Santa's Letters Came Today!

Sitting on Santa's lap was only fun for Laura (who recited her ENTIRE list to him)

Kiddos after reading thier letters

 

I know Luke's expression does not show his excitement, but it was there before I turned on the camera. The kids wrote letters to Santa for the first time this year, and we have been checking the mail everyday waiting on his response. Well, today was the day! The kids grabbed their letters and ran back into the house. Then we opened our letters to find that both kiddos made the good list (they got a sticker saying they made it). They also recieved a Santa dollar (which made Luke's day). Then we read their letters while looking at their autographed picture of old Santa himself. They couldn't believe how much Santa knew about them. Luke wanted to know how he knew about Otis. I had to sit and laugh at their curiosity. We even looked at the envelope it came in which was postmarked from the North Pole.

Laura's letter from Santa

Luke's letter from Santa

Fun Days

Abby grilling us some dinner

Abby waiting on her snack

Laura and Abby playing animals together

 

These days don't feel like the normal December days. The kids are spending a little bit of time outside each day, and ALOT of play time inside.

Laura playing with her Little People

Laura with her new favorite snack (pickles)

Luke smiling for the camera

Luke watching his cartoon

It's Zoo Time!

 

Today was a post call day for Greg, so he asked the kids if they wanted to go to the zoo. They started running around screaming so we had no choice but to go to the zoo. The weather was beautiful and the zoo was empty (a great combo). Luke and Laura ran around all day looking at animals and imitating their sounds. It was so fun to watch. They are growing up to fast. Abby went along for the ride with no complaints. Then to top it all off, they got McDonalds for lunch and a little play time at Gmas.

Today was a post call day for

Luke playing PacMan

We set up the little TV in Lukie's room so he could play his video games, and the rest of us could have some piece and quiet.

Crazy nights

Abby posing for the camera

Laura bug playing with Luke's pop gun

Luke playing his "bideo games" in his room.

Lazy days

Abby loves her boo boo

 

Abby in the ball pit

 

We have had some lazy days at the Ross house. Today was no different. Greg set up the old playstation for Luke to play his "bideo games". If I would have known that he would have been so excited, I would have wrapped this up for Christmas. I know that sounds bad, but he is in seventh heaven. I haven't heard a peep out of him for over an hour. The girls are loving it too. Abby played in the ball pit for as long as I could, and Laura played in the ball pit with Abby and then made them a snack in her Dora kitchen. Then she had a tea party with her daddy.



Abby and Laura playing in the ball pit

Laura cheesing for the camera

Lukie playing "bideo games" with daddy

Lakeside Weekend

Abby loves to smile for the camera

 

We decided to take time out this weekend and go spend some time at the lake house. It was such a nice weekend. Ashley and I spent the warm weather shopping at the outlet mall while the guys went fishing (and my mom watched the kiddos). Retail therapy is so nice and relaxing. Then we all came home and spent some fun times together. Even though the weather took a bad turn Sunday and Monday, the kids still found time to throw rocks in the water and fish off the dock (or in the tub).

Laura was ready to go fishing, but the 20 degree weather was discouraging

Luke didn't let the rain stop him from fishing

Chuckee Cheese!

Abby enjoyed the pizza.

Abby got to ride some of the little rides.

Abby wasn't to happy to see the big mouse!

Luke riding the bike ride.

Laura tried to ride the bike, but she was to short.

 

We took the kids to Chuckee Cheese for the first time. They LOVED it. They ran around for a straight 2 hours playing games and eating their pizza. It was nice because they had things that they could actually play and enjoy. It was so fun watching them. Abby is still a little to young for all of this, but she enjoyed watching everyone run around. She also nibbled on the remaining pizza.

Laura high "5"ing the mouse.

Luke liked the horse ride.

He really liked the dynamite dog game.

Luke had to warm up to the mouse.

Thank You Grammy and Paw Paw

Luke and Laura love to check the mail. We take it out every morning, and always go out and check it in the afternoon. Well, did they ever get a big surprise today. When they opened up the box, they found letters to them. Each one of them grabbed their card, and ran back to the door. When we got back inside, they sat on the couch and opened up their mail. This is how it went.





Halloween fun

The very first house Luke and Laura went up to and said "Trick or Treat".

 

Shaggy and Scooby fighting over candy.

Minnie Mouse

Laura after trick or treating and eating lots of candy

The treat bags my mom had made for the kids.

 

This Halloween was so much for both the kiddos and adults. This was really the first year the kids went trick or treating to numerous houses (and said Trick or Treat to people). Greg's little brother has a house in a huge neighborhood, so all the Ross's, Branson's, and Downey's suited up for the night and went door to door. We were a funny sight to see, and many figured out real quick we were all newbees when it came to trick or treating. Some stayed behind to pass out candy, but 7 adults and 8 kids ventured out into the night (along with a case of beer and 2 wagons). It was a blast. We were out for a total of an hour and a half going door to door. Lukie figured out real quick if he went first and then stayed around he got double to candy. Laura realized that most people gave out suckers. So she would ask for "suckers please", and then run it to Greg or myself and say open. She was trying to eat all her candy before we made it back to Uncle Boog's. Then we all made it back to Boog's house, and ate from the tons of food that we all had brought. Then the kiddos all played in the front yard, and we hung out by the fire. We left for home around 9:30, and all three kids were out like a light before we got home. They didn't even wake up while we got them out of their costumes. It was a GREAT way to spend Halloween.

My little pink poodle

Gma and Gpa with all the grandkids

Grammy (minus PawPaw) and the grandkids

Minnie and pink poodle off trick or treating