Childrens Museum

The water area. Madison & Nate. At the end you can see Spencer who set up a water fall of sorts.

We had been to the museum before. But, I had forgotten my camera and it took all adults to TRY to keep track of kids.
  This time was better, much better. All dads came, as well as me and Grandma Connie to enjoy the wonders of the Olympia Children's Museum. If you've never been, you should go. It's like a kids big dream play house!!!
   We got there right when it opened and there were not too many other people there yet! Last time we had to compete with a elementary school that had 3 or 4 class of kids.

  Jesse and Tressa are not early risers and joined us half way through our adventure.


Parker was really enjoy the work area and his wheel barrel and rocks!!

We started out in Big boat and water and quickly  moved to the Work area.  As you can see by photos the kids, big and little, were having a grand time. and we had the area mostly to ourselves.





The miller family in work truck



Madison & Isabell had lots of fun loading rocks on to their shovels.



Ellie happy chill'n with Grandma Connie



This is the sand box area. Spencer and melia w/Parker, Isabell and Mads in back.

Isabell probably would have stayed and played in the sand all day if we hadn't made her move.



Isabell looking up at outline face and hands of her dad, in her workman outfit!



     We later moved on the stage & tree house play area. The kids LOVE this area. Isabell loves to dress up and sing for us. Madison and Peyton love to give people tickets to the show.

Isabell & Peyton singing a song together on Stage



Tressa joined Isabell and Parker had to try to get in on the fun too!



Parker in the tree house with his dad looking in.

  We then went to the food- doctor area, which I had never been to before. This place has everything.  Nate dressed Parker up as a DR and if was so cute!!!!.

 I think Melia has better photos of it. Hopefully she'll post at sometime.

Kitchen area..making us lunch??



Grandma Connie and Ellie ( 6 months)

Not sure words are needed for this fun photo taken in the toddler room.

The place is a bit tight and small. Good news is they are building a much bigger, better one.
Can't wait!! Isabell is the most in to make-believe and she really could go to one area and play for an hour and then go home. come back the next time and just play in another. The rest of the kids seemed to like change the scenery some.



Family hugs!!!!

We ended up in the toddler room. Which was relaxing, because no one could escape. I think we were all suffering from alittle over stimulation and called it quits after 2 hrs and headed out for lunch and naps!!! PS.-  No good pic's of Jesse. He had Brady duty, so was on the move most of the time.

Nate's Birthday- Grandkids

Nate turned 26 this month. Hard to believe they are all getting so old. We had a late Party for him on Friday.



Nate blowing out candles(check out madison's face)

He had angel food cake and Ice cream. everyone came over to wish him a happy birthday.



Madison Loved helping her dad open presents!

 Got some Hemi stuff which he was pretty excited about.

The hemi Man

 Before all the excitement, I tried to do some photos of the Grandkids in their Christmas clothes as we never got this done at Christmas and I really wanted a photo with all  the grandkids in it. It was a very interesting experience with  a 4 month old (ellie) two- 17 month old's( Parker and Brady) two-2.5yrs olds( Madison and Isabell) and a 3.5 yrs old (Peyton). never got a shot with all of them looking at the camera at the same time with a little help from photoshop I did manage to put this together.(I know Erica-I'm working on Madison and will re-post with updated photo.

Madison and Brady were the two hardest to photograph. Peyton sat and held Ellie so cute!! When we told them we were all done, Peyton dump Ellie over on her side and jumped up. We'll have to work with him on, you have to have a an adult take the baby before you try to get up.



 Also, tried to get photos of each family of kids with varing result. I think the kids (and parents) were pretty happy when I put the camera away.

Parker & Brady trying to share the same stool!

Erica and melia



Christmas 2010

 

 After trying to change things up last year to work around everyone's schedules, this year we decided that we were sticking with our normal traditions. That meant a Christmas eve without the Hunts(Melia, Spencer, Isabell and Ellie). It was weird and we missed them. But we still had a good time.  (beware Lots of photos)

  After the Gordon Party, the kids took naps and we worked on finishing up dinner. Tressa did an awesome job with the table. We had Ham and turkey and a new sweet potato dish Tressa made that was really good.



Nate got all decked out for christmas eve!!!

After cleaning up and feeding the kids we settled down for alittle reading to set the mood and remind us why we gather and exchange gifts. The kids are just not quite old enough for this.

 Sitting for the "Christmas story" from the New Testament and Jesse's reading of the "night before Christmas" was a little tough on them.

  So we moved onto the presents. This also didn't go to well. Once they opened a present that was it for them.

Brady was more into his Popsicle than presents. (in all fairness
though he is cutting 5 molars)

Long ago( last year??) we gave each person a present and then opened them one at a time so we could really enjoy the experience and see what every one got.  We let the kids open one more gift, sent them to the family room to play with new toys and watch a movie and the adults settled in for a couple hours of fun and sharing. Was very nice. We let the kids finish their presents as they had an interest for it and saved a few things for Christmas day to open with Isabell.
Doug gave Brady and Parker ( 17 month..ish) Horsey rides on his knee. They loved it!!!

 Everyone headed home to get ready for santa.





Anytime some one lays on the ground. ( here Nate) Parker loves to crawl up on their backs.
he is the  Great conquer.

  The next day seemed more normal. Alesha played Santa for Erica's kids. We had a nice brunch and then opened more gifts.

Isabell in her cute christmas robe!!



Doug bought Melia and Tressa matching footed PJ's. They had always wanted some!!
Aren't they Cute??!!LOL



Brady just being cute

 The boys had to try out Jesse's "Big game hunter" which Peyton loved watch them play.

  Tressa got the Wii dance game, So after left overs, everyone spent the evening trying to out do each other on the Wii. Nate seemed to have a gift for dancing that none of us knew about. He won quite often!!!

   Madison loves to DANCE!! She was really into this game! As you will see she is in most of the shots. Madison spent most of the evening in the living room dancing with all the adults, while the other kids vegged to Dora or Diego. And check out her TV remote she used as a Wii controller so she could be like everyone else.



The boys sporting their Christmas shirts Doug had gotten them all for christmas.

 

 Time for alittle of the Ah-Choo game Jesse plays with the boys. They say AH Choo and he lets them fall down from his legs. they love it!!