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...

Happy Birthday Glen

Happy Birthday Glen!  You are now 3 years old.

One of my favorite things that you say recently:

Me:  Glen you are adorable.  What are you Glen?

Glen:  I'm a door bell!

1. How old are you?  3

2. Who is your best friend?  Grace 

3. What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with blocks

4. What is your favorite color?  Green

5. What is your favorite food?  Broccoli

6. What do you like to do with your family?  cuddle

7. What is your favorite toy? Keys

8. What do you want to do when you grow up?  Drive with keys

9. What makes you happy?  Broccoli

10.  What makes you sad?  When I get hurt

11.  What is your favorite show to watch?  Daniel Tiger

12.  What is your favorite book? The Bible

13.  What do you love to learn about?  Cars

14.  What is the best part of your birthday?  Cake

15.  Where do you like to go?  Papaw's House

16.  Who was your teacher?  N/A

17.  What is your favorite treat? lollipops

18.  What do you think about right before you fall asleep?  Boris

19.  If you could meet anyone famous, who would it be?  Blue (from Blue's Clues)

20.  What was your favorite birthday present?  Legos

 On December 30th we had a Blue's Clues theme party for Glen at Mamaw and Papaw's house.

Amy and I made the cupcakes.  Amy also made many blue paw prints that we hid around the house so that Glen could look for clues.

I think that he had a great time.  Happy Birthday Boy, I love you!

Happy Birthday Grace

 On December 6th Grace had her first "invite friends over" birthday party.  We had it early because her best friend Grace H was moving the following week.  Grace had two friends over, Grace H and Ksena (both from her preschool class).

They played dress up

(Grace and Grace H)

They played dress up A LOT!

 Glen was just happy to sit back and play with his iPhone

 Grace got a really neat bag from Grace H where she was able to color the picture on the front.

It turned out really awesome!

 Instead of a cake I made cupcakes and the kids were able to frost, decorate, and pile on the candy as they wished!

 Happy 5th Grace!

These were the three cupcakes from the three friends. 

 Ksena gave Grace some bath paints.

 Grace and Ksena.

It was a fun party

20 Birthday Questions

1. How old are you?  5

2. Who is your best friend?  Grace Hurd

3. What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with balls

4. What is your favorite color?  Pink and purple

5. What is your favorite food?  Strawberries

6. What do you like to do with your family?  Cook

7. What is your favorite toy? Legos

8. What do you want to be when you grow up?  Cheerleader

9. What makes you happy?  Glen

10.  What makes you sad?  When Glen takes my toys

11.  What is your favorite show to watch?  The Cars Movie (Pixar)

12.  What is your favorite book? Cookie's Week

13.  What do you love to learn about?  Stories

14.  What is the best part of your birthday?  Presents

15.  Where do you like to go?  Ellie's house (Arkansas)

16.  Who was your teacher?  Mrs. Hess and Mrs. Hiser

17.  What is your favorite treat? lollipops

18.  What do you think about right before you fall asleep?  Jesus

19.  If you could meet anyone famous, who would it be?  Lightning McQueen (from Cars)

20.  What was your favorite birthday present?  Cinderella dress up clothes from Grandpa Steve and Grandma Sue

Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

 Glen has discovered his love of Christmas trees this year.  He saw one at Costco and the rest of the day all I heard was "Christmas tree a-home"  He wanted to take the Christmas tree home...

 Well we finally put one up mid-December and Grace and Glen did almost all of the decorating.

It was beautiful!

Cookie Day 2014

A special tradition in my family is cookie day where my mom, sisters, and I get together and in one day we make enough cookies and treats to supply us for the holidays.

 Grace and Glen are just old enough to kind of help us.

 Amy made sugar cookies ahead of time this year and Grace and Glen got to decorate the cookies.

 Glen made piles of decorations,

 Grace made faces.

 Let's just say, there was not a lack of sugar.

Maybe next year they will be able to help even more!

Fall Pictures

In the fall my sisters and I attempt to get all six of our kids together to get a picture for our parents.  That is quite a job to try to get all six looking nice and in the same direction all at them same time.

But first I (with the help of Amy) got some great pictures of my kids by themselves.

 And what do you know, we got a great one of all six!

 An ok one of just my two.

 As we got Glen ready for the picture, we realized that he was dressing just like his daddy.  So we had a photo with Matt and his mini-me!