Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's

On December 27, the kids and I drove down to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Uncle Kevin and his family were there as well, so we had our Christmas on the 28th. Scott flew down for it too. :)

 

On the 29th, we went out to the ranch. We got a new camera for Christmas, so Scott was excited to try it out. Grandpa wanted the kids to hunt for arrowheads. Kevin wanted to hunt.

 

Grandpa and Kevin went out earlier than the rest of us, so they could hunt. Before we even left the house, Kevin had shot an 8 point buck. We gave the kids the option of not seeing the deer, but they all wanted to. I was surprised at how, no one freaked out. It was just accepted. They all understand where meat comes from and they've never developed an emotional attachment to any animal that has ended up on our dinner table....so it was fascinating for them.

Lunch in the house

 

Walking around the ranch is very peaceful. Our cell phones don't have any service out there. It's very quiet. So while we were wandering around on the hill above the lower well, Scott and Ian went on a walk by themselves. When we were all done wandering around, they were no where to be found. We knew the general direction in which they went, but couldn't see them. I was a little worried, but Grandpa had faith in Scott, that he wouldn't cross any fences. We piled on the pickup truck to search for them. Sure, enough, they had walked all the way to the back fence and up to the house....where we found them.

 

Scott said, 'I hope you weren't worried'. No, me worried? Worried that you might get lost in the brush and cactus? Nope, not me.

The old outhouse.

 

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'Dad, do you do social networking?'

Payton asked Scott on the way home from swim lessons.

She's been watching Brainpop, again.

Payton loves learning about new things on Brainpop.

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New Year's Eve

Scott had to work New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, so we stayed with Mom and Dad to celebrate. Mom informed me that they were invited to a neighborhood party....which cracks me up :) Their neighbor, Trudi, is a very social person and has brought the people on my parents street together, which I think is wonderful. Anyway, the kids and I were invited as well. We had Chinese food and shot off some fireworks...nothing big because the area down there is very dry, so aerial fireworks were banned. The kids ally enjoyed the Roman candles and the sparklers.

It started raining, and the kids got soaked, so we walked back to my parents' home at 8:30. I was impressed with my parents because they didn't get home till 9:30! :)

 

Grandma promised the kids they could stay up to see the ball drop in New York, thinking that they would fall asleep before then. The ball drops in Texas at 11pm because of the time difference. Ian fell asleep on the floor in front of the TV at 9:30. Payton....the girl that never seems to need as much sleep as I think should...stayed up to see the ball drop! She was so grateful. She said, 'Thank you letting me have this experience! It was awesome!'

Happy New Year!!!

 

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Our visit to Grandma and Grandpa's

Here are some more pics from a park on the bay in Corpus. Scott was having fun trying out our new camera.

 

 

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Christmas Eve

We celebrated our family's Christmas on Christmas Eve. We opened presents in the morning. Payton received an American Girl Doll and was thrilled.

Daddy got the Sunspel shirt he wanted and was very excited.

I was excited that the shirt fit so well (those shirts aren't cheap!) Ian really liked his Skylanders, Lego sets, and his new Halo figure.

And I was overwhelmed by my present! - a weekend trip to Vegas to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill with two of my best friends! It was sweet the way Scott presented me with it. He got the kids to make three tickets that looked like this:

Each ticket had the owner's picture on it.

It took me a little while to realize what it was because Scott and I are going to Vegas for a conference in March and I thought it was tickets for us to go see the show when we we going to be there. But the the dates didn't make sense and then I saw the pictures of my friends on them. Anyway, I pieced it all together and I'm really looking forward to the trip.

I made Nasi for lunch and them we hung out the rest of the afternoon until church.

Us all dressed for church. The kids are thrilled!

Michele, Jesse and his kids arrived mid-afternoon. The kids all played and had a great time. We went to the 5 o' clock service because Payton and Ian were singing with the choir. Instead of a candlelight service, the kids all held glow sticks while we sang Silent Night.
Then about 7:30pm Kate and Leo arrived (they had to work). The children set out cookies, milk, and carrots for Santa and his reindeer and went to bed. It took them a little while to settle down, but after I told them, Santa called and said that he couldn't come until they were asleep (and he would hate to have to skip over our house) they went right to sleep :)

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Band of Pirates

Payton and Ian were pirates for Halloween this year. Several of their friends happened to be pirates, too.

Thus, our band of pirates:

Our little band of pirates, joined up with a princess. As they were trick or treating, one of the neighboring pirates said, 'We'll trade the princess for some candy!'

Candy! Candy! Candy!

A local orthodontist is collecting candy to give to the troops overseas. I let the kids pick out about 20 pieces each, and we sent the rest to the troops.

It's Pumpkin Time!

Last night we carved our pumpkins for Halloween.

Every year, it's the same thing. The kids end up watching us do all the work. They have plenty of things to say about what Daddy and I are doing.....

'Mommy, I think you just took out a tooth!'

'Daddy, what's that triangle?'

But, they don't get their hands dirty. I will give Ian credit....he stuck his hand inside the pumpkin ONCE, to try to clean it out. Payton simply refused. So if the kids don't help clean out the pumpkins, what is there for them to do?

Watch Mommy and Daddy wield knives and electric rotary tools.....while said parents try to carve up what the kids envision.

Payton wanted me to carve a skull and crossbones in her pumpkin. I think it sort of looks like a skull.....but I didn't have room for any crossbones.

I think Ian wanted Daddy to carve a pirate.... Any guesses on what the (barely visible) triangle is suppose to be?

A goatee! Of course the pirate pumpkin has facial hair! :)