Chattanooga Aquarium!

 We are so thankful to the Chattanooga Aquarium for offering a free teacher weekend!  Since the snow had melted, we decided to pack up and head to Chattanooga on Saturday, January 19th for a free trip to the Aquarium!  We took a tour of the River Journey first, took a break for lunch, and then explored the Ocean Journey.  We hadn't ever been to the Ocean Journey before.  The River Journey is by far the best of the two!  We like Ripley's in the Smokies Aqaurium so much better than the Ocean Journey in Chattanooga.  The kids did GREAT exploring the River Journey!  Camden was exhausted by the time we toured the Ocean Journey so Courtney and Camden quickly walked through and went onto the gift shop to wander around.    

 Look at these big fish!

 Camden LOVED watching the fish swim around in their tanks! 

 Carter enjoyed watching the otters swim all around!

 Camden was so excited to see "al-gator"!

 Carter liked the alligator too!

 

Aquarium Family Picture!

Snow Day... Day 2!

 What better way to spend a snow day than in the snow!  We had lots of snow to play in the morning of Friday, January 18th.  We dressed in our snow gear for Day 2 of fun!  We all went sledding down the big hill in our backyard.  Carter and Joe had a blast while Camden and Courtney tried it a few times and that was enough.  Several of our neighbor came over to play too!  We had such a great morning in the snow before the sun started melting it.  Thank you God for these wonderful times together as a family!   

 Sand shovels work great in the snow too!

 Carter was so brave going down the big hills all by himself!

 WIPEOUT!

 Camden tried sledding one time and was fine just watching everyone after that!

 Carter decided to use the smaller sled to go down the big hill!

 He woud scream the whole way down with excitement!

 Daddy and Carter tried sledding together!

 Mommy tried going down the hill once and that was plenty!

 Carter loved using his big sand shovel for the snow too!

 Snowball fight!!!

 Watch out!!

 Camden joined in the fun!

 Whee!

A happy snow day family!

Snow Days = Happy Family!

On Thursday, January 17th, school was dismissed early due to snow!  YIPPEE!  With Joe being in administration, he had to stay at school until every student was home.  We wanted to wait on him before we went outside to play.  After dinner, we quickly put on snow clothes and headed outside!  Carter was as snug as a bug in a rug in his snowsuit from Grandaddy and Nanny!  Cater and Joe stayed outside for hours sledding, building a snowman, and rollig all around in the snow!  Camden didn't like feeling like a big marshmallow but she still managed to have fun for a little while!  Courtney ended up taking her inside after about 30 minutes.  We were excited to have school canceled the next day too!  With all the snow falling, we knew we would get to have another fun day together in the snow!      

 Our snowbabies!

 Kitty Camden!

 Oh look- it's Randy (from A Christmas Story)!

 This picture cracks us up!  Joe looks like a burgular!

Carter and his snowman creation (with help from Daddy)!  He was so proud!

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Visit

On Saturday, December 29th, we decided to visit the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in downtown Knoxville.  Courtney had won tickets back in the summer at a teacher workshop and they were going to expire at the end of December.  We really weren't sure what to expect when we got there.  The first part is very "museumy" with lots of reading and displays which equals not too much fun for a 1 1/2 year old and a 3 1/2 year old!  After the museum section, they have a HUGE basketball court area with different types of basketball drill activities.  The kids absolutely LOVED this area!  Carter had to try out every.single. hoop!  We had the entire place pretty much to ourselves this morning!  Carter definitley wants to go back... with Daddy (Camden and Courtney can go somewhere more fitting for them!). 

 Camden tried so hard to make a basket!

 Carter started out in the kiddie area but wanted to move on to the big basketball goals!

 Our little pro!

 Carter's biggest cheerleader!

 Carter was testing his vertical jump!

 Camden wanted to try it too!

 Carter and Daddy had a blast playing basketbal inside together! 

Family Picture!

Christmas with Grammy

We headed to Grammy's house later on in the morning on Christmas to have a yummy lunch and open presents!  With 8 grandchildren, the house always looks like Toys R Us on Christmas day!  We had a great time with our family!  Carter and Camden got lots of nice, new things to play with (and pack our house even more!).  Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday "baby Jesus" (our children like to say Jesus is still a baby at Christmas time!)!

 Grammy's Christmas tree full of gifts!

 Camden LOVES Minnie Mouse!

 Carter loved his new Smokey Dog hat!

 Camden and Carter with Grammy!

 Family picture time!

 The Hassells (minus Joe who had just left to go home)

The Taylors

Christmas Morning 2012

On Christmas morning, Carter and Camden slept in until about 8:15am!  Woo-hoo!  They were excited to go downstairs and see what Santa Claus had left for them!  Carter is at the age where he knows exactly what to do on Christmas morning!  It didin't take Camden too long to figure out what to do with the presents!  Carter got lots of Jake and the Neverland Pirates items along with a few Doc McStuffins toys!  Camden got lots of little girl things!  She isn't a baby anymore and needed a few big girl toys!  After opening presents from Santa and from Mommy and Daddy, we all had a big breakfast.  We played a few hours at home until it was time to head to Grammy's house for more Christmas festivities!    

 Merry Christmas!

 Carter was so excited he didn't know what to touch first!

 Camden jumped into her new chair quicky!

 She wanted to get her new Bitty Baby out of the package as soon as she saw it!

 Carter was so excited to get Skull Island!

 Taking a break from opening presents to pose for a picture!  Cheese!

 Camden loved her new Minnie Mouse purse!

 Carter couldn't wait to give us all a check-up like Doc McStuffins!

 YUMMY!

 Carter has to help himself now at the table!  Our little man is growing up so fast!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!