Christmas Cookies

Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve...the one time a year I make cookies from scratch.  They were delicious!

Union Station Train Ride

Before Christmas we made another trip to Union Station to ride the train and see a Christmas show at the planetarium.  We also checked out the new exhibits at Science City (very cool, but I didn't take pictures...you'll have to go with us to see them!).  Then we met Steve for lunch and tried out Middle Eastern cuisine.  Very fun!

Painting Bird Houses

This year the girls painted birdhouses for their grandparents and great-grandmas.

Hannah's houses

Olive's houses

Merry Christmas

Bass Pro Santa

We went to Winter Wonderland at Bass Pro again.  Forget Santa, Hannah was really looking forward to shooting things.

Olive spent most of her time crafting letter (picture) for Santa.

Santa reading her letter

Hannah asked for a skateboard.  Olive asked for an Elsa doll.  I told her she already had one.  She said, "a baby, not a skinny one."  I googled.  I asked for more information.  This time she said, "It sings"  I googled.  Apparently she wants the #1 toy for Christmas: Snow Glow Elsa (which is sold out just about everywhere).  Wonderful.  I asked how she even heard about this doll.  "Commercials at Grandma's," was the answer.  Sigh.  Luckily, I asked her again about what she wanted for Christmas and she said, "A monkey suit."  So, I'm thinking that Elsa thing isn't set in stone...

looking way too grown up...

my girls

Winter Party

I was in charge of Hannah's classroom party again.  We played Snowman Says, made a craft, and had a book exchange.  I was a little hesitant about the book exchange, but everyone seemed to like their book.  It was also pj day for kindergarteners (and Olive).

Brody's Birthday

Brody's 5th birthday was our first time at Chuck E Cheese.  The girls loved it!  

Their favorite game was bumper cars.  We thought Olive wouldn't like it, but we were wrong.  They both LOVED it and did it several times.

There were so many games that little kids could do.  This one you threw balls at the screen to kill the bugs.  Plus you could even play all at once.

Street Hoops was my jam.  I schooled Emily.

Gingerbread House

We had the same kit as last year.  This year I put the house together and the girls did the rest.  Hannah did all the icing herself.  She made the icing lines hang down on purpose to make "icicles"

Memphis Marathon

Steve ran the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis.  He wanted to break 3 hours or at least beat Dan's best marathon time....neither one happened.  :(  He said his heart rate was too high even at the beginning of the race and he had to walk after 20 miles.  He ended up with a 3:16 time.  Steve said after the race he was done with marathons....but now he's thinking maybe another in the spring.

the start is in the distance

pictures from the walking tour of Memphis

the finish on the field of Autozone Park

Steve had never heard of the Peabody Ducks.  He was beyond excited (as evidenced by this picture) to see them in person.