More on the Aquarium

 Feeding a stingray

 Checking out the sharks

 Learning about and touching the Horseshoe Crab

 Learning about and touching a lobster

 Evan teaching Abbie about a Hermit Crab

He's Famous!

Lone Star Adventure: Children's Aquarium: MyFoxDFW.com

We go to this small local aquarium about once a week and love it. Evan didn't even flinch when the put a camera and mic in his face. 

The Gift of Time

I'm still behind on the rest of Christmas and some other posts I think, but I don't want this week to go by without it being remembered. What an amazing week. It started off normal - Sunday is the first day of our work week so we had two normal days and then bam! the ice hit and the city literally stopped. A 1/4-1/2 inch ice rink covered the city. It was white but as soon as you stepped on it you knew it wasn't snow; it was hard as a rock...or ice if you will. We did play outside the first day for awhile but by day 2 the ice seemed to only get more slippery so we stayed in. Dallas does not own it's own snow plows - we borrow, and has a few sand trucks - again we borrow. The joke, and there is probably a lot of truth to this, is that Jerry had most if not all at his disposal for the Super Bowl that is set for tomorrow.

The first few days were filled with games and a little extra television. By day 3 we were a little stir crazy and I was able to get out to Kroger which was nice. Then came the best part....Day 4...S N O W! Finally, something to do outside! We were forcasted to receive 1-3 inches but instead received closer to 5-6 inches. The kids were ecstatic and we were soon layered up and headed to the Jr High School to sled down the hill with much of our neighborhood. We sledded twice that day for about 1-1.5hrs each and Evan became known as the kid with no fear. Abbie enjoyed the sledding a few times but really just wanted to walk and run in it all. We are not fully equipped clothing-wise so there were some very cold hands and toes and a few tears along the way. Overall it was a top 10 day for me spending it playing and loving my family. We had the gift of time. There was no rush. We cooked and just hung out.

Day 5 brought the sun and warmer temperatures so Evan and I hit the sledding hill from about 9:45am-11:45am. He was exhausted but oh was it worth it. He has rarely met a stranger and always knew every kid and adult on the hill within minutes of them arriving. He loved to race them and trade and share "sleds." He even rode on an inner tube pulled down the hill by a dog - he loved it.

For me, it's a week I hope I remember. Remember the time of no work for either Jeff or I. No school for the kids and really no place to go or be other than together. A gift of being able to sit back and live life while watching and learning from it at the same time. I do know that there are kids out there this week who's best meal of the day is the one they receive at school and my heart was heavy at times for them and for their families. I do know that although this was a gift for us it may not have been a gift for everyone.

The snow is mostly gone now and there will be no more sledding for now. Tomorrow our work week will begin again and the pace will pick up. Yet for one last evening, time is our gift to treasure.

Abbie is always the first one up and she was truly excited about the snow. While waiting for Evan to wake up she kept saying, "Snow, touch snow."

Heading to the Jr High School about 2 blocks away with our homemade sleds of cardboard (didn't work) and a box (the top worked pretty well for two people).

Abbie ready for the ride to the hill. Thanks again Granddaddy and Lela for the ATV wagon - the wheels were great to have on this trip.

Checking out the hill from the bottom

Abbie's inaugural sledding adventure. She liked it but only wanted to go a few times before she was done.

While at the hill we learned from others that a cookie sheet was a great sled and were able to borrow one to try it out. This proved to be the perfect sled and we later returned with our own.

My Snow Angel.

What happens when it ices first. We had 2-3 foot icicles hanging off of our house.

Pure Joy

Back to the sledding hill later in the day. This time armed with a round metal cookie sheet and bags over the socks to keep them dry.

Ready to go.

Just hanging around. 

The cookie pan race!

No Fear!

Yummy...

Goofing off. She loved running around in the snow.

Since Abbie is up early I usually get to see the sunrise - this morning did not disappoint with the clear sky and the snow and icicles.

Sledding Day 2

We got there about 9:45am and had the whole place to ourselves for a little while.

The walk back up.

Many neighbors were again out and all sharing their Texas sleds. Evan loved this one as they were actually pulled down the hill by this sweet lab named Sammy.

The Sled

Evan is sledding with a school/church friend's dad on their real sled.

Evan and Katherine sharing his sled.

Sledding down the hill on a beautiful Texas day.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

The kids were quite excited on Christmas Eve and Evan worked very hard on his own letter to Santa. For my creative literalist he can struggle with questions about what is real and what isn't. We have chosen to teach him about St. Nicholas - who he was, what he did and how we can carry on the legacy of giving to those who have less than others. Jeff had to work and the service was too late for Abbie, so the kids and I stayed home. After Abbie went to bed, Evan and I turned off all the lights, lit a candle each and sang the first verse of Silent Night together. It was such a sweet, holy and special time together.

Jeff's Christmas...already benefiting from this.

Christmas Program

Downtown Parade

Took the kids to see the Children's Parade Downtown. We rode the train there and back which was the highlight for both kids. You can see by the pictures who had fun and who didn't.  :)

Thanksgiving in Mason

Thanksgiving in Mason is a time we look forward to each year. Time to relax in the small town Texas Hill Country life with family. The kids had such a great time playing with their Granddaddy and Lela. It was also the first Thanksgiving with my mom being cancer free and what a difference that makes! Not only did she eat everything on her plate - at every meal - she even ran around outside with the kids and dogs...way to go mom. Your life is a true miracle and we are so grateful for you and dad!

Of course we left our camera in Dallas so all of these pictures are from Jeff's phone and we don't have too many. There was plenty of football and whiffle ball in the yard as well as painting rocks, cooking and exploring crystals and quartz with Lela.

The cows had wandered up to the gate by the house and the kids were quite excited. 

Granddaddy took them over to visit.

Mornings with Jessie cuddling in Granddaddy and Lela's bed.

Abbie in one of her favorite spots - cuddling with Granddaddy

Fishing down at the tank...reeling one in

"Look what I caught!"

Learning to cast the line.

A fish!

The Fishermen

On Saturday night they had the Lighting of the Square and Santa came to visit. Abbie did meltdown after about 30 seconds so we quickly removed her. We don't do a lot with the traditional Santa - more of the St. Nick tradition but Santa is Santa and who can take that away from a 4 yr old?

18 Months and 4 1/2

Copyrighted by MeganTakesPictures

How can it be that they are 18 months and 4 1/2? I wish at times that I could freeze moments so I won't forget them. Today I absolutely loved breaking all the "sleep rules" dancing with Abbie long after she feel asleep on my shoulder...I wanted to freeze the moment and savor it as I flashed forward to her as a grown woman someday all too soon. (sorry for my lack of grammatically correct sentence structure.)

Evan at 4 1/2 is so full of life and imagination and ideas. He loves football and has a memory and logic for it I don't fully understand. We do watch football but not in huge amounts and yet he can tell you who is playing, who they've beaten and why they will or won't win the game because of that. My dad joked at Thanksgiving that he and Evan were headed to Vegas. He loves to learn about the teams and who the players are and what their roles are in the game. He gets his football and plays on our couch right alongside the game complete with his own commentary and replays. This rough and tumble boy also loves books and has begun reading. He loves to learn about space, the planets, rocks, minerals, and most anything that has to do with the earth. At 4 1/2 he wants to be a football playing scientist. He has the most wonderful sense of humor and loves to make up jokes - only a few of which make sense - but he cracks up and so does Abbie. He is an amazing big brother always looking after his little sister. He plays with her puzzles with her and is such a wonderful encourager and praises her when she puts the shapes in the right places. She in turn wants to be wherever he is and loves to hug him and cheer for him as well. We are so amazed by the little person growing right before our eyes. His love for and understanding of Jesus is growing as we are watching him learn to love and serve others. He has a very young, sweet and gentle faith as he learns and has so many wonderful (and difficult) questions along the way.

Abbie at 18 months is full of life. She is smart and quick and funny. She can repeat just about any word you ask her to and has already begun stringing 2 words together and using them regularly. She loves to talk to everyone we meet waving and saying hi. She really likes to work her shape and animal puzzles and it's amazing to watch her mind work as she looks from the shape in her hand to the puzzle and then the look on her face when she knows where it goes. She loves to laugh and will even laugh just if you ask her too. She has begun saying "bless you" anytime someone sneezes - it's cute as it's more like "bess oo." She loves to give kisses and hugs and cuddles while reading books. She has definitely hit the 18 mo independent phase and has a mind and opinion of her own so there have been a few timeouts along the way as well. One thing I love to watch is that if I can't get her to come with me somewhere I can ask Evan to go take her hand and she will hold his hand and go wherever he leads her. Such undeniable faith. She is a light and a joy to watch grow.

We are truly blessed and thankful for all that we have and for these two gifts that we've been given that end up teaching us far more than we ever thought.