Christmas 2010

We were blessed with a wonderful Christmas this year. Madeline and Kyler truly enjoyed all their gifts and the holiday festivities. The weather was great for travelling, although Madeline was really hoping for a "White Christmas."



Kyler asked Santa for a Bumblebee Transformer. He was very disappointed when he got off his lap that Santa didn't give it to him. Didn't quite understand the ask now and he brings it later concept!


Obviously this was something Madeline really wanted!


Thanks Santa for the Bumblebee!


Waiting in pure anticipation.


Playing the new games they got. Kyler was really excited that he got a game system just like his sister. He can keep himself very busy playing his Mobigo.


After several hockey games in the living room we decided to get Kyler a goalie mask and stick. He was so excited! Of course they are from our favorite team, the Penguins.


Both kids got robes from Santa.



Both kids enjoyed making gingerbread houses at Grandma Great's Christmas party. They put much thought in making the perfect house.



Our church Christmas program was so cute this year. Both kids participated and Kyler really got into the performance. Let's just say that we are glad we have it on tape!


Madeline began taking guitar lessons in April. She played during the prelude of the church Christmas program. She is doing quite well at it.


Madeline's school Christmas program

Halloween 2010

Madeline and Kyler once again enjoyed their Halloween. Kyler was a Green Bay Packer. He even took some time during his trick-or-treating to show us his three-point stance. Madeline dressed as a referee. She was very willing to throw the flag on her brother throughout the night! We enjoyed our trick-or-treating with some close friends. The kids also challenged Travis this year with two pumpkins to carve.

Hockey

For a Travis' birthday we took him to St. Louis to see his favorite hockey team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, play the St. Louis Blues. It was a beautiful fall day so we took in the Gateway Arch. The kids really enjoyed going to the top. I can't say mom and dad enjoyed it as much. The hockey game was great! We had close seats to the ice and enjoyed seeing all our favorite players. On the way home we made a stop by the University of Missouri to continue our Big 12 Tour from our Texas vacation. As a Jayhawk fan it was difficult to put myself in a picture with a Missouri Tiger!

Monster Trucks

Travis took Kyler to Salina to ride in a Monster Truck. Of course Kyler loved every minute. He got to watch as they removed the small tires and put the "big" tires on the truck.

First Day of School

Madeline started school as soon as we returned from our trip. She is very excited to be in the fourth grade and to be the "top dog on campus" (at least until the new school is done). This year she is in the church parish center instead of a mobile unit. In January she will be moving to our new school building.

Washington, D.C.

Travis had a conference in Washington, D.C. this August so Madeline and I tagged along to see the sights. We had a great time touring the city. Much of our days were spent walking from sight to sight. We became pretty good at getting around on the Metro system. We took so many pictures but here are some highlights from the trip.




We took in all the memorials, Supreme Court Building and arranged for tours of the White House and the Capitol.







We spent one day visiting Mt. Vernon. It is a beautiful estate and to think that one of our greatest men lived and walked the same grounds we were on was humbling.



We visited Arlington Cemetary and watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.




There is a beautiful memorial at the Pentagon for the victims of September 11. For each victim they have constructed a bench with a reflection pool underneath. Madeline placed a flower in the pool of the two children that were killed.






The Holocaust Museum was quite an experience. Madeline and I had the opportunity to visit with a Holocaust survivor. She was from Poland and was thirteen when the Holocaust began.




Madeline liked seeing the ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz in the American History Smithsonian.



One afternoon we went to Georgetown and while there decided to stop by Georgetown Cupcakes. This is the cupcake store that is featured on TLC's show D.C. Cupcakes. We waited in a 30 minute line, but as Madeline said "the cupcake was worth it!"




We ate at a local restaurant known as "Martin's Tavern" in Georgetown. This was the restaurant that John F. Kennedy proposed to Jackie. We had to sit in the "Proposal Booth."

Family Pictures

We updated our family pictures this year with a local photographer in Abilene. He did a wonderful job with the kids and we had a lot of fun. I thought out pictures turned out pretty good! Here are a few.