Christmas Day 3/4

Christmas eve Steve and Sue were able to finish their long car trip from Iowa to visit with us.  

Grandpa Steve quickly got down to the important business of napping with Glen and Boris.

I love Grandpa/Grandson napping pictures!

 Grace and Ellie had a fantastic time playing, dressing up, watching movies, and squealing.
They only see each other once or twice a year, but when they get together it is as if no time had passed.

 Christmas morning the kids got their stockings.  Glen dug out a truck from his, left the rest of the items in the stocking and just ran the truck over the chair while everyone else opened presents.  I figure, whatever makes you happy :)

Grace and Ellie dug into their stockings at a very fast pace, then opened all of their presents.  They were so excited and happy!

 It was warm enough to spend some time outside on the swing (and yes, orange hat had to come with us too)

 But this is where you could usually find Glen.  In close proximity to Boris and on Matt's computer playing Starfall.  Such a sweet boy!

What a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Day 2

We woke in Nashville and decided to hit the road after breakfast.

 Traveling takes a lot out of a person.

 We drove on till we made it to Memphis, TN.  At Memphis we made sure to go to the Memphis Children's Museum.

 Grace quickly went toward the fishing.

 She had a blast there...and I got very wet.

 Glen found these tiles that have magnets on the edges and he spent no less than an hour playing with them.  No Kidding!

 While Glen was at the tiles, Grace went shopping at the grocery store.

 Glen was still playing with the tiles and Grace was climbing.

 Finally Glen realized that there was a bit more to the museum and he started playing with the pipes and scarves.

 Grace finished by climbing the walls.

Oh, we love this children's museum and we are so glad that we were able to spend some time there.  But what was even better was that right after we left we went to Chris and Katie's house and were able to settle in a house rather than another hotel room!

Christmas Day 1

We knew that we were going to be spending Christmas in Arkansas.  However, this year we decided that we wanted to enjoy the trip rather than drive it straight through in one day.  So we planned a few side trips, the first was the aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN.    

 Glen walked into the building and in the lobby there is a fish tank.  He would not leave that fish tank.  He kept pointing to the fish and telling me "mommy, see fish" "I see fish"  and over and over and over.  I kept trying to keep him going past the entrance because there were more fish, but he did not want to leave.  I am sure that we spent about 10 minutes looking at the fish tank.

 The kids were amazed at the fish.

 Both big and small.

 It was an amazing building and the kids always had something to see and do.

 Grace and Glen loved being "in" the aquarium.  All of the fish in this tank were the fish from the movie Nemo.

 Here you can see Nemo swimming in front of Grace.

 Glen got to touch the horseshoe crabs.  He loved it.  He wanted to touch them over and over and over and he kept pulling his sleeve up which meant that he wanted to touch them again.

 Grace was willing to touch this horseshoe crab, but none that were actually alive.

 While at the penguins, Glen found a little dome window that he was able to sit in and be right there in the action with the penguins.

 At the gift shop Grace got a stuffed Nemo fish.  Glen got a orange hat (that a month later, he still wears everywhere!)

What a fun day.  After we left we headed to Nashville.  And the trip continues...