Great Wolf Lodge!

The other day, we awoke to this, but ended up doing this by 1:00 that afternoon. [insert relaxed sigh here] Gotta love contrast.

Our Christmas posse headed to the Great Wolf Lodge for some major wintertime water fun. We all had an amazing time.

The boys' section of our guest room was really cute. They had their own flat screen in this section, so there was much Sponge Bob to be had.

Jon and Ethan enjoyed the wave pool.

Andrew had more fun than anyone. His favorite phrase? "Let's do that a-GAIN!!"

Jon had his share of fun, too.

The giant bucket on top kept filling up with water and dumping every 10 minutes or so. There was a bell to warn of the deluge about to occur...

...so of course, the craziest folks gathered at the bottom with each clang. Although it LOOKS as if I am holding Andrew here against his will, we were really just being silly and totally excited about the drenching we were about to experience. We're looking up at the bucket...

Splashdown!

At a different moment, Jon was a glutton for punishment, as well.

Andrew was such a big guy, fearlessly tackling every slide all by himself.

Ethan had a lot of fun, too.

This place is so great. There was something really neat about sliding down a tube in 84-degree balminess while simultaneously looking out a window to see snow-covered Carolina pines. Here's to holidays and family time and great places to visit!

Merry Christmas to All!

We've had a great one and hope our blogger friends have, as well. Jon's sis and my mom are in town. It's been a nice few days full of family and friends, and it isn't stopping anytime soon! Andrew and I made cookies Christmas eve.

Here are all the children this morning.

Andrew scored a drum set. (WHAT WERE WE THINKING?!?)

Jon made Ethan this beautiful train table. What a great dad!

Santa also brought a super cool kitchen set. Here are Emeril and Bobby Flay in training...

Christmas dinner this evening

Another year....

... another really terrible photo with the jolly old elf. (sigh.) Maybe next year...Auntie's in town, though, and her hilarious Santa pic from Austin brightened our photographic spirits!

The Latest Track

Built by Daddy and Andrew tonight

I am a LOSER

At my school's biggest loser competition, I just won $150 for losing more weight than anyone during the 10-week period: 8.3%, to be exact. I am posting this everywhere I can think of. My goal is not reached yet, but it's close, and this little victory is the branding iron I need to keep on trucking.

Whirlwind Thanksgiving

We left for WV right after work on Tuesday and returned home this afternoon. It was a great time with family and friends.

Here are the boys and me in front of the oldest continuously operating five and dime (102 years), right in downtown Harrisville.

Once we got to Morgantown we had to take a trip to Kegler's to eat some old favorites.

We went to the new (to us) Damon's and it was great seeing the girls.

Thanksgiving day took us to my cousin's house for a delicious dinner. Here's a gorgeous tree in front of her house.
Dinner was so amazing, and almost everyone was well-behaved. :O)

Iron Man helped us find our way home after all the fun.

We stopped at Aunt Rena's and captured a rare moment with five hound dogs (singing "Grandma's Feather Bed" in your head right now?)

Finally, as we were pulling out of Aunt Phyl's driveway, we were practicing smooshy faces. Family fun at its finest.

There is much to be thankful for. Yay for the holidays!

2010 Halloween Highlights

Here are this year's favorite shots from my favorite holiday.

Well Worth a Day of Docked Pay

Hello, my blogger buddies. Long time, no see. The new gig leaves so little time in my life for blogging. Bummer. Thanks for still hanging with me on these sporadic occasions, though!

Today I took a day off to accompany the sweetest preschool class ever (aka Andrew's class) on a field trip to the country. Using the lifelong guideline of truthfulness, I took the day as a personal one. I learned later that it would be a day without pay, since this is my first year in the district and I have not earned a full personal day yet.

Oops.

Yes, it seemed foolish to go ahead and accept a day of docked pay until I was in the moment today. It was a great and special time for Andrew and me where I got to briefly revisit the stay-at-home-mama days (taken for granted at the time) and what it felt like to get to spend all day with him on a regular basis. Hindsight is indeed 20/20.

One of the highlights for him was the bus ride to the farm! This was his first time ever on a school bus.This guy is a big buddy. He's older than Andrew and has taken him under his wing, helping steer him in the right direction when needed. Sweet.
The pumpkin patch was so pretty.
Everybody got to take home a mini pumpkin and the class got to take a giant one to share.
Andrew's most favorite part of the day, bar none, was this sweet donkey that let the kids pet and brush and just love on him.
And if this photo alone doesn't justify the wisdom of missing a dollar or two from my paycheck in order to share this experience with my first born, then I guess I'm crazy after all.
Hayrides and pumpkins and animals and hugs. Love, love, love.

i love fall

The final sliver of summer...

We hung out at Lake Wylie a week and a half ago for some much needed R & R.
(Yes, that's where I am with my blogging; still love it but it now takes a backseat to all my public school deadlines.)