Day Tripping

Chris has been off all week with us and it has been wonderful! The company he works for closes shop the week after Christmas and gives everyone that week off which is such a great perk. He and I would never think to take the week off and just stay around here, but it has truly been great family time together. Thursday we spent the morning at Marbles Kids Museum.

They have a big pirate ship that the children can climb on and play dress up.

There is a splash station

with all kinds of water toys to play with.

Eliza stayed on the move the entire time we were there. I think she was overwhelmed with all the children and all the things to play with.

I also think she intentionally looks away from the camera when she knows I am there.

Ah, there. But you can tell she looks a little put out with me.

Won't be the last time, I am afraid. :-)

This was her favorite place to play.

She actually played here for about 15 minutes or so.

Complete with mini ambulance and stretcher.

She also loved the aquariums.

Whole Foods Marketplace where she wanted to throw everything in the flooror chew on it.

Meanwhile, back with the boys. They were in a block area and had built these blocks up around themselves like a tower. This picture is me trying to get my camera up high enough to look over the blocks

to see Owen.

After we left the museum we headed to Crabtree Mall for a bit. We had a little box that we could take to the Lego store and fill up with blocks for free the week after Christmas. (Read: We spent so much money at the Lego store they gave us the little box as a token thank you to fill up for "free.") Anyway, they have about 25 or more drawers to pick from, all sorted by color and the boys could grab a handful or this a handful of that until the box was full. The only requirement was that the box had to close properly on it's own. They had a lot of fun choosing which pieces they wanted in their box. Then, of course, a quick drop into the Apple store and back home again.

We have had a great week and hate to see Chris go back to work on Monday although I know with the boys back in school next week I will be ready to get us all back on a schedule.

Christmas in WV

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandpa Lewis's house.All our favorites were there

Uncle Bub We love Uncle Bub!

Aunt Beck

Cousins Jamie, Gracyn and Addyson

Little girls up to no good, I am sure.

Santa found us even though we made last minute changes.

She was up bright and early, despite not sleeping more than an hour at a time all night.

Sweet little bedhead.

Sometimes he gets lucky and has this cute Jude Law thing going on with his hair.

Owen wasn't nearly as anxious to get out of bed.

Santa left him a letter and a Christmas ornament of the Macy's mailbox like the one we dropped their letters in a few weeks earlier. Very clever.

Ah, there's Owen! One of the first things he opened was a DS game and he immediately said "Ethan, you can have this. I don't have a DS." He just hadn't gotten to that present yet. :-)

And the look on his face when he doesn't know I am watching sends my heart a flutter.

Hello my pretty!

And my handsome!

Times 2!

I think everyone had a great time!

Present Highlights from Home

It was a last minute decision for us to head to West Virginia for Christmas this year. We had planned on staying here until Sunday or Monday and then heading up, but there was a change in plans so we ended up opening our gifts from Papaw and Mamaw Hamilton and each other a few days early.

Some highlights for Ethan were legos and Monopoly Junior.For Owen, it was legos and these race car things. Not sure the name of them, but Owen loves them.

For Eliza, it was a giggling baby doll and Tinkerbell and Fern dolls.

Eliza's favorite thing from mommy was a purse.

She loves taking things out and putting them back in. She will even put it on her shoulder and walk around when I tell her to go to the store. Very cute.

Next stop, West Virginia.

Aunt Jan and Kallie's Visit

The past few weeks have been an absolute blur. It started Aa few weeks before Christmas when our aunt Jan and cousin Kallie came to stay with us for a few days.Owen was having a Christmas program at preschool and they wanted to watch. Unfortunately, his last day before break was a snow day so they had to postpone his program until this coming Thursday. Lucky for us, he was happy to sing his songs for us by himself.

We read the Christmas story and the children opened their presents from aunt Jan and Kallie.Our elves continued their mischief despite having guests in the house.

We put together a gingerbread village

and per usual, there was more eating of the village

than there was building.

We made cookies, went to the mall and Chris and I even had a date night! It was a wonderful visit. One day soon after Jan and Kallie had left one of the boys (I can't remember who now) said "I sure do love it when my aunt Jan comes to visit." Me too, buddy! Come back soon!