52 things to do in Dallas WITH KIDS?

While we were having our annual "unwind after Christmas" vacation at my mom's house in Wimberley, I read this article in the Austin paper. An Austinite had decided to blog every day about an interesting place in Austin that she had visited, she called it 365 Things to do in Austin. That sounds ambitious. Is it corny to try 52 Things to do in Dallas? On facebook there are 365 Things to do in Dallas...

So... to live large and aim high, here are my 2011 Resolutions.

1. Remember each and every day that I am a precious child of God; called to love God, love myself, love my husband, and love my kids.
2. Blog weekly about 52 Things to do in Dallas WITH KIDS. See, I was original, I added with kids.
3. Lose 10 pounds (I know I told myself I would lose these 10 pounds by my birthday in October, and then it was by Christmas, maybe giving myself the whole year is not a good idea?
4. Walk a half marathon March 27 for the Komen Marathon for the Cure (raising $250 for breast cancer research) and walk 60 miles in 3 day for the Komen 3-Day for the Cure in November (raising $2,300 for breast cancer research).
5. Since #4 above is already on the calendar, maybe a resolution to adequately prepare for those events would be a good goal...

What are your 2011 resolutions?

Holiday Express Riding Train

Last year I found out about this wonderful electric train that runs during December. We had a blast last year and it was even more fun this year with older boys who appreciated the trains even more. I can't believe this gem is 10 minutes from our house, free, and operated by the nicest man! There have not been crowds when we have been there, we rode three times in a row this year.

that's Everett and Madeleine in the front car, I'm three cars back with my blue camera bag. Papa is behind me and Nana is behind him.


Everett loved the train!

So did Austin (in the car behind Everett, Sydney and Madeleine)

Look! No hands! Madeleine, nephew Austin, Aunt Kristin, niece Sydney, and Everett

All of us - my sister Kristin and her kids Austin and Sydney, me and Lee and Madeleine and Everett, and my mom (Nana) and stepdad (Papa)

Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Greetings!

Christmas 2010

Do you ever look at your life, at your job, your family, your friends and just want to hold up your hands in thanksgiving to God? We are blessed with two of the most beautiful children. Madeleine is 6 ½ and is in 1^st grade. She began playing soccer this year, is a daisy girl scout, and started piano lessons this September. We are amazed that in one year’s time she has begun to read and really enjoys it. We love her inquisitive mind, her mother hen nature, and her heart.

Last week Everett said, “I’m cute.” Obviously, he hears that a lot. He sure is cute though! He loves his sister so much and loves to do whatever she is doing. He goes to school at our church, Oak Lawn United Methodist, and loves playing outside, fighting with his light sabers, and playing with balls. Although he never tried to climb out of his crib, a few weeks ago we decided we needed to move him into the toddler bed. Why would you move a child who is trapped in his crib into a bed where he can roam free? Well, that is a very insightful question… We are wondering if the terrible 2s, should instead be named the terrible 3s. There is never a dull moment when a boundary can be tested!

We give God thanks for our two places of employment. Lee continues to work at Raytheon, just 10 minutes from our house and Kerry continues to work at Oak Lawn UMC. We both feel incredibly blessed to work with people we like and to enjoy the work that we do. We also give thanks that we still like each other after 10 years of marriage! For our anniversary we used our passports for the first time in a long time and went to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

We keep busy ferrying the children from activity to activity, and doing endless chores around the house. This year we had a possum living in our attic, our garage door unit fell from the ceiling, and the outlet behind our washer and dryer stopped working. How do we have time to fix everything around our house, go to work, and play with our kids? It is never dull! We continue to try to stay active. Lee has faithfully walked with some friends every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning this year and Kerry participated with her mom in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure walking 60 miles in 3 days. Together they raised over $6500 to fight breast cancer! And, they have already signed up for next year!

When we think back on the year of 2010, we wonder how it flew by so quickly! We are incredibly blessed with health, joy, love, and faith. We do ask you to keep Lee’s mom, Sherry, in your prayers. She is in a nursing home and we try to visit frequently. Her health is declining. From our family to yours, may you experience the wonder, the joy, and the peace of this wonderful Christmas season!

Lee, Kerry, Madeleine and Everett Smith

Pictures with Santa

I took the kids to visit Santa. Everett said he wanted a truck. When pressed, he said a big blue truck. When I asked Madeleine what she wanted and the response for a third year in a row was an American Girl doll, I said that Santa liked variety. So she agreed that an art kit would be good. The first year Santa did bring an American Girl doll, and the next year when the same request was made, Santa brought a doll for the doll (did you know that they make those? They do!).

If you want to see the progession of Everett's response to Santa, check out these previous pictures. This is in 2008 when Everett is 1 and Madeleine is 4. At age 1 Everett was having nothing to do with this new person named Santa.

This is in 2009 when Everett is 2 and Madeleine is 5. I think that age 2 is my favorite! Everett is physically trying to crawl out of Santa's lap.

And in 2010 when Everett is 3 and Madeleine is 6. Everett looks like he has accepted Santa, though not yet smiling. I love how Madeleine is grinning from ear to ear in every photo! Check out Madeleine's boots too!

A new bed...

What do you do when your child has never attempted to crawl out of the crib? They do not even seem to know that there is an option of getting out of the crib by themselves? What do you do when that kid has turned 3 and well, you have a toddler bed in the attic...?

Everett turned 3 October 5 and the week before Thanksgiving Lee said, "Do you think we should get the toddler bed down?" My response was, "Are you kidding? He doesn't know that he can get out of that thing!"

I remembered taking 3 year old Madeleine to pick out her own sheets for the toddler bed and she seemed so much older than 3 year old Everett. I just could not imagine him picking out his own sheets like she did. So, we took a trip to the store. I figured if Everett had an opinion about his sheets, then he was old enough for the toddler bed. He was very clear that he wanted Buzz and Woody sheets. Hmph... maybe he was old enough...

So, over the Thanksgiving break we got down Madeleine's old toddler bed from the attic. Everett was so excited about his new bed. I called Goodwill to take away the crib, but they said that they would not accept it because there were so many cribs that had been recalled. So, a lovely family from freecycle now has the crib that we bought in 2004 for Madeleine when we lived in Krum (I bought it from Target on-line). Lee assembled that thing so many times (he had to disassemble it to even get it out of Everett's room!)

I told Lee that there would be no more naps now that Everett was not trapped in his crib, but he has even napped in his new bed! He still calls for us to take him to the bathroom, I keep telling him that he can get out...


happy boy!
Madeleine and Everett playing "wake up!" They scream "wake up" and jump on the bed. Taking turns of course...

My sweet knight... who is growing up so fast!

Superheroes

Madeleine and Everett playing superheroes, they have so much fun with each other (most of the time)

Fort Worth zoo

I had never been to the Fort Worth zoo, so for my birthday I wanted to visit. Unfortunately, due to the Reflections art program, the 3-Day for the Cure, and Madeleine's soccer games, the first day that we could go was the day before Thanksgiving. I was incredibly impressed. The animals had large areas to roam and play, and we even saw them play! This orangatun played with a sheet for about thirty minutes and we were all fascinated. The orangatun played hide-and-seek, put the sheet on like superman, and threw it into the river and then would reach long arms in to retrieve it.


I loved the orangutan but I loved the bonobo apes more because there was a baby. I can not remember ever seeing the bond between mom and baby in such a real way as I did at the Fort Worth zoo.


The baby laying on mommy.


The baby nursing. So cool!

Madeleine feeding the birds. She had a bird land on her stick, but I did not take a picture fast enough.

Me with the kiddos balancing on a bronze kangaroo.