Trains, Tomatoes, and Watermelon?

Somehow the train tub made its way upstairs recently.  With that, the kiddos have been playing daily with the tracks.  This has to be my best track design to date!

Once Julianne went down for her nap, Dallas and Reba volunteered to help process tomatoes!  Dallas cranked almost the entire time and Reba place almost every tomato into the funnel.

After work, Daddy decided it was finally time to pick the first watermelon!  We were all so excited to sink our teeth into that heavenly juiciness...

Until next time...

Merry Christmas from our Home to Yours

We made it home from Aunt Pat's last night.  Dallas and Reba each wrote a note for Santa, placed some cookies and carrots on a plate, and filled a mug with milk and a cup with water (for the reindeer).

This is what greeted the kiddos this morning when they woke - an empty plate and cups and a letter from the Jolly Guy.

Dallas' note to Santa

For Santa, the milk and the cookies (are for you).  The carrots and the water is for your reindeer. Have a happy new year. Love, Dallas
Santa responded: Merry Christmas! Chip (the Elf that was in Dallas' classroom) says "Hi!" -Mr. C.

 Reba's note to Santa

Santa, Merry Christmas.  We have (cookies) for you. -Reba
Santa responded: Thank you! - Mr. C.

 The stockings were stuffed by the TV with care...

We let the kiddos look through their stockings before we headed to Mass.  The church always looks so lovely decorated for Christmas.

A parishioner was kind enough to offer to take a family picture for us.

When we got home, everyone changed into comfortable clothes, and Dallas and Reba agreed we could open gifts.

Santa brought new batteries for the Gators!

Daddy got the girls matching pink tractors

Another item Reba mentioned more than once that she would like was a combine, I had to twist Daddy's arm to convince him to get her one...

Dallas loved watching Doug and I open presents. I do believe he is learning to love to give.

Santa also brought Dallas and Reba wooden baseball gloves that have Cincinnati Reds on them. The gloves can hold their bat, glove and ball.

Julianne was happy carrying around her new outfit

Daddy also painted a semi truck for Reba

Dallas loves his new lowboy trailer

Until next time...

Playtime at the Park

The weather has been great for this past week; therefore, the kiddos started asking about having a picnic at a park.  Lucky for them, our Saturday was open, and we headed to the Haubstadt park.  And wouldn't you know, as soon as we arrived, a train came through!  {It's one of their favorite things about that park.}

We then made our way to the picnic tables and enjoyed our lunches.

Then, it was time to play!

This was Julianne's first trip to Dallas and Reba's favorite park, and I believe she might think it's pretty awesome too!

Gotta love that springy duck!

Until next time...

Big Splash Adventure Waterpark

After riding the train to the North Pole, we spent the night in French Lick at the Big Splash Adventure Waterpark.  Ma-maw, Pa-paw, and Aunt Lisa also stayed with us; along with my cousins and their families.  I didn't carry my camera around the first half of our play time, but I did get it out at the end to capture a few smiles from the kiddos!

Once Daddy took Reba down this slide, we couldn't keep her off of it!

Dallas loved this water gun contraption...

You can see the three of big kid slides in this picture, Dallas was tall enough to go down two of them with Daddy (on a tube), and let me tell you...he couldn't get enough of them!

Here's a look at them coming out one of the slides...

Like I said, we couldn't keep Little Miss off this slide...

This little girl sure does love her Daddy (and getting her picture taken!)

Back up the steps to go down the slide...

Then, the kiddos and Daddy got back on the "Lazy River", but they were more "Crazy"!

Daddy tried his best to steer them under the dumping buckets

Another look at Daddy and Dallas going under one of the "waterfalls" on the Lazy River

Until next time...

Polar Express 2013

We once again took the kiddos to ride the Polar Express.  We left from French Lick and made our way to the North Pole on November 8th.  We were very lucky and had great weather!  We arrived early enough to snap a few photos before boarding the train.

Ma-maw and Pa-paw (and Aunt Lisa) joined us once again this year.

As well as Gram, Pa and Aunt Josie!

Patiently waiting for the train to leave the station...

Sometimes they will act as though they really do love one another!

In addition to the grandparents, my cousins and their families joined us!  In all, we had 25 people in our party.

L-R: my cousin Jerry, his son Austin, and his niece Vivian,
and nephews George Martin and James, and their grandpa Jim

Reba and Dallas having their tickets punched

More of our party

My Aunt Joyce and three of her eight grandbabies.
L-R: Grace (Jerry's daughter), Vivian and James (Kathleen's youngest two)

Listening to the story "The Polar Express"

Love the cookies!

And the hot chocolate!

After the story is over, the children are encouraged to get up and dance in aisle.  Grace and Reba only joined in once I got up to dance.

Arriving at the North Pole and waving to Santa...

This was the best picture I was able to get of the kiddos with the Jolly Big Guy.

Once we arrived back in French Lick, we piled all the kiddos into one seat for a picture...you can only imagine what it was like to get 8 kiddos age 5 and under to look and smile
(side note: there might be a little "photo shop" altering to the following group pictures)

L-R: Mattox (8 months), George Martin (4 years), James (7 months),
Dallas (5 years), Grace (3 years), Austin (5 years), Vivian (2 years), Reba (3.9 years)

Little Miss couldn't get enough of the babies!

Daddy and his little girl

Another group photo opt...

L-R: Grace, Vivian, Austin, Dallas, George Martin and Reba

Our little family of 4...soon to be 5! (Dallas may or may not have been "over" pictures by this point)

Until next time...
You can see our previous trips here (2012) and here (2011).