ICE ice baby!

We took Drew to see ICE this year at the Gaylord.  I just love walking around the Gaylord during Christmas every year and this year we added ICE.  I was excited because it was the Nutcracker and walking through they said it also had scenes from New York in there and umm, that's the 2nd best place on Earth to me so I was really excited!

 

 

I think Drew was a little overwhelmed with all the huge ice sculptures and the freezing cold.  He loved the slide and went back a few more times! 

Weekend Getaway

This weekend, we did a getaway as one of our last ones as a family of three.  We took Drew to the Great Wolf Lodge.  He has been asking to go swimming randomly and I was excited when the day had come that we could take him and not just to a pool but a whole indoor water park.  I didn't know what to expect from the resort, what all he could do, and how he would react to all of it.  He has gone through a phase and he will tell you he's scared.  I think Saturday night was a bit overwhelming, it was new and there were ALOT of kids there.  The place was a little much for all of us but we kept playing and having fun.  We arrived and we straight to the pool an played until dinner time.  Drew loved the yellow slide, mini green slide, and jet ski's.  We couldn't get him to do much of anything else. 

After swimming we went and changed clothes to grab something to eat.  We ate at a restaurant inside the Great Wolf Lodge.  Drew got to watch the airplanes come and go from their big windows while we waited for our food. 

The next morning we headed back out to the pool.  The pool had less people and was more of what we all had pictured.  Drew had warmed up to the idea of what was around him and took off like he owned the place.  He even tried the blue twisty slide that he was scared of the night before.  We actually couldn't get him off and he started just going up the stairs and doing it himself without daddy walking him up there.  He didn't know how to wait in line and we tried telling him to wait.  He would get to the top and tell the lifeguard where he was going and take off. 

We dried off around lunchtime and went inside to grab some pizza and head home for a good long nap.  We took some pictures around the place since the crowds weren't as bad.  Drew kept asking to see the "wolf" because that's all he could remember from the name of the hotel when I told him where we were going.  We did some characters and he gave them a high five but didn't want a picture with them. 

Overall we had a great time!  We plan to make another visit at some point but it will be awhile and baby brother will need to be old enough to join in on the fun!

Operation Christmas Child

Drew got to help shop for his 2nd year to do Operation Christmas Child.  This is something I did as a kid and love that he gets to do it too.  Every time we went shopping, I told him this was for his friend in Africa.  I'm not sure where they go but Africa sounded good.  He loves friends, everybody is his friend, so this helped out.  Of course, one thing his friend got, he needed too! 

So, off we went shopping with a list in mind of what we did last year and things we thought our 2-4 year old friend would like.  It was fun and daddy got to join in on the shopping this year too!

We then came home and put the box together.

I traced Drew's hand (it was a permanent marker so I was a little careful not to get it on him) on the inside of the lid.  His hands look a little chubby but his friend won't care.  We filled the box to the max and then Drew wanted a picture.  We tried many times and he kept shaking it.  We also pray for our friend at night.  We sure hope he loves all his goodies he will be getting soon for Christmas!

Halloween

I took the day off to go to Drew's school for a few events they had for Halloween.  The morning started off with a parade.  They walked around their school twice and then into chapel.  He was so excited to see me amongst all the parents.  The picture is blurry but worth it.

Practicing in the classroom

Found momma!

After the mini parade they went to chapel and I had some free time which I had no idea what to do with myself.  I am not use to that.  I came back for lunch with his friends and his little Halloween party.

 

 

 

Halloween night our church always has Trunk or Treat and we have always done a trunk to pass out candy.  We missed a few years because of Drew being so little and then Jason's work schedule.  This year Drew helped pass out the candy and did really good until he went to the trunks and he thought he could pick what candy he wanted.  We will work on that!

 

 

 



Happy Halloween 2013!

Fire Station Open House

Grapevine's Fire Station Open House was today and Drew and I ventured out to see what it was all about.  Drew loves to see fire trucks when we are driving around, and school buses, and garbage trucks, and ice cream trucks, and trains.  The kids likes it all but today was all about fire trucks! 

They had all their fire trucks lined up and I was sure he would want to touch one but he told me he was scared.  We went in and looked around at all the festivities.  Grabbed a few cool freebies, watched a clown show, and of course ate a hot dog! 

When leaving we stopped by all the trucks again and go a few pictures but he still wouldn't go to close to them.  He enjoyed the event, I think and still loves fire trucks...from afar!

Baby #2 is a ....

When we first found out we were having "Baby #2" we talked about names.  We decided that night on both a girl and a boy name.  We decided not to tell anybody to keep away from thoughts/reactions and just for fun. 

Last Friday I told my students that I was pregnant.  I told them I was going to teach them how to play a game to work on spelling (hangman).  The phrase was "I am having a baby".  Both classes read the sentence and looked surprised.  I explained to them it was going to be awhile and I was going to have my baby at the end of February.    One didn't understand why I was going to be out for a few weeks at the end of February after having my baby.  Just like with Drew, I had my students guess what they thought I was having.  They all signed a poster and we kept it up until I told them. 

We found out what we were having Monday afternoon.  We then went to dinner with some friends that insisted on finding out together and couldn't wait until I figured out how to tell them.  I had some ideas but gave in to the idea of a dinner.  As much as I love throwing parties for others, putting something together for myself was weird to me.  Plus, our schedules are really busy and we just couldn't plan anything elaborate.  I had a sweet friend plan the location and it worked out great.  Very low key but fun as always. 

Jason and I came up with the idea of making scratch offs for everybody to find out on their on.  I wanted to do something different then what most do.  All but three people guessed girl.

I then had dinner with some co-workers Thursday night and all but one thought it was a girl.  They scratched off the answer to see what we were having.

I finally got to tell my students on Friday.  The class was so anxious to find out and just couldn't wait any longer.  I told them what I was having and the ones that guessed correctly were so excited.  One little girl told me that she told her sister on the phone who's in college that I was having a baby and her big sister guessed a boy. 

So for the reveal...we are having a .....

 

Drew is going to have a baby brother.  Camden Lee Cate will make his debut around February 24th.  We are so excited and can't wait to meet him!

Preschool

Drew started preschool this year and couldn't be happier.  He loves to learn and play with friends. 

I didn't get to get any more pictures of him that day because he walked right in and went to play, like he owned the place.  I hear that he is a friendly person and has to say goodbye to all the teachers before leaving with his sitter in the afternoons.  My biggest worry was him napping there and he has had complete success.  They work on a letter a week and a color and shape per month.  I can't wait to go to his Halloween party and see his cute Thanksgiving feast that are both coming up.