Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa

  It was time again for the kids annual Gingerbread house weekend at Grandma and Grandpa's house and they were so excited! I think not only because they get to eat lots of candy and get very spoiled, but they LOVE this weekend and the memories and traditions that it brings.
*All of these pictures are from Hayley, I sent her with my camera and instructions that I needed pictures for our blog. Thank goodness for digital cameras, there were 10 pictures of herself, she is SO my daughter. I included one just to keep her from melting down and also because she is so darn cute*

Coloring contest for Grandpa's work

Dinner at non other then Frisch's Big Boy after selecting their names from the Angel Tree.  The kids will only go there with Grandma/Grandpa, we are told that they can't eat there any other time!

Saturday morning, Grandpa took the kids to Krispy Kreme (told you lots of sugar and spoiling) and they met up with Grandma at Target to shop for their angels. The kids get so excited about doing this each year, the fact that they understand and get to help those who are less fortunate is such a blessing and something that we as parents try to help them understand. It's easier now that they are older and they are always helping us look for places where we can help out. Its more a blessing to us then anything!

Hunter chose a 9 year old boy, Andrew, and he had a blast shopping for him. He chose a big puffy jacket, cool hat/gloves, play clothes, dress clothes, socks, underware and a hot wheel, 

Hayley chose a 7 year old girl, Kayla, who was bought: a dress with tights, jacket, gloves/hat, jewelry, socks and underware and jammies

I have to smile at this picture, when I asked the kids what this was they told me "they were getting ready all the Nativity scenes and telling Keegan the Christmas story" so precious!

All the loots and goodies out and awaiting the chaos of the Gingerbread House build of 2011.

Hayley's masterpiece

Hunter's masterpiece:

Hayley, Hunter and Keegan with their masterpieces

Each year the kids go with Grandma to Hallmark to pick out a special ornament. This is pure chaos and excitement, much more then I can handle. I went one year and was totally stressed out after that I can't do it again. Mom is so good with them, she just lets them touch, choose and change their minds 10,000 times before making their final selections.

This year winners are:

DJ SC (a rapping Santa)

and a football player (De Marcus Ware)

These three are a mess and have so much fun together. I am so thankful that they get along (for the most part), love, laugh, create memories and are as close as they are. The constant laughter when they are together is more then I can take, often keeping me in tears from their random comments. How could you not just eat them up and spoil them rotten?

A quick stop to Sweet and Swirly after dropping off Angel Tree loot and  heading home

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa for a fun filled weekend, we love you and are so thankful that we could spend some quality time with you having fun and making memories. Hope we didn't wear you out too badly. See you on the 17th!!