Ross Perot Museum

When you are in Texas for the summer most of your pictures involve some sort of water activity.  We took a break from the water last week to visit the new Ross Perot Museum.  Every little detail is amazing.  We didn't really 'read' all the details, but there are lots of hands on things for the kids to do including a children's area on the bottom floor!

 

Sweet friends!

Lots of water park days in our summer future! 

Christmas Catch up!

It’s the end of January and I officially have my tree down as of yesterday!  I am in the spring cleaning mood now!  How about you?  I do have a little Christmas catch up I need to do {among other things}. 

I’ve been busy busy checking out schools for my 5 year old!  My goodness!  Where did the time go?  The pressure!  We’re looking at a Christian school and an cultural immersion program at our local school district.  I’ve even thought about homeschooling (and I don’t even have a denim jumper ;)  I’ll keep you posted.

Back to Christmas catch up-after the extended family Christmas on the 17th we went on our annual carriage ride to look at Christmas lights on Park street.  It’s such a fun, quick (no lines), easy thing to do in town.  Landree loves the hot chocolate and treats and we get to see Christmas lights-win for all!  The highlight for me is an older man that stands on his porch and whistles Christmas carols into a microphone as you ride by his house.  It’s the neatest thing.  

Sharing his popcorn with Grandma

Another Christmas tradition we enjoy is the going to the Nutcracker.  Momma, Landree, Maggie and I have been the last 3 years.  This year H joined us too! We had a lot of fun and the ballet was wonderful, however, we decided we might need to branch out and see a different show next year.  There are lots of fun kid programs available that we think will be fun to try too. 

 

And last but not least, one of my favorite things {pun intended} was our book and favorite things Christmas play date at Aunt Megan and Hayden’s.  Look at all this yummy food!  I love dips don’t you? 

We all brought a book for the kids to trade and a ‘favorite thing’ for the mommas to trade.  We seem to have the same favorites ;) Several yummy smelling candles, BBW soaps, and Ghirardelli chocolates.  Megan ended up with those and shared one with Landree, she called them wonderful! 

The kids enjoyed playing outside for while and loved every minute!  And I loved spending time with friends, old and new.  We look forward to it next year!  (I hope-that’s where school gets in the way!  I can’t believe I have a 5 year old!)

   

Whoa, Molly!

It’s the cutest little thing to hear him say, and Hudson is constantly talking about Molly (my daddy’s mule) when he sees anything horse.  Which he is currently obsessed with-we have lots of farm/animal books and we’ll read them and then he insists on going back to the horse page. 

We were to fortunate to be able to spend a month home at Christmas time which gave the kids lots of play time with family and friends.  And lots of visits with Molly the mule (although I’m pretty sure the carrots were his favorite part.) He would get a carrot for Molly and then keep it just about every time.  The first few visits were getting used to Molly, then sitting on her, and even being led around (in jammies of course) when you’re ready to go see the mule it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, right?

See who has the carrot?

Whoa, Molly!

Christmas Catch Up

We’ve been in Texas for almost two weeks now.  My sweet momma flew into town on Saturday and drove home with us on Monday.  We made the trip in one day!  The kids, Jeff, and I made a quick trip to TX in November when Jeff spoke at a retreat {and we had to make it in one day.}  I have to brag that my kids really are the best travelers-19 hours in the car in November and Landree didn’t say a word until we were 30 mins from my parents house.  It was really funny too.  She had a little breakdown saying, “I can’t take it anymore!  My bottom hurts!”  Bless her heart!  Momma and I decided to try to do it in a day again, and we made it in about 17 hours this time.  Landree misses ‘our hotel’, but now that I know they can make it in a day it’s so hard to justify the extra money.  We spend about $500 more when we take two days to drive with our hotel, food, etc. each direction.  I bring plenty of crayons, games, books, but in all honesty when the tv comes on that’s pretty much what they prefer.  They might get to watch 10 hours of tv, but it only happens a few times a year right? :)

We’ve been enjoying time with family and friends.  Momma, the kids and I went to Holiday in the Park last weekend.  We started out the day with lunch in Rockwall where Landree ‘developed’ a tummy ache.  I am not sure if she didn’t want to eat or her tummy really hurt, but I found a health food store and got a homeopathic tablet I give her when she says that.  We also stopped by Target to get some tylen*l since her knee hurt when she bent it.  Again, a complaint I get periodically, I think it might be growing pains.  And then…we were really off.  After a quick nap for Hudson in the car and parking we got to the park around 3:30.  Gigi was volunteering with a group taking pictures so we stopped to say hello to her and off we went to the kids area.  The first ride had a small wait.  Hudson was licking the rails as we waited in line and I was seriously doubting our decision to come.  Landree was fine if we weren’t waiting and she could ride in the stroller, which meant I was carrying my littlest love (all 30 pounds of him) around the park.  We decided at about 6:15 that right after the 7:00 musical we wanted to see we were leaving! Well, the kids loved the musical, they both danced the entire time!  We were wishing we’d made it to one of those earlier, and then Landree didn’t want to leave.  We walked right up to any ride they wanted and rode over and over until almost 10 pm!  All while drinking our weight in hot chocolate!  I didn’t take my camera in, but I did get a few pictures with my phone. 

I also attended Angie’s (AKA Grandma) annual Christmas.  We eat lots of yummy food and do a dirty Santa swap (you open gifts and can steal them).  I ended up with the cutest punch bowl that looks like a snowman head (and no pictures). 

Hudson enjoyed a little art time one evening (thank goodness for a great big sister and it only being a highlighter) and then some snuggle time with Popee.  Which really means jumping on the bed and wrestling with the dog, Cotton.  :)

We had a play day with our friends Julie, John, Tegan and Mattox and that is exactly what we did.  Played ALL day!  The girls dressed up and Hudson was in heaven with Mattox’s never ending Cars collection.  Tegan and Mattox bought the kids presents with their own spending money.  A book and truck for Hudson, and play dough and bracelets for Landree.  Perfect!  And Julie made them the coolest game thing.  It had a hopscotch on one side and a target and tic tac toe board on the other.  It’s so cool!  It would be perfect for birthday gifts too!  I told her she should go into business.  I know they are going to love playing with it! 

And after a yummy hamburger lunch that John made for us Julie helped the kids make cookies and then she whipped up a fun icing for them to paint their cookies with.

Julie and I must have started 100 conservations and we got to finish quite a few of them too!  I was such a fun day with friends that we don’t get to see often enough. 

Landree and I have been crafting most days when Hudson naps with easy crafts thanks to Hobby Lobby and their awesome half price sales.  She especially loved decorating the gingerbread house that I picked up at CVS for $5!  Next year I want us to make them using graham crackers.  All she really wants to do is eat the candy :)

And tonight, we took a super fun glow stick bath.  Have you seen this on pinterest?  My guys having too much fun for the pitch dark photo, but you get the idea.  And they LOVED this!  So much joy for a $1!  I got my glow sticks at the Dollar Tree. 

And we are caught up!  Tomorrow we are having Christmas with Angie’s brothers and their families.  It should be lots of fun and Jeff’s sisters (both teachers) are officially on Christmas break so we will be getting to play with them more too!  Next week we are going to ICE and have our annual book exchange Christmas party at Megan and Hayden’s.  I can’t believe it’s only a week until Christmas can you?  Hope you’re enjoying your Christmas season!