing baseball this spring, and  this was his reaction when he found out Casey was helping coach.  I love this picture!!!

 

 

I love the chance to recharge and regroup in January, but thankfully we were able to squeeze in some fun too!

Christmas Day

My camera cord got thrown out in a post-Christmas clean-out, so I am happy to finally have a new one and download the Christmas pictures!

 

After Deedee's house, we came home and got ready for Santa.  We did cookies and milk and set out reindeer food!  The kids were tired (look at Graham!), but excited!  Off to bed to wait for the big day...

 

 

Santa came....and left a message out of candy canes!

 

 

The girls were thrilled with itouches!  Santa really delivered!

 

 

 

 

Graham got an awesome Hot Wheels set.  It was huge!

 

 

 

The kids looked through their stockings, and then we opened gifts.

 

 

For the past two years, the siblings have drawn names of who to buy for.  I love watching what they pick out for each other.  Graham got Jane a fake bird that repeats what you say.  She loved it and he loved giving it to her!

 

We had a nice morning opening gifts.  Sydney scored some new roller blades.

 

 

Clare got a more official swim suit for all of her swimming!

 

 

After we finished at our house, we got ready and headed over to Mom and Dad's.  Jennifer and Mamma were there, as well as Nathan, Megan and Brody.   I didn't take any pictures, but the kids got selfie sticks, and Uncle Nate took this one!

 

 

It was such a fun Christmas this year.  I think it really might be the most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve day, as is our tradition, we headed to Deedee and Papaw's midafternoon.  The excitement was palpable!

 

 

While we waited for everyone to arrive, the kids got to open one gift.  It was a good one...Osmo!

 

 

When everyone had gathered, the kids started with stockings.

 

 

It was a great evening, and everyone got tons of great gifts!

 

When Mary asked Graham what he wanted for Christmas, he replied a "bag of weapons."  She delivered....and he was thrilled!

 

Another hit of the night was the game Pie Face!  Check out the anticipation on his face!

 

 Clare and Sydney couldn't resist a turn!

 



 

 After opening gifts and eating yummy food, it was time to head home to get ready for Santa!!

 

 

Before Christmas

I have truly dropped the ball lately on documenting December.  We did some really great stuff, and I want to remember it all. 

 

Frank was up to his usual antics this year, including decorating the kids' pictures with a dry erase marker!!

 

 

Of course, we had to go look at Christmas lights wearing pajamas and drinking cocoa!

 

 

We played a Christmas version of Minute To Win It!  Big fun!  In this challenge, you have to move a cookie from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands.

 

 

SUCCESS!

 

 

This challenge had everyone trying to hook candy canes to get them into the jar....without using your hands, of course!

 

 

In this game, we had to see if we could get a cotton ball to stick to a tiny dot of Vaseline on our noses....without our hands.

 

 

Of course, we did our traditional Christmas Cookie Chaos!



My kids love cookie day! 



We're a pretty well-oiled machine after so many years!

During the week of Christmas, we hit the lanes for our annual bowling event!

Graham was happy with this roll!

 

 

Sydney, not so much!

 

On a more serious note, we went to a candlelight service at our church, and Graham was mesmerized.  I look forward to this service every year!

 

 

We had some really beautiful, unseasonably warm weather here before Christmas.  The kids enjoyed the week off of school and played outside a lot.  I asked them to act out the nativity story, and this is what they put together.  I was thoroughly impressed!

 

While the warm weather continued, we visited some parks and enjoyed being outside. Please note the shorts and tshirts.  This was on December 23rd!  Crazy Texas weather!

 

 

On Christmas Eve Eve, Mamma and Jennifer flew in.  We had everyone over for dinner and the kids did their traditional caroling.  We played a few games, and it was a nice way to kick off the holidays.  Next up, the festivities begin!