Since Bradley has two weeks off for Christmas we, meaning the kids and I, decided to drive to Texas to see our Grandma and Grandpa and our cousins. It took us two days to drive the 17 hours. The kids did really well for how long of a drive it was. We did have to stop at a Bass Pro Shop just North of Atlanta, GA so that we could stretch our legs and get out of the car.
The pictures are not in any particular order.
Guard and Bradley having a snack
Calais and Macy
Daniel at the park in town
Atlas and Hunter
Macy and Calais
Bradley, Guard and Daniel
Eliza
We tried to get all the kids oldest to youngest on the slide and it was kind of a disaster because the slide was too steep.
Everyone kept sliding off the end!
We had to stop playing long enough for a snack.
The kids were playing land "sharks and minnows". The two oldest boys were hard for the girls and younger boys to catch, so I joined them for a round or two to help out. One of the times after I had been tagged I turned to Daniel and said, "I am a Shark, I am going to eat you!" and started towards him with my claws and teeth bared. To this he turned in a similar pose to me and replied, "I am a Ware Wolf, I am going to eat you!"
Eliza sporting her cutsie hat from Abby!
This is the large fish tank at the Bass Pro Shop. It is amazing how rejuvenating it is to see fish, stuffed animals and lots of four wheelers!
Eliza loved the fish, they had her mesmerized!
Bradley thought his dad needed this one for Christmas...
Bradley needed this one...
and Daniel needed this one!
Too bad for them that I have an in with Santa and I said "No."
They also thought we needed a race track like this one. They had demos set up for the kids to play with at Bass Pro. They some excellent marketing ideas!
Holden and Eliza having fig newtons for a before breakfast snack!
It took Holden a day of two to warm up to me.
Daniel, Calais, Macy, Bradley and Guard coloring Christmas pictures.
We also helped Grandma put up and decorate her tree.
Bradley has an eye for decorating.
Later we played "Mexican Train", super fun game, and then the kids used the dominos to build towers and words. They also lined them up and watched them crash.
Eliza and Holden playing with the doll house.
The Sunday we were in Texas we drove three hours to see Uncle Matt and Aunt Lily's baby Alina get blessed. Eliza was too tired at the luncheon and finally fell asleep. Here she is resting on Aunt Vickie.
Grandpa was also too tired! However, he cried less about being tired and he put himself down for a nap.
Eliza checking our her new cousin Alina
Alina, Aunt Lily and Bradley
Matt, Alina, Lily, Bradley, Mom, Eliza and Daniel
Alina with Great-Grandma
Eliza and Grandpa after their short naps. Grandpa is much more pleasant than Eliza when he is woken up sooner than he wants!
Holden loved to get into Grandpa's foot stool and pull out the blankets. This is how we found him once.
Bradley and Daniel played until they were exhausted! We had to have naps one day.
Holden after he finally warmed up to me.
Aunt Donna, LaDonna and Uncle Bucky
They came to say hi the day before we had to leave.
Macy was a great big helper when it came to the little ones. She was very good to play with Eliza.
Eliza and Vickie
Eliza hammin' it up with Bucky
Macy, Brylee and Baby Sander
The night before we had to come home Uncle Quincy and Aunt Ruth came with their newest addition, Sander.
(Sander and Alina were both born the beginning of December.)
Grandma, Baby Sander and Holden
All the kids
It was so much fun to see our Texas cousins. Unfortunately we didn't stay long enough to see our cousins from Missouri. They also have a new addition we haven't met yet, but we did have to get home for our Dad's birthday and Christmas!
December 16-24, 2010
