Future architect, shopper & astronaut?

After a stroller walk for Jacey and I to accompany Kellen and Tatum on their bikes, we had brunch, put Jacey down for a nap, cleaned up the house, and then headed to the Children's Museum once she woke up from her nap.

The kids had a BLAST.

They have redone quite a few of the exhibits since the last time we had visited, and the older two had fun rediscovering the exhibits.  Jacey wanted to go where the big kids were, especially on the rocket ship, which is expressly for kiddos 4 and up.  She wasn't pleased when I wouldn't let her play in it.  She did have a lot of fun in the "under 2" area, which made her forget (for the moment, anyway) about the forbidden areas.

She very much enjoyed the grocery store section, and REALLY liked to put things in her shopping cart and then, to a slightly lesser extent, put them back on the shelves.  She loved pushing the shopping cart around as well, but couldn't figure out why there wasn't a section for a baby doll to sit.  Smart cookie I have there, huh?

Actually, all three of the kids had some fun in that section!

I figured that Tatum would have gravitated towards the arts section, but she really surprised me by spending quite a bit of time in the construction zone, building a house.  Add that to her careful construction and decoration of her gingerbread graham cracker house referenced in an earlier post and who knows, I might just have a future architect on my hands!

Kellen seemed to want to stay in the rocket.  I think he would have been fine to play there the entire time.  He made some new friends, but I forced encouraged him to join his sisters and me at the art section when we were painting and making igloos and polar bears.  He had a lot of fun with that, too.

And they had one of those 'insert your face here' signs that both kids wanted their picture made in, so....

They all really had a blast.  And while we were there, I got minimal attitude, which I appreciated.  After I got home, well....that was a different story, but hey...they were all wore out and naps were pretty much a breeze.

I'm just glad that I'm getting the chance to do this kind of "fun" stuff with the kids over this break.  This is the type of stuff I feel like I 'miss out' on as a work-outside-the-home mom.  So perhaps I go a little overboard on these activities when I have the chance.  :)

Aggie's Ball!!

Is a common phrase at Aggie Basketball....which the kids got to experience.

And Jacey got to experience it for the first time!!  I actually think this may have been her first Aggie sporting event (actual sporting event...the Yell practice doesn't count...and I'm racking my brain to think of an Aggie sporting event we have taken her to before now, but I'm coming up blank).

And, despite having a start time that was 30 minutes past when she's normally in bed, Jacey was remarkably well behaved and interactive.  She was a little overwhelmed to start things off, but then played with us all and ran between the seats and was enjoying playing peek-a-boo with Maw Maw.

Tatum wanted to play her leapster almost immediately. 

 
Kellen was into the game for quite a while.  Considering that he's playing basketball right now, I think he really enjoyed watching the guys play - and WIN!!

Some R&R

After Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa on Tuesday night, we just hung out with them at the house and relaxed yesterday.  Tatum had asked to use her pedicure set (complete with her own foot soak!!), so I obliged and gave her a manicure/pedicure.

We watched Kung Fu Panda 2 and Cars 2 with my parents.

Jacey played with her toys and Kellen alternated between conquering some new level on his game and creating masterpieces with his new art set.

Then Jacey started grabbing everyones shoes and jackets, asking to go outside.  She's not very subtle when she has her mind made up about something.  So Grandpa decides to take her for a walk, and Tatum hops on her bike and we four go for a walk around the neighborhood.

After Grandma and Grandpa left, I actually sat down with the kids to try and watch Kung Fu Panda 2, which despite being on multiple times, I still hadn't seen.  Well...I still haven't seen it.  I promptly fell asleep on the couch and had a sweet little four year old nap partner.

Kellen left us to sleep (and Jacey to nap in her crib).  And in case you're wondering, the movie plays repeatedly...it doesn't go back to the main screen and wait for you to push play.  You know, in case that's ever a trivia question.

After our glorious naps, the productivity kicked in a little and I managed to get all of the laundry done.  Note the key words...All and done.  Washed. Dried. Folded. All put away save for what couldn't go into the girls room after they went to bed for the night.  And then I managed to clean the kitchen, sweep the floors for what seemed like the 15th time in three days, and clean both bathrooms, including floors but excluding tubs (just saying...).

It was a good day.

More cookies...

It seems like several of my recent posts have been about making cookies with the kids.  Not sure what that says about what I might deem as quality time, but I may or may not choose to address that some other day.

At any rate, Tatum wanted to make cookies with me, so we went the easy route and bought ready-to-bake peanut butter dough in preparation for adding Hershey kisses.

I always manage to have an adorable helper, don't I?

I'm not exactly sure why she was making the face she was in this picture, but hey....she's still super adorable!

Bake the cookies then insert the Hershey kiss into the center while they're still nice and warm.

Create a wonderful peanut butter and chocolatey goodness.

We really enjoyed making these last night!  Even if it was w-a-y past someones bedtime.

Rockin' Lights & Smores

On the night of Christmas Day we went and looked at Christmas lights and discovered some AWESOME lights....set to music...and with a routine about 45 minutes long.  Completely unprepared for that type of light show that night (not wearing the appropriate gear to get out and watch and play in the smoke and bubbles they had going for the kids in the driveway - yep...it was that kind of house), we vowed to go back the next night.

So we did.

Matt went on fire pit duty while the rest of us went to see the light show again, decked out in appropriately in warm gear.

They had a food drive there as well, so we went bearing gifts the second night as well.

The kids had a BLAST...including Jacey, who of all the kids actually was enthralled by the light show, and absolutely LOVED the Frosty the Snowman.  The older two kids enjoyed playing in the smoke and bubbles in the driveway, and dancing to the music that played.

And apparently singing makes the bubbles and smoke come out....according to Tatum.  She used this logic to talk Kellen into singing with her.

Meanwhile, Matt was making monumental strides with the fire pit, and had quite the fire going for smores when we got back.  So I laid out all of the ingredients and we were ready to go.

Kellen worked on perfecting his technique....but it took him a while.  It also took us a while to realize that he was having more fun simple roasting the marshmallows than actually eating the smores....

Tatum was all decked out to avoid smoke in her eyes....so fashionable, she is.  She had her method and she was stickin' to it!  She quickly figured out exactly how she wanted to roast her marshmallow, did it, made herself a smore and enjoyed!!

It was a fabulous night and best of all, the kids (big and small) had a BLAST!  This is the type of night that we'll look back on years from now and say, "Remember that night when....."

Birthday cake fun....

Another Christmas tradition in our house is to bake a birthday cake for Jesus.  

After all, His birthday is the real reason for all of the celebration, isn't it?

So, we bake a birthday cake and decorate it up.

This year, the older two used no less than five containers of sprinkles to decorate the cake.  

They wanted it just.so.

And it certainly looks festive, wouldn't you agree?  

So the cake is all ready for Christmas.....

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm so glad it's Christmas
All the tinsel and lights
And the presents are nice.
But the real gift is you.

Happy Birthday Jesus
I'm so glad it's Christmas
All the carols and bells
Make the holiday swell
And it's all about you.
Happy Birthday Jesus,

Jesus I Love You!!!!!