Quinn Christmas in the Mountains

For Christmas this year part of our gift from Benjamin's parents was a weekend in the mountains. It works perfect for us because Gatlinburg is halfway to MS so it breaks the trip up great for the kids. We left NC on the 20th when we got off work and headed straight for the mountains to meet everyone there.

When we got up the next morning we ate a huge breakfast and then quickly started opening presents because these monkey's below were beyond excited.

Dawson was missing in action for the presents because a nap was in order. ; )



The kids were super excited because part of their gift was to go to a fun park and ride race cars! Although the weather didn't let it happen we found some other fun things to do.





Phillip's fiancé, Destiny, made each of the kids a pillow in her home-ec class and we got Branna one of the beloved loom kits.



The boys all got their own shaving kit! Bottom right: Phillip and Destiny





Another part of our gift was tickets to go to the Dixie Stampede! We were SO excited to go and take the kids.



If you haven't been to the Dixie Stampede, it's a dinner show with horses. While you watch the show they bring you huge portions of dinner. One of the kickers is that they don't give you silverware. If you want some you need to bring your own or you eat with your fingers. ; )

I wish I had taken a picture of the food because they bring each person a whole chicken. Even the kids!



The next morning we headed out to eat at our favorite breakfast joint in Gatlinburg, Pancake Pantry!

Check out Emma Claire's M&M Pancakes with peanut butter syrup. I can attest that the syrup was amazingly good!



Mine and Benjamin's fav - Peach Delight & Chocolate Chip Pancakes. Would you like a little butter with that? ; )



Since the weather didn't permit a trip to the race track we opted to take the kids to an arcade instead. I think their favorite thing was this hurricane simulator. I think you can tell by their faces that they loved it.










Emma Claire and Destiny hit the jack-pot!





Benjamin bought Camp this wallet when we went shopping at the outlets. He loves it and it goes everywhere with him. Isn't that the cutest thing? He even pulled it out when we got to the arcade to see if he had any money in there to play a game. Melted my heart. Needless to say now he has a couple dollars in there.

Thanks Poppa and GG for the trip to the mountains. We LOVED it!

Dixie Stampede!

Christmas Camp 2013

At Christmas Camp this year we set up a gift room where the children were able to go pick out one gift for whoever in their family they wanted to pick one out for. Then the teachers wrapped it up so they could take it home and give their gift away. Dawson was so cute picking his gift out! He chose a blue flashlight for Daddy. : )

He also got to ride in the big stroller for the first time. He LOVED it!



Camp was so proud of the porcelain angel he picked out and gave to Emma Claire. She was quite excited that he chose a gift for her!

I didn't get a picture but Emma Claire did pick out and wrap me a bottle of Bath and Body Works spray and body wash. I actually LOVE it and use it everyday!

December Dance Observation

Emma Claire is in LOVE with dance. Who wouldn't be when you get to do it with your best friends each week. : )

The plan was for her to play coach pitch in the spring but I don't think we are going to be able to pry her away from dance!



Miss Michelle had them grab a partner and teach them how to do jazz squares. Of course her daddy jumped right in! ; )







After they demonstrated a few things they had learned the girls sat down to have a small Christmas party. They had the best time exchanging their goodies!

So thankful she has the opportunity to spend time with these sweet friends each week!

Christmas Card

Here is the Christmas Card we received from Camp that he made at school. I think someone is ready to go to MS!

Early Christmas

I'm gonna have 3 very excited kids when they wake up this am!

 

 

 

Christmas in NC

Because we spend Christmas Day in MS we always make the Saturday before we leave our Christmas morning with the kids.

I think I was more excited than they were this year! I was up early just waiting on them to get up. : )







I couldn't stop smiling from watching their faces and hearing all the shrills as they looked at each gift.







The bottom middle picture is my favorite of Emma Claire. She had been asking since summer for a rainbow loom and was very persistent. She had seen some of the elementary aged children making the rubber band bracelets and just had to have one. I thought that it was just a fad and that she was not old enough to figure out how to make them but she had proved me wrong!

We decided to get her a kit for Christmas but Benjamin hid it away from the other gifts so she was in shock when he told her there was another gift hidden in the drawer.

Love the look on her face!



Dawson and his broom.

For whatever reason this boy loves a broom. If he sees one sitting around he immediately goes to it and tries to sweep. I think he has a little of his daddy in him. ; )





We LOVE Legos!









The kids have really gotten into playing games so for Christmas we decided to get them a couple of new ones that we could play together as a family. I think we played games the whole weekend! ; )

So thankful for these threes kiddos! I was bursting with joy all morning long. I can't even fathom the joy Mary felt as she was holding sweet baby Jesus knowing he was going to be the Savior of the world.

I want to treasure these moments and never let them go!