Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Toyland, Toyland...

Day 5 with visitors...Premade all Christmas Eve dishes and put them in the fridge for quick cooking today. Finished returns I had (hallelujah!). Visited the local county museum for their Toyland exhibit, yummy lasagna for dinner, Blue Bell ice cream for dessert, and another game of Ticket to Ride.

- - - - - - -

christmas break-001

I just have to touch on the Toyland exhibit we went to. It was set up as a Candyland type game--where you learn about toys along the way. While it wasn't the most "knock-your-socks-off" exhibit I've ever been to, it was free and really a lot of fun. I personally found it really interesting to look back at how toys have changed over the years, and had some great reminiscing moments! :)

LOADS of pictures...but I couldn't help myself. Do any of these things look familiar to you!?

christmas break-002

christmas break-051

christmas break-004

christmas break-055

christmas break-006

christmas break-007

christmas break-008

christmas break-009

christmas break-010

christmas break-011

christmas break-012

This part was a wee bit sentimental because it's the years I myself was a kiddo...and I remember so many of those things!

christmas break-017

christmas break-018

christmas break-019

christmas break-020

christmas break-022

christmas break-024

christmas break-025

christmas break-026

At the end of the "game" there was a cute play area set up with some cool classic toys--and a playhouse, of course. :)

christmas break-027

christmas break-032

christmas break-035

christmas break-037

christmas break-044

christmas break-048

And an old school Atari to try out...

christmas break-049

...whew!
Catching up...slowly, but surely...

SUNNY DAYS!

We had the most BEAUTIFUL weather on Day 4 with visitors...Made breakfast pizza, ran a few errands, enjoyed sunshine and warm weather at the park, took family pics for Jenny and Travis, went swimming, and finished the day with homemade cafe rio sweet pork burritos. (Then I went and stood in line to return a bike. Walmart 3 days before Christmas = madness!) Good day, but man am I EXHAUSTED!

HOLLOWAY (JT)-241

christmas break-480

christmas break-483


christmas break-490

christmas break-510

christmas break-517

christmas break-521

christmas break-512

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Christmas visitors! Days 1-3

We were SO fortunate to have Travis and Jenny come down for part of Christmas break this year. We have sure missed them (living next door to them in Ohio sure had perks!) and we were so excited to meet their newest little girl (Bethany, who is 6 weeks now).

I have ooooodles of pictures...and so much to catch up on. So I'll keep it brief. But definitely want to document our time together. :) It was sure fun!

I documented little pieces of our Christmas break on Facebook so I could reference them later, and boy am I glad! It is all such a blur now... :)  So, in facebook form, here is a rundown...

Day 1 with our Christmas visitors--we did a wee bit of shopping, had a Papa Murphy's pizza party, started gingerbread houses, and watched "The Help" when the kids were in bed.
 All around great kind of day!

christmas break-009

christmas break-002

christmas break-001

Day 2 with our visitors...laid low today. Finished gingerbread houses, ate cupcakes, did some bargain shopping at Kohls with Jenny, had dinner with some good friends, and went to the lights at the B.L.O.R.A. (very cool, by the way) :) LOVING days like this.

christmas break-024

christmas break-025

christmas break-033

christmas break-049

christmas break-052

christmas break-060

christmas break-070

christmas break-071

christmas break-092

christmas break-107

christmas break-115

christmas break-120

Day 3 with visitors...mall playplace in the morning, took NAPS in the afternoon (yes, me included--and it rocked!), sweet and sour chicken for dinner and Ticket to Ride / Apples to Apples this evening... :)

christmas break-133

christmas break-134

christmas break-140

christmas break-143

christmas break-150

christmas break-151

christmas break-161

christmas break-170

christmas break-176

...to be continued...