Monday, January 7, 2013

Snow Day

We finally got enough snow last week to go out and play. Coye had never been out in the snow before so he wasn't quite sure what to think about it. He got a little annoyed when he couldn't pull his gloves off (they were snapped to the sleeves of his coat) but loved walking through the snow. The girls really wanted to build a snowman but the snow didn't pack so we just pulled them around on the sleds. Eileen came over and played some with us too. It was fun to pull Coye on the sled because he doesn't weigh much and you could pull him fast. The girls were definitely heavier and it was a good workout pulling them all around the yard.








Trip to the Dells

Last weekend we headed up to Hotel Rome in Wisconsin Dells for a quick getaway - just the five of us. We had to make short pit stop on our way up there to look at a manure spreader for Calvin, but then we were back on our way to the water park. We got checked in and unloaded and then went for a walk around the hotel. They had an indoor water park that was attached to the hotel and then an indoor theme park that was a short walk outside from the water park. Since it was late and packed at the water park, we went to the theme park first. They had an indoor roller coaster but the girls were too little (they were pretty bummed about it). They did get to ride a teacup spinning ride and another ride though so they were happy about that. They also had arcade games there and a little bowling game that we played. After playing games for awhile, we headed back to our room and ordered pizza. By the time that came and we ate, it was late and the kids were tired, so we took baths and went to bed - all of us, at the same time. The kids slept really good that night and we didn't get up until 8:40 a.m. It was awesome! We went out to breakfast, stopped at Walmart to pick up a few things, and then went to a presentation at a time share (which was how we got such a great price on our rooms). After being there for several hours, we ate an early supper (we had missed lunch because of the late breakfast we had) and then headed back to the hotel to swim. The water park had a kiddie play area that had a giant pirate ship that was in water that ranged from 2 inches to 2 1/2 feet. Perfect for Coye. There were five slides that they could go down. He had a blast walking around in the water and going down the slides with the girls. The water wasn't real warm, but he didn't seem to mind. They also had a lazy river that we went on. They also had several different slides - some you used tubes for and some you didn't. The girls were too little to go on the slides by themselves, but they could with an adult. So Calvin and I took turns staying with Coye and each taking a girl down the tube slides. It was so much fun! You went down fast and there were little waterfalls in the slides too. The girls loved them! We probably went down five times each. After a while the kids started getting cold, and we decided to leave and play a few more arcades on the way back to our room (Calvin was trying to win a bunch of tickets so they could choose some prizes before leaving). Once back in our room, we got them all bathed and ready for bed. Coye was a bear because of his lack of a decent nap so while I took a shower, Calvin put him in his pack n play and he ended up falling asleep with the lights and TV on. Chloe fell asleep in our bed and had to be moved to the other bed. Aubrey was the only one who stayed awake. We stayed up for a little bit and then went to bed too. Chloe coughed more that night and Coye was up earlier the next morning. Chloe must not have slept well, because after she ate some donuts and got dressed, she fell asleep and slept for over an hour while we packed things up. We let her sleep as long as we could, and then woke her up to go and play a few more games and choose some prizes. They rode the rides again and played in a fun house too. They chose lipstick phones and ring pops as their prizes while Coye got a blow up hammer and some bouncy balls. We drove for awhile while Coye slept and then stopped for lunch. We also stopped at the Bass Pro Shop too. That place was amazing! We were looking for a tube and skis for the boat but they didn't have much out right now for summer stuff. It was an awesome place to just look around though. The rest of the trip home went pretty fast and the kids were really good - thank God for DVD players in the vehicle!
Getting ready to go to the water park
At the water park

Playing arcade games

Coye wanted to play so badly


Helping Daddy
Eating at the MooseJaw Pizza Company
Riding the four wheelers at Bass Pro


Checking out the fish at Bass Pro

Christmas with the Wagners

Our last Christmas was with Calvin's family. We headed over there for supper first and then opened presents. The kids were so good about waiting for the food to be put away and pictures to be taken before opening presents. We got some good pictures of all the grandkids - which is amazing when you think about trying to get them to all look and smile at the same time in the same direction. The kids again loved seeing what their presents were and got some really awesome things. The girls were probably most excited about the Lego Friends house that they got from Calvin's parents. They really love those things. Coye loved his barn from Grandpa and Grandma too. 

All the grandkids

Playtime before presents

Peek-a-boo Coye!

Poor Ed - he doesn't want to wait anymore but he's being so patient!



Coye giving Aunt Kathy a hug


Matching cousins' shirts from Aunt Kathy




Coye's new barn




Another Lego Friends set from Clare - can you tell how happy she is?




Chloe's American Girl Doll hair styling set

Aubrey's wheel chair for her doll

Helping Grandma



The Lego Friends' house

Coye loves his barn!

Christmas Day

The first person up Christmas Day morning was of course Calvin. He had to go do chores at his dad's. I was woken up by Coye who I did get to snuggle with me in bed for a while. The girls were the last ones up, which is pretty funny considering their plan was to wake us up in bed. They of course raced down to the basement to see if Santa had come and brought them presents in their stockings (he had). They were too excited to eat and wanted to open their stocking gifts first. After breakfast, we finished opening the rest of the gifts that were downstairs. Coye's favorite gifts were his balls, shoes, and the fence and animals he got to go with his tractor. Chloe's favorite gift hands down was an American Girl doll. We were going to wait and get her one next year, but seeing how much she plays with Aubrey's, we decided to get her one early. It was the best decision. She plays with that doll all the time! Aubrey's favorite gift was the American Girl Doll stable that she's had her eye on for over a year. They had a great time opening gifts and it was so much fun to watch them try to figure out what they were going to get before opening. The rest of the day was spent playing with their new toys, playing some wii together, and napping (by Coye). Denny and Eileen came over in the late afternoon and visited and ate supper with us. It was such a nice relaxing day made even better by the fact that we didn't have to go anywhere.

Merry Christmas Daddy!

Ready to open stockings

What's in there?

Matching Hello Kitty shirts

He was being so careful.

Who knew antibacterial gel in a case was so exciting? :)

Aubrey was excited about that too.

Almost done with stockings

Coye's new markers

Helping Daddy with his presents

Passing out presents


Our tree was so pretty this year - the prettiest one we've ever had.

Coye got to start since he was the littlest.

Aubrey was excited about more Lego Friends.

Sometime squatting helps when you're opening a present

New shoes

Present from Wade and his family

The shoes fit perfectly!

What could be in here? (She had no idea!)







She was ecstatic to say the least!

Aubrey saved her biggest present for last.


She still had no idea what it was until we opened the box.

She was thrilled too!

That was a lot of work!

The girls and their dolls
Coye's new fence for his animals - apparently he wants to be in the pasture too

Coye trying out his new markers

Building their new Lego sets