Children's Museum!

We went with Holly and Gabe to the Children's Museum today.  We were hoping to see Santa Clause while we were there, but the line was too long.  Gabe and Hadley had a great time playing together at each of the exhibits.  I think Holly and I had the most fun going down the Yule Slide before we left.  It's always so much fun to go the Children's Museum, and more fun when you get to go with friends! 

Our first stop was the Jolly Days exhibit where Gabe and Hadley got to ice fish, climb in the igloo and go down the slide and feed and brush Santa's reindeer.

Our next stop was the frog exhibit.  Hadley loved seeing all of the colorful frogs and playing the interactive games with Gabe.

We went to Playscape next.  Hadley always has so much fun in this area.  We have to drag her away from the water and sand box because she just loves to play in them!

With Holly's membership, not only did we get in for free, but we also got to ride the carousel.  Hadley picked out the horse she wanted to ride and poor Gabe got stuck on the one beside her.  He wasn't too happy because he had his eye on another one. 

We were excited to ride the Yule Slide and the line was quite long, so we saved it for last.  It was fun sliding from one level to the next!

Well, we thought the Yule Slide was going to be the last thing we did, but decided to go down and check out the dinosaurs before we left.  Gabe and Hadley had fun playing like archeologists and searching for dinosaur bones!

Their goggles cracked me up!  They looked so stinkin' cute.

On our way out Holly took a family picture of us.

We had a fun day at the Children's Museum with Holly and Gabe!

Annual Argiris Christmas Party

Pete and Holly always throw an awesome Christmas party for all of our friends and we love to go.  I am very thankful that Holly planned it around my weekend off this year.  It was good to hang out and spend the evening celebrating the holiday with friends! 

We had our usual pitch-in for dinner and the food was good like always.  After we got done with dinner, the kids had fun decorating Christmas cookies. 

The kids did their gift exchange.  Hadley drew Gabe's name and she got him a monster truck.  Kenzie drew Hadley's name and she got her Minnie Boutique stuff.  All of the kids were excited about their gifts!

Anxiously awaiting gift opening...Hadley decides to play the "tar" for everyone.

...and it begins.  Hans got to open his present first.  Such excitement!

Kenzie's next...

...and then Gabe.

...and it's finally Hadley's turn to open her present.

After the kids did their gift exchange, we sent them downstairs so that the adults could do theirs.  It looks much less chaotic sans the kids, doesn't it?

No fear...the chaos was still going strong.  Downstairs.

Thanks once again for a great Christmas party, Pete and Holly!  We had a lot of fun and are already looking forward to next year.

Nail Polish!

I painted Hadley's finger and toe nails for the first time today, and she loved it!  I was a little worried about whether she would sit still, but she didn't move an inch.  We chose a light pink color and it looked so cute on her little fingers and toes.  The only way she would let me take a picture though, was if I let her display her hands and feet on the grill on her play kitchen.  Whatever it takes, little miss, whatever it takes! 

Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park

I have to go to the doctor tomorrow, so we decided to stay the night at the Holiday Inn / Caribbean Cove Indoor Water Park in Indianapolis tonight.  We've been wanting to take Hadley to an indoor water park for a while now, so this was the perfect opportunity.  Hadley is a water bug, so of course we had a great time!   

Hadley loved sliding off the turtle's back!

However, she did not like having to take a 15 minute break so that the lifeguards could regroup!

It's kind of become a tradition that whenever we stay in a hotel, Hadley rides in the luggage cart.  Whatever makes her happy! 

I love spending time with Austin and Hadley! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was supposed to work today, but my friend Traci called on Tuesday and offered to work for me.  I was very excited to be able to spend Thanksgiving with my family, especially since I had to work it last year too!  We started the day at the "Carrothers" family Thanksgiving, which includes my Grandma Wise's and all of her sisters' families.  We have grown smaller over the years as my Grandma and some of her sisters have passed away and our families are growing, marrying and having to share our time other places.  I only took a few pictures because I just wasn't in the mood to be behind the camera today. 

Above are a couple of my Grandma Wise's sisters, Thelma and June.

How precious are these three little ones, looking at the crosses on the table above.

We always do a prayer circle prior to dinner and we count off to see how many people were able to make it.  This year I believe that our count was 39.

We always have lunch at noon, so Austin and I had a little bit to eat before heading out to Austin's family Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma Reames house.  I didn't take any more pictures, but we had a great time at our two Thanksgivings and we feel very blessed to have such great family to spend the holiday with!     

"That's Dora!"

Right around Hadley's 2nd birthday, as she started talking more and more, we discovered that she called Dora by the name Jodie.  We're not sure where she got it from?  Our guess is that our sister-in-law Jodie looks a lot like Dora with the short brown hair, so Hadley just associated the two.  She watches Dora on TV and has learned the correct names of the other characters including boots, backpack and swiper.  You would think that she would hear Dora enough that she would call her by her right name, but nope!  So, we just rolled with it and everyone just learned to call Dora by the name of Jodie when they were around Hadley.  My mom bought Hadley a large "Jodie" doll this past week and Hadley took her to daycare with her.  When she came back home, she informed us that it's not Jodie, it's Dora.  I guess the Jodie phase has come and gone.  Ahh, she's growing up on us! 

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Bostic!

My cousin Toby and his fiancee Jenny got married this evening on 11-11-11.  The ceremony was held in his grandmother's church in Pierceton, with a reception immediately following in the Fireman's Hall.  It was a very nice ceremony and we are happy that they allowed us to share in their special day!

Love this picture of Hadley catching a peek at the soon to be bride and groom lighting their unity candle! 

      Toby's dad and my mom are brother and sister.  Uncle Terry kept telling Hadley that, and she kept disagreeing saying "No, she's my mama!"  Too cute! 

Congratulations Toby and Jenny! 

Bring on the snow!

Bring it on, snow!  This year you will not defeat us.  We are now the proud owners of one vicious snow blower and we are ready for battle.  No more wimpy shovels, this is the real deal....