A day out exploring

With a break in the wind and snow we went for an adventure today. After a drive down historic Deerfield's Old Main street and a flash back to the movie "Little Women" with Wynnona Ryder (all for me. I will have to go back in the warmer months to visit and tour all the old homes) we made our first stop at a Butterfly Conservatory and Garden. David and Allison were super excited to see if they could get a butterfly to land on them.

When we first went in we saw some really cool blue, green and yellow frogs. Allison was excited to see a real tree frog with red eyes...okay so was I! Then we happened upon these creatures. We decided maybe we didn't want to go visit Australia if all the bugs are so big.

Can you spot this 8 inch Australian bug that looks like a branch. UGH.

or this enormous Australian Walking Stick? This isn't zoomed in...they are BIG. We also saw bearded dragons and other Australian creatures. David kept asking, "I wonder if Jen (my sister) sees these by her house in Australia?"

Grandpa was having fun showing Bridget the big bugs.

Inside the Conservatory we found more birds, tortoises and TONS of butterflies. This is Humphrey. David and Allison liked to pet him and watch him explore the area around them. There were so many butterflies you had to be careful where you stepped and often they would fly right in front of your face. We even saw some coming out of their chrsyllis. My mom was busy trying to catch a picture of these certain butterflies that were blue inside, a Blue Morpho. I don't think she ever got a picture of one.

But David and Allison had the chance to hold one.

I caught a "hitchhiker" as they call them as we were walking through. It is an owl butterfly.

Can you tell it was very warm inside. We were all getting red cheeks as we walked around. We saw chameleons, a papaya tree, parrot, other lizards and exotic birds, magnolias, orchids, birds of paradise and gardenias. It smelled wonderful and was a little paradise from the cold New England day.

We then headed over to the Yankee Candle Factory.

The kids tried their hand at dipping candles.

We found some pirates

Visited Santa and learned we only have 358 days to wait until next Christmas. David signed his name on the good list and was out the door.

A sit in his sleigh and then on a horse completed the day.
My mom and I had great fun exploring the many candles, rooms, Christmas decorations and things at the "scenter of the universe".

We finished the day off with a yummy dinner at a little BBQ place that has won many awards. What an adventure and we found more things we want to go back and see.

Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas. Here are a few snap shots of the morning.

Bridget happy with her new toy.

David and Allison loving the ribbon.

Allison had decided a few days before Christmas that she wanted a kitty, because she had talked to her little friend Tabitha who wanted a kitty for Christmas. It was all she could talk about that Santa was going to bring her after that. Lucky we had some help finding not only one, but two...brother and sister she says.

David has been going around for days now moving hot wheels from one room to another. I don't think he could be happier.

Bridget still not sure of it all.

The girls all got these super cute aprons and bib that matched. Thanks Grandma Deskins, we LOVE them!

Aaron loved handing out presents,

or making the kids into presents.

David and Allison got these fun chairs, hats, sleds, toys that do it all. They have used them in many imaginable ways and I am sure it will only get more creative. They tried them in the snow to make a snow man, but the snow wouldn't even stick together for a snowball. They are hoping for more snow to try again.

Christmas Eve

We were thrilled (to say the least) that we would be having company for the holidays. My parents flew in on Christmas Eve. It was one long day as the kids every 10 minutes were asking when we got to go to the airport to pick them up. Then it was how much longer til we get to the airport. After hugs and hellos it was then how much longer until we get to open presents.

They remembered that they got to open one on Christmas Eve and grandma had it ready as soon as they were in the door.

The kids opened their pajamas, were changed into them and in bed amazingly well for how much energy and excitement there was going through the house!

Merry Christmas!

E.T. at our house

So I was reminded of the movie E.T. this week. You know when they seal up the house and send the men in that look like they are in astronaut suits. We had some men come and blockade our front door and not allow anything in or out, they even had cool masks that made them look like bugs according to Allison. We could only look out the little peep hole in the middle. However, they couldn't find E.T.

They were men that were able to help make our home more energy efficient.

They sucked all the air out to see how much cold air was seeping in and then went around in the basement and attic to seal the cracks and walls decreasing the air coming and going out of the house. Allison was fascinated with the entire event. She kept following the men around and asking them why they looked like bugs. She decided she needed to be in on it and became a cow.

Then she made sure Bridget was in on the action too. David was at school or I am sure it would have been three cows mooing in the family room.

Pajama party

Have you ever picked something up because it was on clearance and maybe it would be fun, but your kids LOVE it and think it is the greatest thing that has come about. That is what has happened the other day. I found a game called "beginner dinner games" which you play while eating dinner. Everyone chooses a card and you play games, read poems, do funny things or answer questions that encourage conversation. Well Allison choose a card that was titled "pajama party" which allowed her to choose a day when we all got to wear pajamas to dinner and have her choice of breakfast food. On the card it suggested waffles and strawberries or waffles and ice cream. She choose to try both. Of course the night of she would only eat the waffle with syrup, but David was a fan of the waffle and ice cream.

Snow

When the snow came in bunches the kids were eagerly watching and waiting to go out and play. We bundled up and headed out. I started shoveling and they began their fun.
Who could walk on the snow and not fall in.

Making snow angels

Falling and getting stuck.

a new tradition

We got a great package in the mail with a wonderful recipe. (thanks mom) How to make our own gingerbread house. The kids and I worked together to make the gingerbread, cut the shapes and let them cool. Last night we let the fun begin!

After gluing the pieces together the creativity started. I had a bunch of different candy for David and Allison to choose from. They told me what they wanted and I put the "frosting glue", as they called it, where they wanted.

They were so excited to decorate or maybe eat the candy as we went. We made a garden, flowers, a sleigh with santa and a few snowmen. David even added a light pole out front. The chimney is even complete with a fireball to heat up the place.

They have already decided what they want to different next year.

it finally happened

Christmas can come now.

little Miss B

She is growing so fast I can't believe it. I don't remember the others growing and changing so quickly. Perhaps it is the busy life with two other children that keeps us on our toes.

an admirer

Bridget LOVES David. He can walk in a room and she will start smiling, laughing and watch him where ever he goes. She loves to play with him and be held by him. Lucky he loves it just as much as she does.

She wouldn't even look at me while I was shaking a toy...all eyes on David.

Okay mom, what do you want?

a basement

Having a basement that is usable and a fun room with lots of toys has been something the kids have been loving. You can often hear them say, "let's go downstairs and play". One day we set up the tents and tubes and actually left the up for a few days, they thought they were in heaven being able to play in them for days!