Fun with Family and Friends

We had an outing in Syracuse on Friday and visits with many friends on Saturday and Sunday - a great way to spend the holiday weekend :)  We hope that all of our family and friends are doing well and making time for friends and family!

On Friday, we took the kids to Get Air, a trampoline park, and Amy jumped too!
Surf board Ayson


All three As in one shot!


Afterwards, we killed some time in Gander Outdoors and checked out each camper on display.  The sales person left Amy alone but was at Adam's heels - hahaha!


We told the kids to save their $$$$!


On Saturday, both kiddos had a friend over and then we had a surprise visit from our friends that had moved to VT, Sunshine, Jeremy, Khanlen, and Mikhan!!!  Since our neighbor, Natalie, is also friends with Mikahn, Amy invited Natalie and her mom over too!  We had a house full for the afternoon:)

Ayson and Grady doing a Bean Boozled Challenge.  The Ladies declined to participate.


Ayson selected a stink bug jelly bean - gross!!!


Addie and Kenzi jumped on the trampoline


and played with the barn animals before Mikhan and Natalie arrived:)


Ayson and Grady playing an online game with Grady's brother, Carter, who was still at home.


Once the other pictures of the Sunday get together are shared, I will post more:  The Big boys played foosball and talked, the little boys and girls (17 in all) ran around the house and the ladies spent the evening catching up and laughing :)




LOOK at all of the kids!  This does not include the 2 teenagers.


and the adults.


The girls :)

Merry Christmas!

A^4 has been enjoying time together relaxing, playing, and going for hikes!  There are so many pictures that I decided to do a blog post now so that Sunday's post is not a novel :)  We hope that all of our family and friends enjoyed Christmas and time with each other!  Merry Christmas!!!!

Santa came by our house on Monday night at 9:45 pm.  Thankfully the kiddos did not have to go to school the next day!


The kiddos working on the houses that Neighbor's Gianna and Jo gave to them :)




Saying our goodbyes to Elvin


Shadow watching the Fin!


Christmas Eve hike in the orchard


The kids had fun throwing rocks onto the ice in an attempt to break the ice




Getting ready for Santa!


Busy Santa!!


The kiddos waited patiently until 7 am to get us up to go downstairs


Ayson is all smiles for a charger


Addie's Feisty Pet


Blank comic books


The wrapping paper on Addie's picture to us:)




Best. Christmas. Ever!


Ayson pumping his first


Hi Thunder!


Addie and her hover board


First ride


Putting up the star


After lounging for the morning, we went for a hike (and played hide and seek) at Baltimore Woods




Working on a puzzle


After one day, Addie is now an expert hover boarder!


After dinner, we played Bean Boozled - a kid request and gift from Santa and it was so GROSS!!!  Will you eat a buttered popcorn jelly bean or a bugger jelly bean?  A tuity fruity jelly bean OR a jelly bean that tastes like a dead fish?!?!  No joke.  How about sweaty socks or dog food?!?!?  The gross tasting jelly beans did not smell bad until they were chewed and the smell of the dead fish that Amy ate - and spit out- was SO bad that it made Ayson gag AND vomit all over the floor - loosing his dinner of choice - hot dogs.  ugh!!!  None of us will be playing Bean Boozled anytime soon - gag!


Thursday was a repeat of Wednesday: good food, toys/playtime, lounging, and a hike!
Clark Reservation State Park


Addie on look out for the boys during our game of hide and seek


Our snow mountain climbers :)

Last Week of School and First Winter Hikes

The kiddos had a fund week of Spirit Week at school: Crazy sock and hat days and Friday was Pajama Day!!  Plus they did their weekly exercises in order to get another set of tickets for the drawing on Friday (they did not win BUT a classmate of Addie's did win :)  The kids were SO excited to not have to go anywhere early on Saturday morning and they are looking forward to sleeping in while on Break for TWO weeks:)  We hope everyone is taking time to relax and enjoy time with family and friends!

The kiddos showing off their certificates from Grandpa Roger and Grandma Pat - round trip tickets to visit them in Orange Beach, AL :)  Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma!!


Shadow grooming Adam Thursday morning




Addie's 2nd grade class getting ready for their play on Thursday






Addie as a Cat


Addie as a flower


A friendly reminder on the wall :)


Hi Addie!


The kiddos after the play


Cat Addie and Amy


Flower Addie and Amy


On Friday, Adam attended Holiday Sing and Ayson was hamming it up with his friends


Hi Santa!


Addie's song: Rudolf


Ayson's song: 12 Days of Christmas


Ayson's holiday party and gift exchange






A walk at Pratts Falls on Saturday


A frozen Butternut Creek


Plenty of snow on the trees


Good thing that blob of snow did not go down Addie's back!


Ah, a break with hot chocolate and snacks!





On Sunday we walked to the "Tippy Top" at Labrador- it was either hiking to the top on Sunday or Christmas day and the kiddos chose to get the "hard" walk over before Christmas :)

One of many breaks


Keep walking!


We did it!!!!




Snacks with a view!


Ayson rolling down the hill on the way back down.


Of course we had to check out Tinker Falls!  We even watched a huge section of ice break free and crash down due to the sun and warming temps.


Addie requested a girls only picture :)