Christmas with Mary and Robbie

Mary and Robbie were planning on spending Christmas Eve with us but sadly Robbie's Grandma died (on Marys birthday) so they stayed home for the funeral and spend time with his extended family.

Instead we celebrated Christmas with them New Years weekend.  We all got together Saturday and then again on Sunday for our back eyed peas and collard greens.

Joel got Mary and book on "how to poo in the woods"  Its pretty funny and he was excited to give it to her.

Then on Sunday Robbie brought out his drone and he was amazing in letting the kid fly it.

I like how far back he was with Colin....

And then right up close with Joel.  Still he let them fly it.  

Uncle Robbie is a pretty big hit with the kids!

An adventure

Over Christmas break we decided to explore Northwest River Park.  There are hiking trails, Frisbee golf, camp grounds, etc.  The kids were excited. 

It was fun.  We almost felt like we were in the mountains at some parts.

Norah got upset in the beginning when her feet hit the mud.  Its hard to hike in flipflops but we told her we could wash both her feet and her shoes.  After that she was fine and loved it.

We walked down to the river and then headed back on this one  trail.  It was a two mile hike and we were sure we would make it back to the car before dark.  It was 3:30 and the kids were doing pretty good.  But then around 4:00 it got really dark and started pouring down rain.  Eventually I was carrying Joel on my back, Brent was carrying Norah,and Colin was just booking it along the trail.  It wouldn't have been too bad but the mud was awful and we kept having to go off the path to be able to walk. Then it got dark and the kids started talking about sleeping in the woods that night.   Eventually we made it back to the car. When we came out of the woods a park ranger was about to come looking for us.  There were several other cars left in the parking lot so we weren't the last ones off the trails.

It was a really pretty park and a fun little adventure.  Norah now calls herself a wilderness girl.  Joel said he only wants to go back in the morning so we have all day before it gets dark.  Colin wants to go back and bring our bikes for the biking trails. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  Norah was the first one awake and then immediately went and woke up her boys.  It didn't take long for them all to come running. We were opening presents before 6am.

Then after were were done we ate breakfast and the kids played with their toys before we started round 2.  Ma-Ma-maa, Grandpa, Ant Ant and Uncle Jeff came over for the rest of the day. 

When Angela was here we took some pictures of all the kids together.  Then we made the best picture into a canvas for mom and dad. We wrote on the tag "To Ma-Ma-Maa and Grandpa, Oma and Opa from Colin, Joel, Norah, Isaiah, and Gideon.

And now I can't wait to show them the 20+ pictures we took of all the kids

Jeff and the kids played on SnapChat

Colin got a pingpong table for his room. 

Colin spent most of the day reading.

And has spent most of Christmas break reading the Hunger Games.  He started it in school and then Ant Ant gave him her copies for Christmas.  Colin usually gets As and Bs on his school work.  Bs are even rare so one week  he came home with several C's on some papers.  The teacher had her personal copy of Hunger Games in class and would let the kids read it but they couldn't take it home with them.  Colin was at a really exciting part and rushed through his work that week so he could pick up the book.  I couldn't get upset.  There really is nothing better than getting lost in a good book. 

We ended the night watching Christmas in Connecticut.  It was a wonderful christmas and went by way too fast.