Christmas Ornament Countdown 2011-21 Days Til Christmas

Well, I sure couldn’t resist buying this ornament.  I got it on my travels to the far away and rarely visited place called Target.  (Far away since we have moved and rarely visited because I am not crazy enough to take my crew to Target to often anymore.)  But the suitcase was just calling my name.  Actually, it is an ornament that I took to last years class meeting ornament exchange and yes, I grabbed my ornament during the Dirty Santa game and hung tightly to it.  If the ornaments aren’t travel related they don’t make it to our tree (with one current exception-Reagan made one at Grannymom’s house which is currently hanging on the tree).  Our tree may not be pretty but every ornament reminds us of something and that suitcase reminds me of all of our travels.

Christmas Ornament Countdown 2011-22 Days Til Christmas

In July, we went to the B&O Railroad Museum and the kids all loved it.  Actually, we all really enjoyed it.  It was in a true roundhouse (which the boys know about from their Thomas Trains).  There were trains to climb in and we even took a ride in a real train-what could be better?  Their gift shop was lacking (hence the reason we just have a hacky sack for our ornament) but it was still worth remembering with a Christmas ornament.(click here for pictures from the trip)

December 3, 2011

Rolls make everyone happy!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Campbell was the one waking me up in the middle of the night.  She was saying "Mommy, Keaton crying."  And in fact Keaton was crying.  Campbell stayed awake with me while I feed Keaton and it even took awhile for Campbell to get back to sleep.  I was surprised that Campbell even slept at all-she has a pretty bad cough.  We even sent her to bed first tonight but first made a stop to Walmart to buy enough to dope her up good for the night.
• Cash and Anderson were the next ones stirring.  It was around 7 and they were working hard building a fort.  They were using our bags to make the blankets stay up between the two beds.  When they picked up my computer to use it to steady the blanket, I thought I better help.  I made Robby lay on one side of the blanket on one bed and I gladly crawled back into the other bed to lay on the blanket and keep that side up to complete their fort.  When Campbell woke up she looked around, saw what they were doing and had the biggest smile on her face.
• We eventually traded Cash for Reagan and Graham and loaded up the car.  We all then headed to Krispy Kreme for doughnuts.  It was crazy crowded there but we managed to find seats and my kids probably had a dozen doughnuts.  After Campbell had finished her hot doughnut, she cut back into line and tried to get herself another hot doughnut.
• We made a stop at the Amish store and Coleman store-the big purchase was outside work pants for Robby and more sticks to make smores.  Seriously, what kind of people have we become since moving to the country?  We then hit the road and headed home.  We did have one bathroom stop and one gas stop and were home at a decent time.
• When we made it home, Robby and I unloaded the car as fast as we could while the kids sat in the car and finished their movie.  Robby and Keaton had a nap while everyone else called my name continuously.  The kids alternated between playing with their toys and watching a movie until it was time to leave for the peanut place.
• Reagan loves eating at the peanut place and the boys sure enjoyed the rolls and huge cups of water. Campbell really liked throwing the peanut shells on the floor and throwing the napkins on the floor and throwing the silverware on the floor and throwing the...well, you get the picture.
• We then came home and put sicky Campbell to bed and other 3 pulled the first 3 parts of the Santa chimney down and even hung up a few lights on the Peanuts window cling.

Christmas Ornament Countdown 2011-23 Days Til Christmas

In February, we went to Vegas and had planned on going to Disneyland for one day.  We managed to catch a flight a day early to avoid a huge snow storm in Little Rock (imagine leaving for a trip 24 hours early and just having a few hours to pack everyone up).  Our original flight did end up being one of the few that left the Little Rock airport but it worked out so well us leaving a day early.  This gave us a whole extra day at Disneyland and then we decided to shorten our time at Death Valley which allowed us to see the Reagan Library and then even have a 3rd day at Disney.  So our one day at Disney grew to 3 days and it was a perfect trip.  I always think of how all of that worked out when I see the ornament.  And I also think about how wonderful our motel was at Disney-right across the street.  Anyway, I am starting to love the picture ornaments more and more and always try to but them when I can. (click here for pictures from the trip)

December 2, 2011

Cousin Power at
Silver Dollar City!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• I think I mentioned that Robby and I went to sleep while trying to get Campbell asleep.  At 12, Graham climbed in bed with Robby.  Around 2, I got up to go to the bathroom.  At 3, Anderson got in bed with me and tried to tell me that it was morning and indeed the lights from outside made it look like morning.  He said "well, I guess you are right" when I made him go look out the window.  At 4, Anderson got in bed with Robby and at 5 Keaton was hungry and woke Campbell and I up.  Campbell and I managed to get back to sleep at 6 and then we all woke up around 7.  Sounds crazy but overall it was a fairly restful night.  Even though it was restful, Campbell did awake with a scratch on the side of her face.  I vaguely remember me having to grab her leg as she was falling off of the bed two times.
• When the 4 big kids got ready, we sent them over to Dana and Grannymom's room.  They took shifts going to breakfast while Robby and I finished getting ready.  
• We were at the outlet malls before they opened.  My first stop was the Disney store and the kids first stop was climbing all over the coin operated rides.  Graham said that Pops would have money and indeed he would have but Robby didn't have any.  We walked around the outlet for awhile.  Keaton and Reagan got new shoes, the boys got new Disney shirts and Robby bought a new blade for one of his weedeaters.  Though he quite enjoyed the tool store this visit-he has turned a new leaf.
• We had lunch at a diner across the street from the singing diner.  All of the kids managed to snag bar stools.  Even though Campbell wasn't in one she still managed to fall out of her chair.  We saw a bit of rain while we were there and crossed our fingers that it wasn't going to rain more during our Silver Dollar City adventure.
• At Silver Dollar City, we rode the tram and then stopped to bundle up.  My Dennie kids had a shirt, sweatshirt, light jacket, heavy jacket, hats and gloves and Lilly and Cash had just as many layers.  The big kids though never wore half of their layers-they must have been freezing but were staying too busy to notice.  Our first stop was Fire in the Hole.  Grannymom stayed with Keaton and Campbell while the rest of us took shifts riding it.  Lilly is the only one of the crew that can ride the rides without an adult with her.  
• After that, we went to the ball pit/play area for awhile and the kids could have stayed there forever.  Next up was Mine Train, the treehouse, carousel, mini swings and then over to the kiddie roller coaster.  Graham was in heaven getting to ride everything with Dana.  Campbell eventually got her turn on the frogs and butterflys while Dana and I were riding the swings (in the freezing rain and wind) with Reagan and Graham and then again with Anderson and Cash.  
• By now we were getting a bit wet and needed someplace warm.  We found a bread place and managed to squeeze our gang into a few seats and have a snack.  The big kids needed one more ride so Grannymom found her a gift shop to browse with Campbell and Keaton.  Keaton had been the perfect baby and even stayed in her car seat the whole time.  She was quite warm in there (I never put on her heavy coat and pants since she had 2 blankets on.  I probably should have put on her gloves though and if we hadn't had the rain, I would have stopped to change her but I never did and she was soaking wet when we finally got her out).  
• After the last Runaway Mine Train, we made it back just in time to see the lighting of the Christmas tree.  It was beautiful and unfortunately we were too tired, a bit too wet and a bit too cold to hang out for another hour to see the parade.  We did manage to put in a good days worth at Silver Dollar City and everyone had a great time.
• We then grabbed a bite to eat at Panera and then back to our hotel rooms.  Reagan and Graham are spending the night in Lilly, Dana and Grannymom's room and Cash is with us, Anderson, Campbell and Keaton.  Campbell was out pretty quick tonight since she never had a nap.  The boys though have spent the last 30 minutes giggling.  Now I am sitting at their feet working on my computer in hopes that they will calm down a bit.  They have got to be exhausted-I am!

Christmas Ornament Countdown 2011-24 Days Til Christmas

In March, we battled hail, snow, rain, sleet and many more elements on our trip to the Pennsylvania area.  On our way to North Huntingdon, PA it hailed on us so hard that we thought the windows were going to break.  We didn't know until later that we were right near a tornado.  North Huntingdon is probably not a huge tourist attraction but that McDonalds is the home of the Big Mac.  We were able to wait out the rain, eat a Big Mac (we had to have one of course) and the kids even played on the play equipment.  Robby found a huge hamburger ornament and the kids love looking at it on the tree. (click here for pictures from the trip)

Branson-December 1, 2011

Even in December, Andy's
Custard is still YUMMY!

Highlights from today: (Click here for pictures)

• Somehow we were all still in bed at 7:20 this morning but we did manage to stir quickly to leave fairly on time.  Robby took the boys to school and then headed back home to work from home.  I took the girls to Grannymom's house and then headed to work for a bit.  After my work I went to see Beebee and then to pick up the girls.
• Reagan and Campbell had made wreath ornaments made out of beads.  I opened the one from Reagan and then the one from Campbell.  Within 30 seconds, Campbell had lost her ornament.  We couldn't find it and had looked everywhere.  Grannymom continued to search all afternoon to find that ornament.  What could that child have done with that ornament.
• When we picked up Graham and Anderson, Ms. Wendolyn asked if Graham was going straight to Branson.  She also said that he was very hungry and thought Pops was picking him up from school today.  "I'm hungry" is what Graham says anytime he is not happy about something, bored or can't think of something to say.
• We all went home and had lunch and since we were in a bit of a rush at breakfast the kitchen was still a mess from breakfast and after lunch it took me quite awhile to clean up the kitchen.  Seriously, I think that they are going to have to start eating outside.  
• While I was working in the kitchen, the kids watched a movie and then they worked on picking up the toy room.  Campbell was exhausted and needed a nap but I kept her up so she would sleep in the car.  Graham also wasn't too settled since he could tell we were about to leave.  I do love going on trips but I do not like leaving in the middle of the day.  We are always home long enough to destroy the house which then has to be picked up before we leave.  
• When Graham saw all of the bags, suitcases, coats and everything else sitting on the kitchen table, he decided that we needed the roof bag and questioned me continuously about why we were going to use it.  Actually, it was alot of stuff but it all fit very nicely.  
• As we were loading the car, Anderson asked if Branson was the place with the monorail (no) or the log ride (no).  Finally they were able to remember where we were going.  And talked about what rides everyone was going to do-Reagan the swings, Anderson the roller coaster and Graham the pirate ship.
• Reagan thought that Grannymom, Lilly, Cash and Dana were coming to Branson in an airplane and she was not happy that we were not going flying as well.  I explained that they were driving too and then all that mattered was that our car beat their car.   It didn't because they left before we did.  
• We didn't stop until Harrison and picked up a few loaves of bread and had a potty stop.  The kids did pick out cookies and had those before starting in on our bread.  As always it was delicious-and I think I will get some now!
• When we pulled up the motel, Anderson was so excited when Robby went to check in.  "We will get a cart and get to ride on it"  It didn't happen quite that way since we backed right up to our door. The kids were so happy to go and find Cash and Lilly's room.  They all played together for a long time and then we all headed to get ice cream.
• Surprisingly, there were not alot of people at Andy's Custard in the middle of December.  No one was eating outside but since they had nice little heaters, we had our ice cream.  The kids devoured their mint ice cream and Robby and I split one. 
• After ice cream, we headed back to the hotel and the kids all claimed their spots.  Keaton had another bottle and went to sleep in her pack n play in the tub, Reagan, Anderson and Graham were asleep within minutes but it took Robby and I both to lay on Campbell to finally get her to sleep.  We actually just managed to get us to sleep too and had to get up later to get ourselves ready for bed.