Girls Weekend

Just like I've done for the past 4 years, I planned to meet my best friend from college, Sara, in Wichita, for a Girls Weekend.  We also took Harper and Cambree, just like last year to add to the girly adventures!  The trip was nothing less than spectacular.  So much fun just lounging and chatting...just like we haven't missed a beat!
I was going to upload some photos, but I realized that Sara took most of the best ones, so I am linking her blog post at the bottom of this.  She did a great job capturing our trip!
Read about Girls Weekend Here!

Today Owen is...

Captain America!

A Farmer!

Asleep!

A 3-D Movie Newbie!

A Pajama-Wearin', PDA-Totin', Glasses-Wearin' Farmer?

A full blown goof!

Owen always keeps us in stitches.  He is so creative and so quirky all at the same time!  At times I want to pull my hair out...but I love him and wouldn't trade him for the world!

Future Millerettes!

Last Tuesday night, Harper's little league basketball team, the Firebirds, got to be the special guests of our high school girls basketball team.  Those little girls were PUMPED!  They have all been to the Millerette basketball camp in the summer and to various camps they put on throughout the school year. 
On Tuesday night, the girls got to go to the locker room to hear Coach Sailer's pre-game speech, they prayed with the girls and even got to run out on the court with them at the beginning of the game. 
While the Millerettes were warming up, our girls got to stand on the baseline and shag balls.  Totally fun for them!  To start the game, the Firebirds lined up with the big girls for the singing of the National Anthem and the introduction of the players.
We sat right behind the bench and the Firebirds had a great time watching the game...and eating snacks.  To top the evening off, the Millerettes beat our school rival!  Woohoo!
Harper totally looks up to these girls and she can't wait to be a Millerette one day!

Meet Kit!

For Christmas, Harper asked for American Girl gift cards.  She wasn't sure what she wanted to get with them, but knew she wanted something.  She had her eye on the catalog for weeks.  So, Grandma & Boppy, Cole & Melanie and Mommy & Daddy all got her gift cards.  She was excited...but that wasn't all.  Grandma & Boppy gave her an invitation to the American Girl Store in Dallas for a lunch with her doll McKenna.  Now that made her REALLY excited!!! 

Saturday, Grandma, Harper and I loaded up bright and early and headed to Dallas with McKenna and the gift cards.  When we arrived at the store, we first went to make McKenna an appointment at the doll hair salon.  Harper chose a flip ponytail for her.  It is always so much fun to see her get her hair done.  Harper loves it!

We then headed downstairs to spend her dough!  Those gift cards were burning a hole in her pocket!!!  She had been thinking for a few days, looking at the catalog and finally decided on getting McKenna a "sister."  Harper chose Kit to join our family.  Kit is one of the historical dolls who lived during the Great Depression.  Harper had just enough money to get Kit and her accessories (which included a really cute necklace and hat) and this mini record player she had been looking at in the catalog for months.  Grandma also splurged on an outfit for McKenna, hangers for all the doll clothes and the Kit movie.  Harper was beaming from ear to ear when the clerk handed her Kit.  So fun!

After our shopping excursion, we headed upstairs to the Bistro for our lunch reservation.  Harper chose a Shirley Temple for her drink and the waitress even brought Kit and McKenna some lemonade to drink.  They all three enjoyed it very much!  The meal was delicious and the dessert was even better!  Harper got the cutest trio of ice cream cones!

Thanks to Grandma for a wonderful day of fun and memories!!!

A Trip to the Science Museum

One snowy, cold day over the break...we took the kids to the Science Museum.  I had taken them once before with my friend Sara and her family...but we hadn't been back with Richard.  Harper was so excited to get to go and Owen was excited because she was!
It was non-stop fun once we got there.  They both went from exhibit to exhibit, watching...playing...in amazement.  It was so much fun for me to see Harper so enthusiastic about science.  You could hear her inquisitive mind ticking.  Owen had a great time too...just tinkering with everything.  It was a wonderful day!

Christmas Day

We woke up bright and early...around 6:30 the kids came to get us.  We hurried into the Living Room to see what Santa had brought us...and boy do we have two pretty good kids...at least Santa thought so! :)
Harper and I both ran as fast as they could and started going from item to item admiring their gifts.  So fast, in fact, that I could hardly get any pictures taken! 
Harper got an iPad!  She was so excited.  She also got some crafty sets, a DS storage bag, running tights (just like Mom's) and some movies.  She and Richard have already loaded tons of apps on the iPad and she plays with it all of the time!

Owen...was very good...because he got a Drum Set!  (or does that mean that Mom and Dad weren't very good!)  He sat down and immediately started his own jam session.  He has already figured out several rhythms and plays a lot.  He also got an Iron Man costume, Captain America jacket, movies and several fun toys!  Not to mention both of their stockings were full to the brim.

There is nothing better than Christmas morning...except...yummy breakfast at Grandma and Boppy's house...oh and that it turned out to be a White Christmas!!!  As soon as the kids were done with their Santa presents, we got dressed and headed over there for breakfast.

After eating, the kids were chomping at the bit to get to open presents.  They took turns opening...Harper one...Owen one...Hazen one (except...they helped him).  Every time it would get to Owen's turn he would say..."I think I know what it is!"..."It's what I always wanted!"  It was classic! Owen got a ton of SuperHero stuff, Jake the Pirate stuff and a super cool Thomas the Train set and blanket that Grandma made him.  It was perfect for him because he has been really into dress up lately.

Harper was such a lucky girl...not only did she get a really pretty blanket also, but Grandma made tons of matching clothes for her McKenna doll and her.  They are precious.  Harper also got this school play set that she has had her eye on for quite some time.  A girl after my own heart!

Of course...us big kids were very lucky to get all of our goodies too!  We got everything on our lists...absolutely perfect!!!  Thank you Grandma and Boppy!

Around noon, we loaded up in the four-wheel drive vehicles and made the trek to the farm to celebrate Christmas with Grandma and my dad's side of the family.  It was terribly cold weather and the kids couldn't go outside, so it made for some tight quarters.  We had a fun time playing with Abigail's new knitting machine and the kids were glad to see each other.

Overall...a spectacular Christmas Day!!!