Getting Started Right

We started out the new year with a trip to the park! 

{I realize the end of the month is looming and this is just now being seen.}

 The following weekend, the weather was still beautiful and unseasonably warm, so we headed to the zoo!

 Katherine loved the swans

 Not surprisingly, Jackson loved the train and even got to ride it twice!

With a trip to the park followed up by the zoo, I think Jackson and Katherine have started their new year off right {not to mention seeing both sets of grandparents the next two weekends}!

A Few Obsessions

Jackson has become a big fan of dinosaurs over the last several months, so Zach decided he wanted to take him to a dinosaur museum.  He originally wanted to go somewhere out West this summer, but decided we might better stick closer to home and test Jackson out on a museum that's closer.  {I think Zach is also itching for an excuse to head West!}  Right after Christmas, we planned to go to Fernbank Museum in Atlanta this past weekend.

Once there, Katherine became obsessed with Grandma and Grandpa's reading glasses and cell phones.  And her horse, Belle.

 

 Taking a spin

Emma jumping on the bed

 While Jackson and Emma were jumping on the bed, Katherine decided she was big enough to ride on the larger horse

 At it again

 I don't know what got into him to hop on the duck,

 but then she had to have a turn.

 So our daughter won't ruin her eyes, we draw the line at some point and sneak the glasses away.  I use "sneak" loosely since she inevitably notices and then throws a fit.

 The time finally came for the dinosaur museum!  Before visiting the museum, we needed full bellies, so we stopped by The Varsity.  This was Jackson's first time inside, but he didn't eat anything from there, except a blue Icee (if it's blue, he wants it).  He had a pizza Lunchable with his blue drink . . . he's obsessed and a picky eater.

 Fernbank!!

 At some point inside, Jackson commented that being around all the dinosaurs was like Dino Dan!  {Kid's tv show if you're wondering!}

 Thankfully we toured most of the museum before Jackson walked up on the kids' play area.  We spent the rest of our time there and he loved it!!

 He wasn't so sure about this swinging bridge . . . he held on, bit his nails, and walked slowly!!

 And when it was time to leave, some little boy wasn't so excited.  At least until we hit the gift store and bought a blue snake.

Bubbles!!

I'm not sure why it took 20 months, but a few weeks ago Katherine had her first bubble bath!  Needless to say, she loved it!!

 I think she's had bubbles every night since and hasn't grown tired of them yet!

'Twas the Week After Christmas

I'm finally getting around to posting our Christmas pictures!  I'm not sure what we've been doing over the last week, but it feels like we've been busy!  Anyway, I'll get to the pictures. 

This picture below was typical of my attempt to get a picture of the two of them in front of the tree.  We were slow placing gifts under the tree since a certain little girl liked to rip name tags off or just start tearing into them altogether.  In this picture, the same little girl has not fallen off a present, she is just contemplating taking a picture of the floor.

Opening gifts from us on Christmas Eve

They are obsessed with the other's presents, as evidenced by Jackson drooling over Katherine's train.

Jackson woke up Christmas morning to find that Santa remembered to bring the chainsaw he's been talking about!

And a bike (that Katherine loves)!

Katherine feeding her horse.

Grammy and Grandpa are here!

Zach's masterpiece!  It was delicious!!

I walked into the dining room to find barbeque sauce in the creamer of our fine china.  I guess since it was homemade it did deserve a special container.

Katherine playing Jackson's game.  She constantly lays down on the floor like this when coloring or playing his game.  I think she going to love playing school one day!

I'll end on the best picture I could get of the two of them!  We had a wonderful Christmas with our families and are looking forward to this new year! 

Christmas before Christmas

We had Christmas with Zach's family last weekend, so Jackson and Katherine had a jump start on opening presents!  After Emma arrived, we took her and Jackson (Katherine was snoozing) to ride the merry-go-round!  The merry-go-round has been around for generations, and Zach remembers riding it when he was younger.

 That's a vicious looking zebra!

 Emma loves zebras, so they both had to ride the zebra!

Later on, and after our bellies were full, it was time for the presents!!

 Jackson really wanted there to be an ice cream cone in that box!

Oops!  Poor little girl. 

You would think someone would help her in her moment of

disarray rather than take a picture . . . like I said, poor little girl.

"Look, Mama!  A TRAIN!!"

Finally!!  I have my very own cheese!!

 But, wait a second . . . it's not silver!  And it's okay if I drop it?!

 Jackson and Katherine both received cameras. 

There would be constant arguing otherwise.

 After all of the excitement, we had tired babies!

The next day, Jackson and Emma were checking out his new LeapPad.  This was our first experience with trying to get our hands on one of the "hot" gifts of the season, and one of Zach's co-workers actually found it for us.  Poor Katherine has a fit each time she sees it and can't play with it . . . so much so, that just yesterday we decided to buy her something similar for Christmas.  I'm hoping "similar" will satisfy her.

Later that day, Zach and I took Jackson to Auburn.  I love visiting college campuses when we are near one, and I've been bugging Zach to take me to see Auburn for the past year when we're at his parents'.  Zach has said the campus is very pretty, and he was right, even if we did visit in the dead of winter.

 I also wanted to see Toomer's Corner before the trees are gone.

Once we were back to the grandparents', I was outside with Emma, Jackson, and Katherine, when Jackson let me get this sweet picture.

He actually let me get three really good pictures of him and this is my favorite.  For some reason, he only smiles like this for the camera when he is being mischievous.

 

The next morning, it was time to pack up.  While Zach and I were trying to figure out where to put all of the new toys in the car, the three amigos were playing and jumping on the bed.

 As well as riding on their horses.

Katherine loves this little one and is becoming a daredevil.

When she gets to really riding, for some reason she makes this little face!

  

As usual, we had a wonderful time, and the babies had an even better time!