There are A LOT of pictures coming, but I think it is best to try and get caught up all in one fatal swoop. We'll see if I'm right.
I was supposed to go to Ward Council and my monthly meeting with the Bishopric in the morning. When I went outside and saw more snow after Seth had already shovelled twice, I was sure they would cancel church. Nope, and they didn't even cancel my meetings. I let them know I couldn't make it since Seth needed an hour and a half to shovel me out AND he still had to write a talk. He didn't get asked to talk until Christmas Eve and he had not had time to sit down and prepare sooner with all the holiday festivities. I will say that I felt a bit guilty watching the kids play in the snow while ditching meetings and allowing Seth to shovel. And I felt really silly when I got to church and learned that most people had nowhere near that much snow. They must've thought I was such a dork. It was lake effect snow and just hit our little area right by the lake. For anyone who thought I was a slacker, I promise we were stuck!
Here are the kids putting the snow to good use.
Monday, December 27
We planned to go sledding, but the kids ran out to play in the snow for a few hours in the morning, and were incidentally all snowed out by the time we were ready to go. Instead we went to Jelly Belly. That is the English kids favorite stop when they are in town. We are trying to convince them to come in the summer sometime, because I promise we have better things to offer than Jelly Belly. But hey, as long as they like it, we are happy to take them. Plus, believe it or not, my kids still like it too.
We planned to go sledding, but the kids ran out to play in the snow for a few hours in the morning, and were incidentally all snowed out by the time we were ready to go. Instead we went to Jelly Belly. That is the English kids favorite stop when they are in town. We are trying to convince them to come in the summer sometime, because I promise we have better things to offer than Jelly Belly. But hey, as long as they like it, we are happy to take them. Plus, believe it or not, my kids still like it too.
Chloe's Birthday!
I can't believe that kid is three. I can't believe she is who she is either. Didn't see that coming! I love who Chloe is. I am afraid I give people the wrong impression of her sometimes. She is naughty, and mischievous and sometimes feisty but she has more personality than any kid I know. She is so easy to love and I promise that if you meet her you will be smitten with her. And it doesn't hurt that she is cuter than ever. I think kids are their very cutest at age three and I wish I could freeze her just like this.
There was a little jump where you could catch some air. It's hard to see but the kids loved it. I personally felt like I'd broken my tailbone after jumping it.
Alyssa airborne
Hanging with Auntie Sarah. She is pregnant so she didn't sled much. She had lots of kids coming to her to sit and cuddle when they needed a break.
We decided to take family pictures when we were done, but Seth had my family out of snow clothes and into the car before I finished snapping this shot. I am pretty sure he is trying to leave no photographic evidence of my existence. Oh well, at least someone ended up with a family shot.
After sledding and the obligatory post sledding stop at Trolley Dog, Chloe took a nap. Seth still knows how to get her to nap so when he is here (he was here all week) she naps. While she slept, Sarah and Jonathon took the rest of the kids bowling. I should have done something productive, but I just enjoyed the quiet instead. When they returned we had dinner and birthday cake, with a few presents. Don't feel bad for Chloe with her Christmas birthday. I think everyone overdoes her birthday gifts to make sure she doesn't feel slighted, and now she has twice as many brand new toys as everyone else.
Sarah's kids wanted to roller skate. We had never been, just because I haven't seen a rink since about 1982. We found one 25 minutes away. The kids had a good time, but started out a little wimpy. Alex really wanted to give up. Sarah's kids were so fast that I couldn't even snap a picture of them.
Once again the kids ran to Sarah for safety, since she was not on skates.
Seth offered Alyssa a snack of her choice if she went all the way around without holding our hands or the wall. She made it and claimed her prize.
Wednesday night we played a game that they sell at Jelly Belly, called Beanboozled. There are 10 yummy flavors and 10 gross flavors that look just like the yummy ones. You spin the wheel and take the bean you land on and find out if you got beanboozled. The adults sat out, but the kids determined that the worst jelly bean was rotten egg, followed by barf. They also decided that they liked toothpaste better than berry and skunk spray better than licorice.
I won't make you look at the 50 pictures I took, but I did have to laugh because Alyssa seemed to get a gross one every time around.
I won't make you look at the 50 pictures I took, but I did have to laugh because Alyssa seemed to get a gross one every time around.
Here she is cheering when she finally got a good one, which was actually not a good one, but toothpaste. I guess after rotten egg, moldy cheese, booger, and barf a little toothpaste didn't seem so bad.
Thursday we voted on what to do. It was either going to be swimming at the Recplex since they were having a special for non-gym members, or the Milwaukee children's museum. The museum won the vote. I didn't take many pics and they were mostly of the backs of heads, but it is the same place I posted about recently. It was mega crowded again, but the kids seemed to have nothing but fun. Seth also decided to get me a membership for all the children's museums so that I can go with Chloe during the day. We have 3 within driving distance so I am pretty excited about that.
Since we were in Milwaukee we also felt it necessary to stop at our favorite restaurant, Cheesecake Factory for dinner. I got two pieces of cheesecake because I couldn't decide. I ate them both. I feel pretty good about it.
Friday, December 31
The Englishes headed back to good ole Tennessee. The previous day, the English kids saw a Cousins Subs in Milwaukee and thought it was so cool since they were with their cousins. We informed them that it is a chain and that we have 3 in our hometown. We decided that it was only appropriate to have our final lunch there. When we explained this to the owner, he let them change their kids meal cookie for an ice cream cone, just for being cousins at Cousins.
Then there were tender girl hugs.
And spastic boy hugs.
And they were off.
The Englishes headed back to good ole Tennessee. The previous day, the English kids saw a Cousins Subs in Milwaukee and thought it was so cool since they were with their cousins. We informed them that it is a chain and that we have 3 in our hometown. We decided that it was only appropriate to have our final lunch there. When we explained this to the owner, he let them change their kids meal cookie for an ice cream cone, just for being cousins at Cousins.
Now in 2011 we have survived our first week of early church. (Poor Seth has to get all the kids ready and to church 3 weeks a month, because I have meetings at 7:30.) He made it. We survived the Chicago Bears. Barely! And we survived this little monster in Primary.
Can you believe she is a Sunbeam? She turned 3 just in time to make the class of 2011. Crazy!
Now you are caught up and we will just have to see what else 2011 brings.
Now you are caught up and we will just have to see what else 2011 brings.
12 comments:
I am so jealous that you went roller skating...I definitely need to do that soon. Tell Alyssa good choice with the wings too, gotta love wingys!
That Beanboozled game is hilarious...
I had not even thought about the fact that Chloe would be a sunbeam. That is unreal. You're right about three year olds. They are so darn cute.
where did you go roller skating? That sounds fun. It's been so long since I've done that! Can you bring your own roller skates or do you have to rent them?
Also, I know about the Milwaukee childrens museum and the one in Chicago. Where is the third?
Val, have you played that game? I should pick one up at JB for you. I think Luke would love it and maybe you would too since you are not above trying gross stuff.
Cheryl, There is one museum near Discover Card and one on Navy Pier. I wasn't sure which Chicago one you already knew about so I thought I'd tell you where both of them are.
Thank you so much for having us! We had a great time and the kids are already planning the next time we get together. Yea for cousins at Christmas!
Cheryl, I realized I only answered one of your questions. The rink was in Racine. It is called Skatetown and it was $5, rentals included. You can bring your own skates, but the price is the same. We first planned to go to a place in Burlington called Traxside, but they didn't have as many open skate hours.
Even though it's winter, it looks like you found enough fun stuff to do in our little town (or at least close by). I didn't realize there was a roller skating rink near us, but I haven't thought about roller skating since the 80's. We may have to go sometime especially since it seems roller skating is making a comeback (as are all things 80's). I'm sorry, but that beanboozled looks nasty. There is no way you could get me to play that game. Yuck! That is a cute story about the Cousin's Subs, too bad they have the worst subs on the planet.
Happy {belated} Birthday to Chloe! I'm sure she thought having her cousins around was a birthday present enough. I, too, am in disbelief that she's a Sunbeam now.
thanks julie- I knew about the one at navy pier. I've never been to it though. Have you been to both? If so, which one is better?
I think we're going to have to go roller skating! $5 isn't much. Yay. That will bring back some memories.
So much fun packed into one little vacation!! I'm about the worst roller skater on the planet, but somehow that still sounds fun right now! Chloe is 3? Can't be true!! Super cute! I LOVE Cousin's subs--that actually sounds super good right now, too. Oh, and Cheesecake Factory? Sigh. That might even sound better. Oh, I was going to tell you that since you posted about your clam chowder I decided to make some, but NO ONE else here will eat it, so I'm happily eating it three meals a day this past weekend, and now I'm ready to move on to Cheesecake Factory. Good plan I think!
This may be one of my favorite posts! Soooo much fun stuff, and I'm all about packing in enough time for fun activities-especially with family. I am now craving an activity this week, but not just any ordinary activity, something super fun! Like roller skating. I have not been in forever-needless to say-never with my kids. I'm going to google a roller rink as soon as I am done leaving this comment.
Happy Birthday to Chloe! Candice's little boy Bradley is also the 28th. :)
wow, what a wonderful busy delightful month you had from start to finish! This looked like an ideal vacation for all of you! Great treat to spend the holidays with cousins who never see each other!
Wow, you guys sure pack in a lot of fun for visitors. Maybe we need to come for a visit! And I totally think re doing Thanksgiving for the leftovers is a great idea! Oh, and Macy missed the sunbeam cut off by two weeks. How crappy is that? I don't think she minds spending another year playing with toys and eating snacks though.
I can't believe the amount of snow you got. Definitely lake effect. I still would have loved the day off. No complaints here.
You always find such fun things to do in and around town. Thanks for posting so I can get ideas.
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