Waterpark

There is a waterpark at the resort we stayed at. It is an indoor/outdoor park because it has a retractable roof. Even being supposedly "indoor", when it is 25 degrees outside, it is still cold inside, especially when you're wet and barely dressed. The kids didn't seem to mind the purple lips, but I was freezing. We quickly learned that the 1 foot deep kiddie pool was the warmest pool, and the hot tub was even better. It was pretty cool though. Behind the kiddie pool, there was a huge jungle gym with all kinds of squirty water toys and a giant dumping water bucket on top. Next to that, was a 3-4 foot deep pool with basketball nets. And beyond that, there are two huge slides, one for intertubes and the other a body slide. They reached all the way up to the roof. The boys really loved the slides. There is also a lazy river, but it was unfortunately down the day we were there.

Trying to get Teagan's attention

He finally looks up and says..... NO PICTURES!

We're back!

We got back from Gatlinburg late last night (to a messy house!!!!) Today has been spent unloading the van, washing clothes, cleaning up the mess that is my house, and trying to grow back the hairs that I pulled out while we were gone. LOL Just kidding. It wasn't as terrible as I expected. There were a couple times I wondered if I had completely lost my mind taking 4 kids out of state, on vacation, by MYSELF! But, for the most part, we had fun. Pictures to follow later, after I recharge the battery in my camera.

Thank You!

A big Thank You to Grandma and Grandpa! You always know how to make the holiday merry and bright! Will call you when we get back from Gatlinburg!

Another Snow Day

Of course, today is Saturday. So it's not really a "snow day". Can you see how fat these flakes are? What's better to do when the weather is frightful? Okay, this was before the snow started, but I like the idea. I told Travis to go brush his teeth and get his jammies on, and I'd be in to tuck him in last night. This is what I found.

So, it started coming down this morning. I thought I heard we'd have an inch by 6 pm. I must have heard wrong. This was at noon, and it's still coming down. And yes, that is the window screen. I wasn't going to go out and stand in it. LOL (Although, I have been out already. My van is in the garage. This is Bobby's van getting buried in the snow.)
We had planned to take Tatum to a salon today for her birthday. But, we rescheduled for next week. Her birthday is next weekend anyway. I have been out to the bank, the grocery, and Tatum's ballet class (which, of course, was cancelled). The roads are pretty slushy and I'm sure will just get more icy through the day. Krista said the weather man was calling for another 5-6 inches. Ugh! We're supposed to be leaving for Gatlinburg in the morning. Bobby told me if it keeps snowing, he's not letting me drive to Gatlinburg. Um, excuse me, did you just try to tell ME I'm not going to do something? And yeah, it's just the kids and I going. Bobby can't get off work.
This is December in OHIO!

Sharpies are Great!!!

Sharpies are great, aren't they? I mean, when you need to label something that no ink pen will leave a mark on, they're just great. They label everything, plastic cups, plastic bags, freezer tape, moving boxes......etc. I love them!





I don't love them on my refrigerator.






Teagan's art work........

The joy of the Sharpie, prominently and perpetually displayed on my refrigerator.

Shhhh

Somebody skipped his nap time.

Cousins

Friday night was our second annual girl cousin ornament exchange. A little over a year ago, (I think), we all got together when our cousin Sarah came to visit from Montana. We decided to keep it going and try to get together every couple months. We always have alot of fun, eat way too much, and stay out way too late.

Krista and I both missed the close knit family feeling when we were young. Dad was the baby of the family, so our cousins were older by the time we came along. They had kids who were our ages. And since they all lived close to each other, and hung out more, we felt like the social outcasts of the family, just visiting twice a year, for the reunion and Christmases. Krista, Travis and I always sat around asking who was who, especially when new babies came along. I think we all really wanted to be a part of a big family, which is why Krista insists on all of us living close to her, and why I always wanted a gazillion kids. (okay, not a gazillion, just 5 or 10! LOL) Last year, we had our Christmas get together at Krista's house. This year, it was at Hope's house, which I just love. She has it decorated beautifully, and it's always felt very homey. Of course, it was Uncle Bob's and Aunt Shirley's house when we were little, so we all have a few childhood memories from there.
Hmmm, the profiles really give the family genes away, huh?
The little one is Miss Laila, Missy's daughter. She was very helpful, and such a cutie, even if she does look like her Dad.
Checking out Mom's stuff
Presents for me?
Krista AKA The Penguin Freak
Hope
Debbie
Lisa, yeah, she's a little kooky. You think this is funny, ask her about the poop story.
Bye-Bye!

Snow day!!

We woke up to a few inches of snow this morning. It snowed all through the night, so I wasn't too surprised when we got the automated call at 5:30 to say there was a 2 hr delay. And later, at 7:30, a cancellation call. Of course, the boys were thrilled. By 9 am, they were asking to go outside.
I don't know what's worse. Squeezing snow pants over a pair of toddler boots, or manipulating 2 yr old thumbs into a pair of mittens. I think I actually exercised today. It was all floor work, sweating and grunting trying to squeeze Teagan's little prebooted feet into his snow pants. Not fun. And then trying to explain the concept of holding your thumb away from your fingers to slide mittens on. Ugh. He just kept saying okay, then would clench all his fingers together as I put the mitten on. I'm so glad he stayed out there longer than 10 minutes, because it sure would have seemed like wasted effort.

What is eating snow all about anyway? I mean, really, why do we do it?
And yes, the goofy dog is trying to catch the snow in her mouth. I don't know what Travis is trying to do.

They had a good time. Teagan actually lasted longer than Tatum. She had to come in to pee about 15 minutes later and decided to stay in. Now, why didn't I think to ask her about peeing before bundling her up in 4 layers?

Our ballerina

These are some pics from Tatum's last observation night. They only let the parents in to observe once every 8 weeks. And since I couldn't find my battery charger, they've been stuck. She really loves it, and surprisingly, she pays attention. Tatum is the middle tumbler

Here she is, right in front of the little girl with the criss cross straps.
And with her ponytail swinging!

Christmas is in the air

The "kid" tree

We got our trees put up. Bobby told the kids we would put the tree up last weekend, so he had me drag all the decorations out of storage while he was getting the boys haircuts. We put the tree up, strung the lights, then Daddy parked himself in front of the TV while Mommy and the kids put the ornaments on. Tradition? Hmmm.... And yes, there are two trees. One is for my snowman ornament collection, the other is for all the kids ornaments, those made at school and those bought specifically for them.













Now, knowing that there were four little people hanging ornaments, that might explain why some areas of the tree are a little more populated than others. I find myself moving ornaments daily, filling in the gaps, and moving the breakables up from the bottom.













Tatum in her party hat
















Teagan "helping". He's too cool to look at the camera.













Tanner, hmm? How to explain? He thinks that every picture must be posed. So this is his version of Santa.








Travis had to get in on the action. In case you are wondering about Tanner's position, he was "catching the toys falling out of Santa's bag". Love the cool over the shoulder look Travis is giving.











These are some of my favorite ornaments. This one was a gift from some penguin freak I know.











This one came through the mail from an online friend.















I think I got this little guy, and his brother, from the gift shop at Der Dutchman in Waynesville, several years ago.










I know, he's not a snowman, but I love his dangly little legs and the "sugar" coating.











A few other Xmas decorations to share.



























This is the kids' favorite. The little snowman in the center "ice skates" when you wind him up.