Christmas presents from Grandma Cam and Grandpa Don

On New Year's Eve, four packages were delivered--all addressed to Zac. We knew they were the Christmas presents from his mom and Don, but we told the kids it must be presents all for Zac. 

So they were pretty happy when we opened the boxes and they found presents addressed to them.

Last day of the year - at Durham Museum of Life and Science

2018 was a rough year in so many ways.  But we made it through!  On the last day of this dreadful year, it was rainy but warm. After an interesting breakfast and a science kit project, I took the kids to Durham for the afternoon.

Zac let Alice pick her own breakfast: sausage, quesadilla, peas.

Then she did some sciency stuff  with Zac while I got ready.

Then we drove to Durham.  We played inside for a bit, then walked to the cafe for lunch.

The kids played at the dinosaur for a while. Alice mainly climbs the parasaurolophus, while Simon likes to climb the rock wall behind it.

We spent a long time at the sailboats today. There was barely any breeze, but the kids liked taking the push poles and bumping the sailboats back out.

We spent a lot of time in the bug house too.  Here the kids are trying to convince butterflies to land on them. It didn't work.

They have a really cool chrysalis display where you can see the butterflies hatch.

Millipedes...

The stuff of nightmares

Ant colony

Honey bees!

We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful place so close.  I never get tired of going there.

Binoculars, balancing, and boats

I don't know what prompted it, but Alice requested the binoculars this morning, and has spent some time looking at things.

Then Zac took the kids to Marbles for the day. I stayed home and got stuff done, like laundry.

That evening we watched the movie Ponyo together as a family. It's Alice's namesake movie (we called her Ponyo when she was still in utero). The movie is based on The Little Mermaid. It's about a stubborn fish that wants to be a girl and loves ham. So, basically Alice.

Christmas with the Arcaro-Burbridges

On Saturday, Zac's dad's family came over to celebrate Christmas with us. We had lasagna and homemade bread for supper and exchanged gifts.

Simon had fun playing with his new drone.

Alice had fun doing some of the science experiments from a book we got Eleanor for Christmas.

Yates Mill Pond with Izzy & Natasha

On Saturday morning I took the kids to the ever-beautiful Yates Mill Pond county park for a hike with Izzy and Natasha. Normally we do a fall hike here every year, so we're a little bit late this year, due to surgical circumstances.

These kids have known each other since they were babies and now they're seven years old and still friends. I love it.

 

Simon is in a phase where he wants me to take his picture All. The. Time. I won't lie; I love it.

This is our favorite tree on the hike and we stop here every time.

Third wheel? What third wheel?

Queens and King of the mountain! (or dung hill as my kids always refer to them, as if they were dung beetles)

This swing up by the teaching farm provided a lot of entertainment.

In 2019, may we all feel like Izzy on a swing with a bag of potato chips.

Natasha and Izzy showed us a whole other part of the trail that we'd never been on before. It was extra swampy from all the rain for the past couple of days, which actually made it quite fun.

A few bright red fall leaves still clinging on their tree...good luck!

We had a nice picnic after our hike.

Then we went in the building for a bit, before departing.

What a fun day! I love being outdoors, hiking, talking with friends. What a nice life I have as a bag lady.  (-:

How It's Made

Friday morning, with the grandparents gone, Simon conscripted Zac into a game of Go Fish and resoundingly beat him.

Later, Simon wanted to make his own "How It's Made" videos showing how to construct things out of play-dough. I just love how serious he is about it.

Last Day with the Grandparents

Every parent's dream: Christmas presents that keep the kids occupied.

Of course it helps to have a patient playmate.

Thursday was the last day of my parents visit.  The plan was for them to watch the kids while Zac and I went on another quest for house furnishings. Stana was also going to take Alice to see Mary Poppins Returns at the movie theater in the afternoon.

Zac and I had a fun outing. We didn't get this painting, but we're always looking for art for our "tree wall" that we will one day have in the living room.  That day will be when the kids stop climbing on the couch like maniacs.

We went to a cool store where we finally made a decision and ordered a dining room light, and got inspiration for our foyer light (which we would buy much cheaper online.)

And we also think we found some low-profile chairs for our living room in front of the window!

Meanwhile, the kids were having fun at home. Simon apparently played with Elli (the neighbor girl).

And this new garage game looks fun...

A final game of Go Fish before supper.

We all went to bed early since some of us had to wake up at 3:30 in the morning to go to the airport for the grandparents 5:30am flight out. What a nice visit we had!