Texas Trip 3 - Picnics & Dirt

Nana & Opa have a huge pile of dirt in their front yard which Nana believes is full of arrowheads so when she would go out digging, so would the kids.

Max's hair was so curly from all the humidity

Sam

7 kids are hard (and messy) to feed in one kitchen so we did a lot of eating outside. It was fabulous.

Super cute picture of Charlee

Texas Trip 2 - River Fun

We tried to spend as much time as possible down at the River throwing rocks and sticks but despite not being really warm enough to be IN the water, we couldn't keep the kids out of it.

Bo & Sam looking for minnows with Wes

Bo with his "big fish"

Two fish - monkey see monkey do

Opa with Claire & Sam

Snack time for Kate & Owen

Sam & Kate

Kate & Bo - best buds

Kids trying to convince Wes to go off the swing

Max & Nana

Log boat races

Bo's even had a sail and according to him, it ALWAYS won

Texas Trip 1 - Bikes & Sand

This was our "on" year for spending Christmas in Texas with my family and we were all looking forward to getting out of the cold for a bit. But the weather was so nice there and so cold here in Fairbanks, that our 2 week trip turned into 4. Wes came back as originally scheduled on the 29th but the boys and I stayed until the 13th. Needless to say, we took a TON of pictures so I am going to split them up into categories beginning with "Bikes & Sand".

With all 7 grandkids in one house (all under the age of 4.5) we spent a lot of time outside playing. The boys pretty much lived in the sand box or on their bikes. Sam even graduated from a tricycle to a big boy bike with training wheels while we were there.

Claire, Max & Sam

Bo was Mr trixter on the trapeeze

Lesson Learned The Hard Way

Lesson: Pushing down a trash bag into the trash can to force the lid to close is not a good idea unless the above mentioned trash bag is full of feathers and definitely not half peeled back tomato soup can lids. Duh! Who would do that? Well a severed nerve, chopped blood vessel, nicked tendon and 15 stitches later (4 inside, 11 out) I definitely won't ever again.

Madden Christmas

This year the boys got to celebrate Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa early because we are going to be in Texas on Christmas Day. It is the first time we have had the opportunity to drive a few minutes to a family members house and actually spend a holiday with them and it was wonderful.

We decided to celebrate with breakfast because morning is by far the best time of Christmas in my opinion and Marcia did not disappoint. She had "create your own pancakes" (ahem....dessert) with a choice of chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips or all three like Bo chose, and sausage and eggs. Hello sugar high! Hello Christmas fun!

We then let the boys go to town on their presents. It was a great morning and everyone had a blast.

Snowmachining...Like Father Like Son

Bo and Sam definitely take after their Dad with their love of snowmachines. Any weekend warm enough (which isn't many right now), they are out at Grandma & Grandpa's riding through the trails, around the driveway and all through the yard. I can't wait until Spring when it's warm enough for them to be out even more. They absolutely LOVE IT!!

How The Girl Scouts Saved Christmas

We took the boys to see Santa today. They even had lists to give him and were so beyond excited. Well, Bo and Sam were at least. Max, not so much.

But when we got to Santa's House, we found out that Santa was not there because he rests on Mondays and Tuesdays. WTF? Santa doesn't rest in December. There are toys to be made and lists to be checked and then checked again. I know 'pa in his kerchief' but not 'good ole St Nick in his underoos'.

I have never seen Bo so disappointed. Bubble bursting. Sail drooping. Dog dying. I felt horrible. I almost cried. Probably would have if it weren't for the wall to wall holly jolly Christmas explosion I was standing in.

But then in happened. Frowns no longer. Cloud nine approaching. Looking like larks. Santa was in the building!! SANTA WAS IN THE BUILDING!

Thank you wonderful Girl Scout troop for dragging Santa from his day of rest. Now we love you AND your cookies.


*Side Note - Anyone else find it strange that Santa's mouth is always open?! Kind of creepy.