Santa - AGAIN!

Madelyn got to sit on Santa's lap again! He was at her school last Tuesday so she got all dressed up to see him yet again!

Marek doesn't like to be left out of any pictures . . .

not camera shy . . .

She asked for something new from this Santa. Thankfully, I - er Santa - had already purchased this item. I really hope that was the last time she will see Santa this year because if not, we'll go broke! :)

Copy Cat

Marek has to do whatever his sister is doing all of the time. She gets juice - he gets juice. She gets a big girl cup - he MUST have a big boy cup! I have a feeling this will never change . . .

NEW Castle Park!

That's right - we found a newer, bigger, BETTER Castle Park! It's in Coppell where we're looking for a house. We looked at a house two weekends ago and stopped by the park for lunch and play!

Madelyn acting like Vanna White showing off "her" new park . . .

So much to do - so little time!
Our little kamikaze!
All smiles . . .
I couldn't fit all of the park in the picture!

After our park visit, we met up with Tom's cousin, Theresa, and her family. Her youngest son, Teddy, was playing basketball for the first time (game) at his school. We watched for about 10 minutes and the score was 7 - 0 when we left. I'm not kidding at all when I say that Teddy scored 6 of those points! What a fun day!

Random

Stephanie was kind enough to watch my little munchkins while I went to the dentist last Monday. I bring my camera everywhere and Stephanie found it in my diaper bag and snapped some pictures . . .

. . . Bake me a cake as fast as you can!

Show off!

Whisenant Fun House

Come inside it's LOUD inside! Kelly and I sing that to the tune of "Mickey Mouse Club House" (for those seasoned veterans)! All the cousins were over there a couple weeks ago and all the kids played outside for quite some time. Then, they came inside for some quiet time and a movie!

Don't they all look well-behaved and orderly . . .

This is how it normally is . . .

Pictures with Santa!

We went to see Santa back on 12/2. I know I'm behind on my postings (Dan!). Excuuuuuse me! It was last Sunday and the weather was, yet again, perfect! It was warm enough for Madelyn to wear her sleeveless dress without a coat! We went to Sundance Square, just as we did last year. No lines to see Santa and a $5 donation for the Sister Cities International Youth Program.

I was surprised, Marek didn't have the typical 2nd year "scream in Santa's lap" photo!

He sat on good 'ol St. Nick's lap and looked around and posed for a bit. Then he was ready to get off and go to daddy!
Madelyn asked him, again, for a "pink Barbie princess doll house". Santa is ahead of the game this year and got his gifts early. . .
Ok, so I made sure everyone matched and I just don't . . .
After pictures, we had lunch at the Corner Bakery and Cafe. We thought pasta with red sauce was perfect for our kids in all white!! Surprisingly, they left with not a drop on them!
My little ham . . .
It's a crazy time of year but I'm happy to say that I have wrapped almost all of my presents, ordered our Christmas photo cards, finished my Christmas poem, and I'm done with Christmas shopping - ok, with the exception of a few things - but I know what and where to go for them! I'm actually ahead of the game this year! I guess my Christmas cards will get out before February this year! Woo hoo!

However, it's nice to sit back and reflect on what is the real reason for the season. Not just the hustle and bustle. We have so much to thank God for - Jesus being the first!

God Bless you all!

Dance: Parent Observation Day!

The Wednesday after Thanksgiving (11/28) was "Parent Observation Day" for Madelyn's dance class. Madelyn loves attention and we've found that she also loves to stare at herself in the mirror . . .

I had my video camera going and I was also taking pictures. Multitasking, always multitasking . . .

Marek joined right in . . .
Madelyn loves her little brother . . .
Making sure we're still watching . . .
Choo-Choo Train!
Great form!
Always giggling!
Marek loved hanging out with all the pretty girls!
Still making sure we're watching . . .
Their teacher was being silly . . .

Marek wanted in on the fun, too!

Just in Case You Weren't Listening

NO!

Marek's Favorite Words

Just a few . . .

Thanksgiving in Houston

We made the treck to Houston for Thanksgiving and survived! We actually picked Brock up and brought him with us to see all of his doggie cousins. He was SO excited! The ride there was fine until about 45 minutes from Mimi's and Dziadek's house. Marek was full blown screaming for that last 45 minutes. It was difficult to say the least. We left around 12:30 and the poor kid hadn't napped all day and didn't in the car. He was exhausted.

We're off! Here's a shot of the kids watching movies just outside of Fort Worth. Still happy!

When we arrived in Houston, Dziadek has taken Mimi to the hospital because she cut her hand (the piece of skin between the thumb and pointer finger - OUCH!) and needed stitches. All in a days work! She didn't skip a beat.

After settling in, the kids roamed free and played with anything and everything.

Marek LOVES music. He loves any singing (even mine!), he loves the radio, he loves to dance, he loves to play music - anything and everything musical - he loves! He's my little Mozart!
It was raining on Saturday so we decided to take the kids bowling. It was so much fun and such a great idea!Mimi bowled a spare and a strike and then took Marek back home for a nap! She's so great.
He didn't quite understand the concept of just letting the ball go - he wanted to go retrieve it!

Madelyn was such a pro! She had so much fun and got excited after EVERY shot. . .
However, she was disappointed that we had to return the bowling shoes when we left . . .

We celebrated Thanksgiving on Saturday. Everyone was there: Brian and Jessica (newly engaged!), Gena and Dan, Mimi and Dziadek, and us! While we were cooking and setting everything up, the kids found a fun little hiding place in a cabinet! For the rest of our stay, I always knew where to find them . . .

Madelyn disappeared that night and daddy found her behind the door in our room with an entire block of chocolate. Yes, that's chocolate in her hand and on her face. She is DEFINITELY my girl . . .
On Sunday, we took the kids to the Children's Museum in Houston. It was enormous - so much to do! We were there for over 2 hours and still didn't get to see everything!

Here Madelyn is putting on a puppet show for Mimi . . .

and milking a cow . . .

Marek staring at the baby chicks. I think he wasn't sure if they were real at first. . .

Fishing with his daddy . . .There were so many cool things to do there. Madelyn played with a program that captured a picture of your face and you could fill it in with different colors . . .
So sweet . . .
There was a room where kids could pretend to be on the news. It was complete with 3 cameras to operate, teleprompters, a camera "production" area, costumes, etc. To be a kid again . . .

Here Madelyn is pretending to read (she was copying the girl before her) dressed as a police officer . . .

On Monday, we saw Gena off (back to Fort Worth) and then we found a fun park for the kids to play. We're always in search of new parks! Afterwards, daddy took Marek home to nap while Mimi, Madelyn and I went off shopping. We are always spoiled rotten when we go to Houston or when they come here! We hit DSW and The Galleria. Santa was at The Galleria and Madelyn got to sit on his lap. My batteries were dead so I took pictures with Maddie's digital camera but she deleted them all . . . oops!

We left Tuesday after Tom's meeting. It was such a great trip - everyone had fun. We were completely spoiled rotten again. Dziadek cooked incredible meals the entire trip - I was full for 4 straight days . . .

The ride home was so peaceful! Marek slept for about 30 - 45 minutes and then watched movies with his sister. I adjusted his seat so that he was more reclined and he seemed to like that much better. No screaming for the 5 hour drive!

Thank you, Mimi and Dziadek, for yet ANOTHER amazing Houston vacation!