ICE!!!...2014

Thanksgiving break started off with a great visit from dear friends from Chicago.  Thomas and Elle were so much fun and it is always crazy to see how much they have changed from each visit.  And now baby Olivia is here so I can't wait to get my hands on her.  One of my favorite part of the holidays is getting to reconnect with old friends (which is becoming more and more accurate these days, the old part I mean!)

It was a tradition in my house growing up and now the tradition continues with my girls...thanksgiving morning in the pjs drinking hot chocolate and watching Macy's!

After breakfast we headed to Arkadelphia for Thanksgiving with my family this year.  

Silly silly girls!!

Best one I could get with at least most peoples eyes open!!

 Thanksgiving 2014

The next morning we were up early and the girls were busting at the seams to head to Dallas.  I had the whole family lined up to go to the Gaylord Texan Hotel for the show ICE!  We got there about lunch time, had lunch and then the girls took to exploring and seeing the sites while the daddies and Pop watched the Razorback game next door! 

Mrs. Claus visiting with the kiddos

 

Everyone gathered around for cookies and milk ready to hear Mrs. Claus read us a book.  She even answered the kids questions and AB had a good one "how does Santa Claus do it all in one night?"  Well she said the world turns and the daytime here is not the same as the daytime in other places so he has much more time than we would think...plus he really doesn't have to move since the world it turning he stays in the same place to make it so much easier!!  Makes sense to me!

Mrs. Clause even showed her silly side too!

Hanging out on the balcony in the hotel room taking it all in.

 

The exhibit was all in color, moving and you followed the entire story all the way to the end.

 

I have seen lots of things in my life but this was a first for me.  ICE SLIDES...these kiddos almost never left.  I fmy fingers hadn't been freezing off I might not have either!  Sooo stinkin cool!

The hotel brings in these ice artists months before the opening to start carving it all and this man was showing exactly how it is done.  So amazing to see the transform of it all...really really impressive.

This was at the end.. the nativity and it was so beautiful to see up close.

 

The whole family all bundled up for the -7 degree temps!!! (even baby J made her appearance

These are 3 cute little Eskimos!!  At least there were a few smiles as we waited the 2 HOURS in line!!  Pop not so much...but he did it!  That is a fete in itself!

Snow tubing in the convention center, oh my!!  I can't tell by the pictures who had more fun Aunt T and Mitch or the kiddos!! 

 

 

 

 Well at least two of them got the idea...

Nighttime in the Gaylord Texan...although the pictures really don't do it justice! 

Oh no..it giant shark...beware of this guy if you go to the Bass Pro  Shops.

The girls even got asked to participate in a little Christmas music for everyone.  They were a wee bit unsure about the whole thing but eventually got into the spirit of things.

These three were ready to take on the famous ice rink at the Galleria..it was just the parents that were the problem.  We were hungry and ready to eat at one of my favorite spots the grand luxe café.

Hugs from the big guy was a great finale to a wonderful trip.  He really let the girls know exactly how much he cared about them and how good he knew they had been all year.

AB was a little shy with the big guy but warmed up to him rather quickly.

And last but not least in these girls heart a visit with Santa Claus!

Next up...the house if full of busy Christmas chatter..and a rather crazy visitor makes his first appearance...