T-Rex restaurant

Our last stop of the weekend was the T-rex restaurant. This is a pretty cool restaurant. The kids each made a dinosaur and named it. From left to right, we brought home Purple, Katie, Chazey, & Charly.

PJ drying and brushing Purple after his "birth"

Purple right after "birth" being handed to his new "daddy". PJ thought that was pretty cool.

Lily getting Chazey right after her "birth". The kids all had to choose a gender for their dinosaur also. Everyone except Griffyn took home girls.

Lily hid behind Grandma when this live T-rex came around for pictures. I was surprised PJ went up there, but they thought it was fun to get their picture taken with him.

Can't go to KC without stopping at Cabela's

Griffyn is mad b/c he wouldn't listen to the rest of us and spent all his money on something he couldn't use anywhere but the hotel and I wouldn't let him 'borrow' any when we were at Cabela's. Not even $1 so he could play a video game.

After a Hard day swimming

Phoenix didn't even make it to supper... He was out by time we were seated at the restaurant. When he finally woke up after we made it back to the hotel, he chowed down on the leftovers.

Lily was so hungry she was eating everything in sight! It was hilarious watching her eat, especially when she usually eats more like a bird.

Alex wasn't much better. They finally figured out they like ribs. They were covered in BBQ sauce.

Griffyn was just being stupid. He was in a bad mood cause he wanted to stay in the hotel to eat and we walked, *gasp* across the street....

Griffyn conquering his fear

It took quite a bit of cajoling and even some dragging, but we finally got Griffyn on one of the slides. He was super excited when he got off the first time as he had just conquered a pretty big fear. He said maybe next year for the BIG ones. The ones that require the inner-tubes. I was really proud of him as that took a lot of self control on his part to make himself go down that slide when he really didn't want to. One small step for Griffyn, One GIANT step for me!! We might just be able to teach him something yet!

Great Wolf Lodge trip

PJ loved these little slides. But I wasn't supposed to be taking pictures... I got chewed out pretty good for taking a picture while he was trying to slide. He didn't even need anyone to catch him this year.

Griffyn spent most of his time in the bigger kids pool playing basketball and trying to get across the floating pieces of plastic... I got him talked into going down only 1 slide. I'll post those in a few minutes.

Lily preferred the hot tub, but she would go out and play in the smallest pool.

Alex and Daddy in the hot tub, watching the bucket dump on everyone else. Alex did try the big slides with Liz and Grandma, but she didn't want to do it again so it must have scared her. Rick and I went on that one later and it does move fast and it is very dark. I can see why she didn't want to do it again. Plus the one on the front gets dunked just about every time!

Christmas Day

I forgot my camera in the car so it was trying to warm back up... Lily has already lost her camera. We aren't sure what happened to it. We have searched the house to no avail. She doesn't remember what she did with it, but we have the case so whatever it was she did it wasn't to put it up!

Alex is wearing her brand new outfit while opening presents at Chad & Liz's.

Griffyn got his guitar hero, but now he wants the full band cause that is what he has at the swartz's. There is never anything we can do to make that child happy and I think I've about given up trying. It really isn't worth it anymore.

PJ loves is basketball goal. That is one thing he plays with all the time.

This was the look of utter surprise when he 'opened' his gift. He is standing here at my elbow now talking about it and giggling. He remembers how excited he was when he first saw it!

Lily's version of our Christmas morning

Lily got a brand new camera for Christmas and began using it immediately. Luckily, a couple days before Grandpa Harry gave her an 8GB SD card... She took 400 pictures in the first week. I'll post some of her more interesting ones later.
Griffyn had to open his after he got home from the Swartz, but he got a Guitar Hero set for the PS2 which we set up for him downstairs. Him and Rick are having a blast playing that. Although, he still hates to lose...

PJ got an adjustable basketball goal. We didn't wrap it, just covered it and brought it in from it's hiding spot. When we asked what it was, his response was "duh, my football blanket" We had covered it with the blanket he had just gotten from Grandpa Harry. My response was "duh, under the blanket!" He loved it, I think I have a picture on my camera that shows his elation better than what Lily captured.

Lily's self portrait! We have quite a few of these.

The kids got me a picture frame to go with my usual theme.

Dad got some new books on living in Mexico and learning the language. Our retirement plans include moving somewhere very warm.

Christmas with the Chermak's

The kids had to get out their new hot wheels tracks as soon as they were finished opening presents.

The girls were helping Aunt Heidi hand out presents.

The kids opening their new Wii! They are loving it, but I think dad and I play just as often or more than the kids do. I'm looking for a Wii fit now, but alas no one has them in stock. Go figure. But the kids had a blast with Uncle Marvin's.