Herding Cats

As a Christmas gift for Jon's Mom, Jenni and I decided it would be fun to have a picture made of all the grandkids.  Even though it was a little like herding cats at times, we managed to get a few good shots. 

The Bushwar/Mikeska Wrecking Crew.  When they all get together, you'd better watch out!



Sweet Girls...Marin, Rylann, Gracyn, and Ellery



Big Boys...Gavin, Liam, and Keaton



And to All, a Good Night!

Six For Six

Our little girls are six months old...half a year!  Jon and I were talking about how our life before the girls seems so foreign to us now.  It was quite a bit different around our place then.  It's pretty incredible to see how two little girls can blend a happy family of three into a joyful, blessed, and complete family of five.  For our little six-month-olds, here are six adjectives to describe each.

Cuddly, Determined, Engaging, Smiley, Expressive, and Cooperative

Tenacious, Chatty, Inquisitive, Giggly, Playful, and Energetic

 

All Bundled Up

It's been cold the last couple of days in the Dallas area.  In fact, it feels a little like Christmas.  The heat is running, the coffee is brewing, the candles are burning, and the winter coats are on! 

 

Seeing is Believing

We took the kids to visit Santa last week.  We've had the same Santa for the past three year, so Liam is convinced that all others are just impostors.  It's hard to fathom how much life has changed for us in three years, but seeing is believing...

2008

2009



2010

Christmas Tea

Each year my wonderful Mother-in-law takes Jenni, Jon's sister, and me to the Dallas Arboretum for tea.  Some years we go for the fall tea and some years for the Christmas tea.  Saturday afternoon we had our tea party, and, as usual, it was delicious!  I'll think about those creamed cucumber sandwiches, orange currant scones, and cranberry bread with orange butter and turkey until we do it again next year.

North Pole Express

Part of the fun of having a two-year-old is that you get to do things that sound like fun, but as an adult, it would be totally not okay to do without a kid in tow.  Like the North Pole Express.  That's what we did on Friday night with our friends, the Daultons.  The kids are encouraged to wear their Christmas pajamas, which is pretty cute, and, let me tell you, some of those little kiddos had some pretty sweet pj's.  The night started with a Christmas program that was lead by the train conductor, and then the doors were flung open and the adventure began.  Everyone was escorted through a maze of Christmas trees, and it began to snow!  Then we loaded the train for a half hour ride filled with lights, songs, stories, and the grand finale...a visit from Santa Clause.  If you have kids under the age of five, I would definitely recommend this Christmas activity.  You'll The little ones will love it!



Liam and Owen getting ready to ride the train.



The fearless boys helped entertain the crowd by jumping on stage and singing with the other kid who volunteered to go up to the front.

Look!  It's snowing!

Here comes Santa Claus!

The Daultons on the North Pole Express

Here we are at the end of the night

Big Shoes



Sometimes Liam likes to try on his Daddy's shoes to see if they fit yet.



They're still a little big.

After all, they're pretty big shoes to fill.



Sweet Baby

A precious, small face with dimples to tweak,
Bright, shining eyes and shoft, chubby cheeks,

The tiniest fingers that cling to your heart
And little feet kicking right from the start,

A cute, wispy curl,
The first, gentle coo,

The powdery fragrance of someone so new,
An angel from Heaven all wrapped up in love...

A baby's a gift from our Father above.




by  Robin Fogle

Liam @ MOA

While we were in Minnesota for Thanksgiving, we took Liam to the Mall of America.  He loves going to the  Rain Forest Cafe at Grapevine Mills Mall, but a couple of months ago was sad because his favorite attraction, Tracy the Talking Tree, tragically disappeared, only to be replaced by a giant stuffed tree frog.  Bummer.  Well, much to his delight, it appears that the Talking Tree just moved to the Rain Forest Cafe at the MOA in Minnesota.  He was very happy to be reunited with that crazy tree.  We also went on a few rides in the amusement park.  He.Loved.It.  I think our his favorite was the hay wagon mini-roller coaster, as you can see by the many happy faces.