The amount of detail that goes into this exhibit is absolutely amazing. You would see kids swinging on the rock cliffs overlooking the San Fransisco Bridge, ice skaters on a pond in Washington D.C., and little train engineers working on an engine.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
NORTHPARK TRAINS 2011
Well I think the Northpark Mall Train exhibit is becoming a tradition in the Wieland Family. This year Charlie was able to go with us too. We actually went with one of Zach's friend's family. Zach and his friend had a blast running from one exhibit to the next and even followed a train throughout the entire exhibit. It was so much fun to watch! I truly am enjoying this age of independence and wanting to play with friends. Zayne tolerated it for a bit was ready to go after about 20 minutes.
The amount of detail that goes into this exhibit is absolutely amazing. You would see kids swinging on the rock cliffs overlooking the San Fransisco Bridge, ice skaters on a pond in Washington D.C., and little train engineers working on an engine.
The amount of detail that goes into this exhibit is absolutely amazing. You would see kids swinging on the rock cliffs overlooking the San Fransisco Bridge, ice skaters on a pond in Washington D.C., and little train engineers working on an engine.
WIELAND FAMILY CHRISTMAS 2011
We drove back this year to the Wieland Family Christmas 2011. Let's just say that we wish Zayne traveled as well as Zachery, but we made it! We also took a more direct route this year, which was more scenic and had more highways (so you didn't get bored) and about 30 minutes shorter. The boys had a blast visiting and reconnecting with their cousins, uncles, aunts, and of course grandma and grandpa! We had the Christmas Party at a venue out at Swan Lake, which started last year. It is perfect. The kids were able to run around and explore the different nature exhibits. As you can see Zayne enjoyed kissing and hugging a stuffed bobcat, which originally had the hat that he is wearing in the second picture. Zayne was also very busy playing in the kitchen, sweeping and mopping at the same time and then punching numbers on the microwave. I think Charlie and I were very grateful for all the aunts, uncles, and cousins that were willing to watch him periodically so we could eat and socialize a bit, Zayne is very busy!! I think the funniest thing that happened while we were there was Zachery. Apparently he told Charlie "I have to go poop". So they headed to the bathroom. A few minutes go by and Charlie asks "How is it going? Are you almost done?", Zachery says "Yes, I am all done." Charlie asks if he needs to be wiped. And Zachery said no. So Charlie says "Well I thought you had to go poop?". Zachery says "Well, I think my bottom changed its mind". Oh my!!! I just wonder sometimes what goes through his mind :)
I wish I remembered to bring my camera to the Party, but forgot, so glad Charlie had his phone and was able to at least take a couple of photographs! There were so many cute photographic moments between Zachery playing with one of his cousins to playing Bingo to opening presents. All precious!!
We left early Sunday morning to get back home. Our poor kids had to deal with driving straight through until we got home ... 11.5 hours. They actually did pretty good! Oh, I almost forgot that Charlie and I get to assist in the party planning next year! How is exciting is that?!!!
I wish I remembered to bring my camera to the Party, but forgot, so glad Charlie had his phone and was able to at least take a couple of photographs! There were so many cute photographic moments between Zachery playing with one of his cousins to playing Bingo to opening presents. All precious!!
We left early Sunday morning to get back home. Our poor kids had to deal with driving straight through until we got home ... 11.5 hours. They actually did pretty good! Oh, I almost forgot that Charlie and I get to assist in the party planning next year! How is exciting is that?!!!
Sunday, January 01, 2012
NEW YEARS EVE 2011
After our long nap, we went outside in the backyard to play. Some of the neighborhood girls came over and Wyatt our neighbor came over to play too. Then our neighbors stayed for dinner, which we ate on our picnic table. After dinner we decided to have a fire in the backyard. I had sparklers left over from the Fourth of July that the kids had a GREAT time waving in the air, saying "Happy New Year"! After that, Zach and Zayne put on their headlamps and chased each other around the yard. It was so much fun to watch!! All the laughter and joy, truly blessed my heart!! I hope that you all have a wonderful 2012!!
ARBORETUM 2011
I had purchased tickets to the Arboretum sometime ago and the tickets expired on December 31, 2011. So I decided to take the kids to the Arboretum on New Years Eve to check out the forts and castles. Zachery has been talking about building a fort for about 6 weeks now and has even drawn a picture and made instructions on how to make it. So this gave me a chance to look at other forts and get some ideas on the type of fort that we can make in our backyard this summer, hopefully. The one stipulation that I have heard Zachery say is that it has to be big enough to sleep in, because he wants to sleep out there ... of course!!
Anyways, upon arrival and at the ticket counter the clerk proceeds to point out that the ticket was only good Monday through Friday. So as I was about to turn away and go home, thinking this is a blessing because Zayne had fallen asleep on the way down there and knowing how tired he was this was a GREAT opportunity to go home and put him to bed. The clerk says "Now before you get all mad ..." Really, I wasn't mad sort-of thinking that this is a relief, but I must have had a look on my face that seemed like I was mad. Well he honored the price of the ticket and let us in on the price of a kids ticket, which was expensive. We enjoyed running through all the forts, then ate lunch, then walked through only 2 of the Fair Tale Castles, the Little Mermaid and Jack and the Bean Stalk. Then we went home and had a very long nap!!
Anyways, upon arrival and at the ticket counter the clerk proceeds to point out that the ticket was only good Monday through Friday. So as I was about to turn away and go home, thinking this is a blessing because Zayne had fallen asleep on the way down there and knowing how tired he was this was a GREAT opportunity to go home and put him to bed. The clerk says "Now before you get all mad ..." Really, I wasn't mad sort-of thinking that this is a relief, but I must have had a look on my face that seemed like I was mad. Well he honored the price of the ticket and let us in on the price of a kids ticket, which was expensive. We enjoyed running through all the forts, then ate lunch, then walked through only 2 of the Fair Tale Castles, the Little Mermaid and Jack and the Bean Stalk. Then we went home and had a very long nap!!
AROND THE HOUSE IN DECEMBER 2011
As you can probably imagine December has been an extremely busy month! Or I should say it was an extremely busy month. I wasn't sure where to but the ginger bread house, but we actually attempted to make one from a kit this year. I am not sure how people make these things, it is very difficult. But we had fun all the same. Zachery decorated the snowman with a jet pack as I attempted to put the house together with the frosting they gave us. It kept falling apart, but I was finally able to get it to stay together so we could decorate it. One of Charlie's Christmas presents came after Christmas .... of course it had tons of peanuts! The boys had a blast playing in it and I kept pulling my hair out thinking, how are we going to clean this up??? Yes, the boys HAD to help me pick it up ... it wasn't a fun time but it all got done.
My last week of work for Argus was the last week of December, it was a difficult time to say goodbye to all my friends at the Airport but it has been a very smooth transition!! I thoroughly enjoy being home with the boys and absolutely love my new position and job at ProGEA, Inc. The boys seem to have taken to their new nanny, Amy, very well. Charlie, I think, is enjoying being back at work full time. I think he has really missed it. He misses us terribly, but we are so thankful that he is taking care of us financially!
My last week of work for Argus was the last week of December, it was a difficult time to say goodbye to all my friends at the Airport but it has been a very smooth transition!! I thoroughly enjoy being home with the boys and absolutely love my new position and job at ProGEA, Inc. The boys seem to have taken to their new nanny, Amy, very well. Charlie, I think, is enjoying being back at work full time. I think he has really missed it. He misses us terribly, but we are so thankful that he is taking care of us financially!
CHRISTMAS 2011
On Christmas Eve I decided to take the boys to Half Price Books in search of the Star Wars movies, which we were successful! After purchasing the movies we sat in the little Cafe and enjoyed a hot chocolate and cookie, it was 10:30 in the morning :) Zayne of course spilled about half of the hot chocolate down the front of him and of course it was a little hot (thank God not hot enough to burn him). But after that adventure we went home, had lunch and took a nap. Well Zayne did. After nap we went to the park. It had been drizzling periodically throughout the day so the slides were a little damp. But Zayne wanted to go down so we went down one of the slides and of course there was a HUGE puddle at the bottom. After playing for about 30 minutes I decided it was time to go home basically because I had one cold and crying kid (Zayne) and very wet pants! The adventures of being a mom of two boys, you just have to get over the dirt and mess! We actually had desert with our neighbors who invited us over for a little bit and then settled down for a movie that evening!
Christmas 2011 was themed Star Wars for Zachery and Elmo for Zayne! Charlie unfortunately had to work this weekend, but we were able to "Face Time" him so he could watch the boys open their presents. We also sent Charlie with a couple of presents so he had something to open on Christmas Day. The boys opened their stockings first when they woke up, then we ate breakfast and started opening presents. The rest of the day Zachery put together Star War Lego's and watched 3 Star War movies. Zayne enjoyed Elmo for a little bit, but then I found him playing in the diaper holder. Then he brought our one of their older toys in order to ride it like a "horse". They both got flashlights/headlamps and Zachery got a watch, which has been fun because he is showing more interest in telling time.
We spent the whole day in our PJ's and ate nothing but bad "stuff", it was GREAT! We all smelled the next day and all took very long showers and baths but it was worth it!! We were able to visit with my parents via Skype, one of my friends came over to visit with us prior to their family Christmas dinner and then we went over to our dear friend's the Baker's house for desert and visit for a bit. It was a very busy day, but tons of FUN!
Christmas 2011 was themed Star Wars for Zachery and Elmo for Zayne! Charlie unfortunately had to work this weekend, but we were able to "Face Time" him so he could watch the boys open their presents. We also sent Charlie with a couple of presents so he had something to open on Christmas Day. The boys opened their stockings first when they woke up, then we ate breakfast and started opening presents. The rest of the day Zachery put together Star War Lego's and watched 3 Star War movies. Zayne enjoyed Elmo for a little bit, but then I found him playing in the diaper holder. Then he brought our one of their older toys in order to ride it like a "horse". They both got flashlights/headlamps and Zachery got a watch, which has been fun because he is showing more interest in telling time.
We spent the whole day in our PJ's and ate nothing but bad "stuff", it was GREAT! We all smelled the next day and all took very long showers and baths but it was worth it!! We were able to visit with my parents via Skype, one of my friends came over to visit with us prior to their family Christmas dinner and then we went over to our dear friend's the Baker's house for desert and visit for a bit. It was a very busy day, but tons of FUN!
SANTA'S VILLAGE 2011
Our annual trip to Santa's Village! We walked up on a Thursday night to the City Center, it was a little chilly that night (as you could probably tell by the way the kids were dressed). Zayne does NOT like being cold! He is also TERRIFIED of "costumes" like Donald Duck, Easter Bunny, Santa Clause. And when I say the word TERRIFIED, I am not over exaggerating! He will literally scream and climb up your neck in order to be shielded from these costumes. Anyways, we had to stay clear of them all ... as you can probably tell the boys were not really into the Village this year, so we went to a couple of houses and went back home to take a hot bath and enjoy hot chocolate!
WEEKEND AWAY
Can you believe Charlie and I have been married 10 years? I know both of us are a little surprised, it seems to have gone so fast. Charlie made this anniversary very special. He surprised me with a weekend get-a-way. He called my boss and told her that I will be taking December 2 and 5 off of work. Then planned for his sister and brother-in-law to came down for the weekend to take care of Zachery and Zayne. That morning he packed our car, yes he even packed my clothes. I didn't have to worry about anything! YIPPPEEEE!! We took off around noon, right after Zayne went down for his nap. We had about a four hour drive to a place in southeast Oklahoma called Rivers Edge Cottages. We were getting close by 4:30pm and it was getting dark, so we saw a convenient store and ordered a pizza, remember this is pack woods Oklahoma. We finally found the small little town called Watson, which if you blinked you would have missed. We followed the directions and turned of the Highway onto a dirt road, which we followed for approximately 2 to 3 miles (maybe less we were driving about 20 mph). Finally after following the signs for Rivers Edge and several turns ... we made it to the main office to get our key. Then wound our way up to our cottage. WOW!! It was beautiful!! We stayed in the cottage called Whispering Heights. Upon arrival there were rose petals leading up to the front door and throughout the cottage. There were windows everywhere so we could have a beautiful view of the Mountain Fork River. The website is below:
http://www.riversedgecottages.com/
We tried to take pictures of this beautiful cottage and area, but they just do not do it justice. So after we ate our semi-cold pizza we just relaxed and listened to complete silence!! The next day we went hiking and canoeing. The canoe ride was very short, but a fun adventure. I think the funniest part of our trip was while hiking the owners dog came to visit and scared us! Yes we jumped when we heard his feet come running up behind us during our hike. We did a puzzle, played Yahtzee, and read. We also went into town for a movie and dinner. At dinner we met a very nice local man. We had a pleasant conversation and then he surprised both of us and bought our meal (without us knowing it, until we asked for our bill). It was a true blessing!
I know I was not ready to go back home! But we both missed our kids and knew that our vacation was going to end at some point. Oh I almost forgot! Charlie gave me a keepsake plate with the date of our 10th year anniversary and four wine glasses with a "W" on them. It was very special! So, thank you Charlie!
http://www.riversedgecottages.com/
We tried to take pictures of this beautiful cottage and area, but they just do not do it justice. So after we ate our semi-cold pizza we just relaxed and listened to complete silence!! The next day we went hiking and canoeing. The canoe ride was very short, but a fun adventure. I think the funniest part of our trip was while hiking the owners dog came to visit and scared us! Yes we jumped when we heard his feet come running up behind us during our hike. We did a puzzle, played Yahtzee, and read. We also went into town for a movie and dinner. At dinner we met a very nice local man. We had a pleasant conversation and then he surprised both of us and bought our meal (without us knowing it, until we asked for our bill). It was a true blessing!
I know I was not ready to go back home! But we both missed our kids and knew that our vacation was going to end at some point. Oh I almost forgot! Charlie gave me a keepsake plate with the date of our 10th year anniversary and four wine glasses with a "W" on them. It was very special! So, thank you Charlie!
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