Game Night

We had Friday Family Fun night and played Left Right Center after dinner. We also snuggled together and watched Mythbusters (a boy favorite). We're making memories in 2013!

Birthday Surprise

Theo and I made a poster for Theo's teacher to hang on her door today. Happy birthday, Mrs. Tortorich!!

Sweet baby Landen

I went over and visited Theo's old teacher , Mrs. Hoover, and her new baby, Landen. Look at how cute he is!  He's 2 weeks old and so tiny. You forget how little babies are as newborns. I may have to go back and see him again :-)

Happy Twelfth Night

Our friends, the Boudreaux's, invited us over today for homemade king cake in celebration of Twelfth Night. Today begins the carnival season! Theo got the baby :-)

NYE in Greers Ferry, Arkansas

We made the short drive from Branson to Greers Ferry, AR to Bobby and Kittie's lakehouse for NYE.  More carsickness for me through the winding roads to the lake house, but thankfully it was worth it!  It was relaxing and comfortable there.  We played a few rounds of Left Right Center (dice game) and Bobby was the big winner.  Cousin Ryley was there so the boys had fun with her.

We left Greers Ferry around noon yesterday and made the 10 hour trip home.  Dave drove the entire way, only stopping to eat and pump gas.  He's a trooper!

We traveled over 1500 miles and 5 states this holiday.  Dada was never far from our thoughts or hearts, but we survived our first Christmas without him.  This trip was just what the doctor ordered and we'll never forget it.

Our Trip to Branson

We left the day after Christmas to head up to Memphis.  We stayed with Miller and Sarah and exchanged Christmas presents.  The cousins got to play all together and had a lot of fun!  We woke up the next morning and made the drive up to Branson, Missouri.  We took the road less traveled that involved mainly mountain roads winding up and down the Ozarks.  It was quite the adventure and some of us learned what car sickness was!

We stayed at the Welk Resort, located right outside of downtown Branson, because it had a nice Splashatorium for the kids.  We made two trips up to Silver Dollar City (an amusement park) and enjoyed the shows, exhibits, rides, and atmosphere there. The boys LOVED the kids' area there with the 3 story ball enclosure.  It started snowing solidly while we were there and that really added to the ambiance! We took the kids through the Marvel Cavern on the second day and were awed by the wonders below the Earth.  We stayed there past dark and got to see the park at night.  They really do a phenomenal job of decorating for Christmas.

Our last day in Branson was spent at the Splashatorium and then on the Branson Belle Showboat for dinner and a show.  Branson is very family-friendly and geared around activities for kids!  We look forward to going back one summer and enjoying the rollercoasters and attractions that were closed in the winter.