Pottery and the Aquarium

So, it's been a while since I posted and we've done 2 fun things since then, so I'll combine them into one post. Every once in a while, we like to have what we call "Sydney fun day." This time, Sydney wanted to go roller skating. But we were going through the week and the skating rink can be a bit of a rough place, so I suggested we go paint some pottery. She was a little disappointed, but she loves arts and crafts, so she was on board. Above, you can see that Chris even decided to paint something. He chose an egg with a chick popping out.

Sydney chose an egg and a cat.

Daddy's finished egg (before firing, so it's a little dull)

And the finished cat

Here are all the projects (including one of my eggs) after firing.

And then, we decided to go to the aquarium (not for Sydney fun day, this was later). They had a special going on that you could get 2 kids in for free with the purchase of 1 adult ticket. So, we picked up Addison and Cali and headed out!

I just though this picture was neat.

This might look like a moss covered rock, but it's a gigantic snapping turtle!

This menacing looking shark was swimming around in the petting pond of sharks. I would not want to try to pet him! Fortunately, there were some smaller, more docile ones at the edge of the bay to pet. This was what Sydney was waiting for through the whole trip! She just wanted to pet a shark!

Doing the 2 finger touch.

Look at this girl! I just love her so much! She was too scared to actually pet a shark, but I'm sure she had fun just the same.

Tubing

This is the big time, right here! We went to a somewhat nearby ski/tubing facility to try out tubing. Chris's mom and dad, me, Sydney, and Addison all went. We met up with some friends once there.

She appears to be smiling in this picture, but she's really crying. She was a little scared.

Poor little baby!

However, Addison is all smiles and ready to go! Sydney cried the first two times down, and then she was fine. We went down together every time except the last, when she went on her own. Now she wants to go again, but next time, I think I'll sit out. It's too fast for me and you get turned around backwards, and I don't like not being able to see where I'm going.

Sledding

Sydney stayed at mom and dad's today because school was out again and they have a good yard for sledding. She didn't want to do the big hill because there's a creek at the bottom and she was afraid she'd end up in it. But the 2 smaller hills worked out perfectly. Her and my dad had a good time.

The expressions on her face are priceless!

Now my dad gets in on the fun.

Sydney's snow angel.

Let's hope they're back in school tomorrow!

Girl Scout Overnight

This weekend, we went to a local girl scout campground for an Overnight where they can earn some patches (and have fun!) When they arrived, they realized they could run, then slide across the wood floor on their knees.

Well, this is how the sleeping arrangements started out, but by the time everyone fell asleep some had switched beds and it seemed like there was no room to walk, just mattresses everywhere!

They made their own pizzas, which was fun, and really tasty. It has inspired me to make a pizza this week.

Their was a little loft they were all fascinated with, you had to climb a ladder attached to the wall to get up there. Here are all the girls!

And we (and when I say we, I mean me) made these no sew pillows. Very cute and easy. I might move on to a blanket as my next project!

Miss Amanda making them s'mores in the fireplace.

mmmmmmmm

In the morning, they had pancakes and fresh strawberries, then we cleaned up and headed home. All to take naps, since no one got much good sleep. The kids had a great time and it was a good time for the moms to bond as well.

Christmas 2010

We started out the festivities by going to my parent's house on the 19th. She's all decked out for the occasion!

She has been wanting one of these necklaces since my mom gave me one just like it several months ago. She was soooo excited!

This is a book that you can record yourself reading the story to the child, and my grandparents recorded The First Christmas (or something like that). She let everyone listen to it and there were some tears shed. My mom and dad did The Night Before Christmas for her last year and she listens to it all year round.

On Christmas Eve, we made our cookies for Santa.

This is her other holiday dress and she wore this one to Chris's mom's on Christmas Eve.

Ta-Da!

She got a new robe from her memaw and pepaw!

Christmas morning, she got a snuggie (well, it's a knock off called a wrappie) in Tinkerbell pattern. She has wanted her own snuggie for a long time now.

And her most favorite gift of 2010, a pillow pet!

Modeling her new pj's and pink boots!

This is the nativity scene she made out of play-doh. I was really impressed and very touched at this. She's such a sweet girl.

And to wrap it up, here's a pic of my 3 favorite girls. Addison, Sydney, and Cali. I hope everyone's holidays were as good as ours!

1st Grade Christmas Program

Sydney was a reindeer in the first grade play. No major part, but all the singers had to be either reindeer or elves. I guess she's being a full on reindeer in the first picture. That must be what they do with their hooves. She did a good job, she was nervous about knowing where we were going to sit and all those people staring at her. I told her that me and my mom and dad would be the only ones staring at her, all the other people would be staring at their kids. She was scanning the crowd for us as soon as she walked in and she found us. Then, the rest of the night, she was singing just to us, and making faces, and funny hand movements, which I have on video, but I can never get any videos to upload to this site, I guess they're too big. Oh well. I was just proud that she sang and didn't just sit down on stage and refuse to sing like she did 2 Christmas's ago at church.

The Tree is Up!

I got motivated to put the tree up and I think this may be the earliest I've done this. Above, Sydney is hiding in the tree box.

Helping to hang the ornaments. Ok, she really did most of them.

And Cori just sat and watched and loved on the giant bunny.

And it's done! The rest of the house still needs decorated, but maybe I'll do that today.

We had more snow this weekend. The roads weren't really bad, so I'm ok with this. I can still get out and do stuff and it's pretty.

And this last picture is purely for your enjoyment.

I was making meatloaf and was adding mustard to it, from the squeeze container. Next thing I know, it exploded and mustard was everywhere! The screw on cap had come off on one side, like it wasn't on right. I just stared at it like, that did not just happen! And then I laughed. And of course, I cleaned it up. I thought Cori might be of more assistance, but I guess she doesn't like mustard.