First ice storm of the {season}.

Mr. Weatherman actually got the weather right.  TX is weird, we go from 80 degrees 2 days ago to below freezing in less than 48 hours.  When that happens we get a warm layer (nose as the weatherman called it) so what happens is the clouds release snow but hit that warm layer and it melts but upon reaching the ground it freezes again and we get ice storms.

I was awoken this morning by all 3 of my kiddos telling me it was "snowing".  No kids, that is ice pellets that are coming down. 

These ice storms blanket everything!! 

Nope, not snow, ice pellets all gathered together. 

Turn your volume up so you can hear the ice pellets dropping.

 

Mr. D and I both slept like crap last night, between the power constantly going off and on, the ice pellets hitting our windows and Mr. D constantly getting out of bed to check his email in hopes his boss would cancel work (he didn't, he never would), it was just a mixer of impossible things to sleep soundly through.  Of course schools have been cancelled as well as several store closings etc.. we are just chilling at home today, we've played outside (yes, it's cold and iced over but getting out in the elements does a body good), played games, had a tasty lunch and now the kiddos are on the hunt to find Sam, our Elf on a Shelf:)  They think he's not here yet, but he is!!  They walk past him constantly and still haven't noticed him.  I wonder how long I'll let this go on before I show them?  Let's not lie, I'm not there yet, Sam may be sitting in the poinsettia plant a few more days;)

Small towne {Christmas}.

This past weekend we went to the neighboring town's Christmas fun.  Their small downtown area is all shut off to through traffic and it's a lot of vendors, Santa Claus, music etc.. going on.

Quick snapshot of these two just chillin' as Mr. D spots a used book store he wanted to go in and browse.  We obviously stayed outside:) 

The day before we had taken the kids to see the new Disney feature, Frozen (which I highly recommend seeing, it was awesome!) so it was hilarious when we walked up on a couple of reindeer and I told them it was "Sven" from Frozen;)  Baby R kept asking if she could touch "Sven's" food, I don't know why that was so enticing to her. 

So, I'm not a big fan of petting zoo's.  You can get seriously sick, seriously.  So, it SUCKED when we happened upon this small petting zoo area and keeping Baby R on the outside of the fence just wasn't cuttin' it.  She knew she could go in, she wasn't stupid, she saw all the other kids in there and she cried and cried till Mr. D finally took her and Little R back to go in after we were half way to the car.  G didn't want to go in, animals give him the heebie jeebies so I took him to sit in the car and wait. 

Clearly it was an awesome experience for the girls but I made sure Mr. D had hand sanitizer (although they did have some there too, never can be too careful though) and to watch that the girls don't put their hands near any part of their head.

 

It was fun, I wish we could have hung out longer but G was "so bored" in his words and was starting to get passed the irritated mark which is usually our cue that we need to go before things get ugly.

 

Hope you all are finding fun things to do in your neck of the woods for some Holiday Family Fun!!!

High {5}!

My last baby is officially 5 (can I cry here?).

We welcomed the High 5 with her request of a Team Umizoomi themed cake. 

She's a wee bit in love with My Little Pony. 

Where her favorite Aunty found this we will never know but this giant Pinky Pie is going to be LOOOVVVEEEDD:) 

She was able to open all presents herself this year (aside from tight ribbons), she's growing up (a tear just fell people). 

 

Make a wish Baby R, we love you madly and hope your birthday was super special:)

Seriously, one last shot, Pinky Pie's head is bigger than Baby R's!

 

Fun Tidbits:

Has the sweetest manners!  Always a "thank you", "you're welcome", "I love you mom", "I want to give you a hug", "Bye!".

 

Favorite shows are PAW Patrol, Team Umizoomi & My Little Pony

 

Favorite colors are Pink and Purple

 

Has to have "100 kisses"  when she is tucked in for bed.

 

Always wants to do things her way.

 

She still carries around her beloved white blanket, chewing on it even though it's stained and full of holes (she loves it).

 

Loves her preschool teacher Miss Monica and says she is the best teacher ever!

 

Always wants to be included and gets super sad when she's not.

 

Has too good of a memory sometimes and she won't let you forget.

 

Still loves to give her big sister "sister loves" (hugs).

 

Wants a puppy SO BAD!!!

 

We love you madly Baby R, you are such a ray of sunshine in all of our days and despite the fact that you are an early riser (around 6:30am most days) you still can manage to make me smile when I'd rather be sleeping in:)

 

Happy High 5 Birthday Baby!!!

A Tribute to {Heroes}.

What a full week we had with school programs.

We were treated to the 4th grade program that happened to be at the high school instead of the elementary.

This program was unique in the fact that when we signed the permission slip for our child to participate in the program we ourselves were also allowed to sign the slip and join in.  Several parents and grand parents came up towards the end for 3 or so songs and sang with the kids.  This gentleman even did a gorgeous solo, clearly he's had voice training. 

What a great way to spend an evening:)  I always love going to the school programs:)

Thanksgiving Sing & {Feast}.

Baby R goes to an adorable preschool in the country where animals live happily on the property and the kids get to take care of them:)  This is Tinker bell, she was a noisy bugger as Mr. D and I were walking up to the school. 

Each year the preschool kiddos put on a Thanksgiving program and all us grown ups get to stay and feast on a traditional Thanksgiving feast with them.

All the kids made both an Indian and a Pilgrim hat, the school allows them to choose which one they wear for the program.  Baby R chose to be a Pilgrim:) 

She made our place mat, isn't it such a keeper?

The entertainment was awesome as usual:)

Special {Day}.

Baby R's preschool celebrated her Special Day (aka, birthday) by letting her decorate her crown she wore for the day, she was line leader, calendar girl and she got to bring goodies to pass out to her classmates! 

 

Baby R is still bringing it up, she keeps asking when she gets to have her Special Day again.  Clearly her school does it right if she can't stop talking about it:)

 

Happy "Special Day" Baby R!

ICE! {2013}.

This year we hit the annual ICE! exhibit early, as in the first weekend it was open, early.  So never mind that Halloween just happened cause 2 weeks later we were getting ready for Christmas!

Waiting in line to get our parkas, what ever could the theme be this year?? 

Little one getting excited!!

YES!!!  The Nutcracker!!  Mr. D doesn't care for this production but I personally do like it so I was excited to go and see it carved out of ice. 

The Sugar Plum Fairies!  These were my favorite by far! 

Heading up the stairs to take our turn on the ICE! slide:) 

View from the bottom. 

It took some coaxing but Baby R finally agreed to go down the bigger slides and bypass the preschooler size slide:)  She was good with just one time down and I was happy she did it:)

That's me coming down w/Baby R waiting for me:)

 

Ice Tunnel to... 

YAY!!!  One of my all time favorite cities was carved into ice as an added bonus this year!! 

I loved that they even had a jumbo screen just like in the actual Time Square:) 

And every year they carve out the Nativity, it's stunning in real life, pictures never do this one justice. 

Those are some red cheeks Baby R, you're still smiling so you must have enjoyed yourself!