Monday, January 2, 2012

Indiana time with family and friends

We left the day after Christmas to drive to Indiana. We decided that driving straight to my moms would be the plan. The kids really did great for the 13 hour drive, other than we realized that Abby gets a little car sick in the mountains.
We were busy with a lot of fun things at my mom's house. Here are some of the pictures to tell you about our trip. We opened presents the morning after we got there.

Everyone got fun presents and Aunt Amy was also there to celebrate with Carter and Abby.Carter got a Mason Plumlee #5 Jersey from Grandma. It was so cool and he wore it all the time, especially when he was shooting baskets in his over the door Duke hoop. He loves all of his Duke stuff Abby really just loves opening presents right now. We caught her trying to peak and guess what was inside this year.Then we went outside to play in the snow and play we did.




Riding on sleds behind the 4-wheeler.


Riding with daddy on the 4 wheeler



Making a snowman



Making snow angels






Riding on the toy snowmobile that I got when I was very young. I get it out for the kids each year and have posed pictures of them sitting on it, even if there was not snow. Thank goodness, there was snow this year.














The kids loved the dogs this year so much. They were always playing with them, holding their collars and walking them or just petting them. It was so sweet.



Abby did Grandma's hair.Grammie read books to Carter.Aunt Amy helped Abby line up her princess dolls for breakfast and Tinkerbell would fly in to deliver breakfast. Everyone needs an awesome Aunt Amy.Meaghan and her family came. Here is London, her youngest. Abby enjoyed giving her a bottle and kept rubbing her head.



Presley, Reece and Abby outside after feeding the horses.We went to see the Ice Carving activities in Shipshewana (the amish town) and Abby loved the horse and buggies and want to ride in one. They actually give rides, so I went with the kids. Here we are with our driver after the ride. Don't worry those of you that know anything about the Amish. I asked his permission to take his picture and he did not care.One of the ice sculptures. It was cold outside, but the sun was hitting the ice and they were melting. Still fun. We went to visit my friend Kelly from college and her family at Das Dutchmen Essenhaus for breakfast. My mom was reading to the girls




Carter and Chip are a year apart, but are best buddies and just love being together. Kelly and I are pretty sure that if we lived closer they would be together all of the time.




All of our kids... Getting so big.









Grammie with her great-grandkids. It was so nice to see her...



We also had fun shopping a little in Warsaw, running errands, visiting with mom's friend Marj, and her family and really just letting the kids be kids at my moms. Abby is getting an interesting personality and she sings all of the time... Carter is growing up but has such a tender heart.











We left my mom's on New Year's Day as Carter has to be back at school tomorrow so we decided that since the kids were still doing so good, we would drive the whole way back.



We stopped at Aunt Amy's and the kids got to play with Hudson. There was no fear at all and they had a great time playing with him...


We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season. I am going to try and post some pictures of Christmas day. We will see.



Monday, December 26, 2011

More Christmas fun

Prior to Christmas day, we have stayed busy with fun Christmas things.
The kids has fun making a gingerbread house. I bought a plastic candy cottage that you frost, decorate, and then wash off to use next time. It was great. Abby is much more into that creative stuff than Carter.

On Christmas eve we went to church and then to our traditional Waffle House dinner...

I am not sure how this is going to update as I am trying the app on my phone.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Pictures with Santa

In the past we have gone to see Santa where the kids sit on a toy bench and don't know that Santa is behind them. Carter did great with that, but Abby not so much...
This year we wanted the traditional sit by Santa pose. So after waiting for 3 hours, being next in line and Abby saying, I have to got potty as it was our turn. Abby had been so excited and said that she wanted to stand by Santa and then she freaked out.
Abby and I walked away and Santa hid behind his seat. We got a few pictures with Santa behind the seat and then this is when we were busted... She started crying and then told him what she wants and gave him a high five with me holding her... Silly Girl.
Sweet picture with my boy...
Brother and sister love with Santa.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas Fun

Well, I am a little behind in updating the blog and the month of December is almost over. We have been busy with lots of fun Christmas activities and will be continuing the rest of this month.
Abby had her performance at her school and her class sang Jingle Bells. She actually sang that night and has been signing Jingle Bells for over a month now. So sweet.

Patrick's dad drove his Model A in a local Christmas parade with lights. Carter and his cousins rode in the car with Gramps and Abby, Patrick and I watched. All had a great time.
Carter and Ian.
Gramps with his hat on....
Abby in the car...
Carter went to see Santa. Abby on the other hand was scared to death. She talked a big talk, but wanted nothing to do with him.
Carter and Abby have helped me bake cookies...
We went to cut our tree down the weekend after Thanksgiving and got a really big one this year. It is pretty. I will have to post the pictures of the 7 trees in my next post...
Me with Carter and Abby. Trying to get pictures is one of the hardest things some days.
Yes, they are posed with the saw.....
Off to look for a tree...
I just love that sweet face..
Every year before Christmas we go to Build a Bear and the kids make Christmas animals and record their voices and then I put them away until the next year. It is so neat to hear how Carter and Abby sounded when they were little. I just love this tradition.
We have a busy weekend this week and went to see a "better" Santa last weekend with pictures coming soon. Abby had to be tricked to be in a picture with Santa...