Christmas Sweater Day at Cinergy

Our local entertainment center had a fun promotion fort the first day of Christmas break - wear an ugly (or cute) sweater to receive 50% off games and laser tag! We met up with friends and were glad to take advantage of deal before heading to Dallas for the holidays. Sophie didn't have a sweater, so wore her Santa dress, which totally counted. It was fun to go play with such a festive looking crew.

With our friends the Taylors and the Halls

Mrs. Claus was a formidable opponent. even in a dress

We sure love our friends!!

Maxwell's Magical Christmas 2021

The kids had a huge fight at home and I almost called off our night at Maxwell's, but they pulled themselves together and I'm so glad they did because it was a magical night 🎅🎄🌟 Each time we visit there are a few more decorations, more lights, and more Christmas spirit. I think I'm beginning to love Maxwell's for the holidays even more than in fall.

We got a wonderfully mild night which helped everyone's morale

Visiting Santa - requests this year were a Lego set (Sophie), Play Doh (Charlie), off Santa's lap and back to mom (Griffin) and a camera (Davey)

Davey looking handsome in his sweater

Picture by Sophie ❄️❄️

Doesn't this just burst with the spirit of the season?!

Roasting marshmallows always makes for a nice break to warm up by the fire and have a snack

These painted haybales reminded me a little bit of toilet paper, but were otherwise cute

The lines for the apple canons are way shorter than fall season

With our gingerbread mother/daughter counterparts

Video: 2021 Maxwell's Magical Christmas

Maxwell's Fall Days 2021

Maxwell's 2021 🎃 Our visit had a rough start with so much bickering and whining, but things settled down after some snacks and we were able to have a fun day at the pumpkin farm!! It was crowded (all of Amarillo had the same plan) but the weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and there were activites at every turn. 

Sophie loved the new obstacle course, Davey bounced his pants off on the jumping pillows, Charlie ate his way through about 2000 calories and Griffin ran away to the tractor trikes every chance he got. Happy Fall Y'all!!

The reality of going places with young kids - there will inevitably be rough moments and likely a few emotional fires to work through

Our little Texas baby

Sophie always goes for max thrills. We didn't know it at the time, but the girl in the striped sweater was Kate, who later would become one of her good friends

The cow train is a classic favorite

Taking a snack break

Pumpkin heads

Corn kings on their throne

Griffin loved the trikes, even though he couldn't make them go on his own

Proof of mom

And proof of dad

One way to keep them looking little is to put them in a giant chair :)

I have a baby photo of each kid that I display during fall and it was time to take Griffin's so he could join the collection. Maxwell's always has so many great photo op stations and I was able to get a great shot of Griffin that I'll love seeing on my shelf year after year.

Video: Fall Fun at Maxwell's 2021

Good Times at Lake Mackenzie

I pulled Sophie out of summer camp early one day so we could meet friends at Lake Makenzie. It takes an hour to get there on narrow farm roads where you often never pass another car, but the isolation makes it such a nice getaway. And now that I no longer worry about the van getting stuck on the crazy steep hill to get down, it's a much more enjoyable outing!

We arrived around lunch and stayed almost five hours. The water is warm and the kids always play so well here. Bringing the kayak was a game changer, so much that we bought one of our own afterward. The kids loved being able to explore further out from shore and made a trip over to a dead tree that's in the middle of the lake. Someone had tied a rope to a branch and they had fun using it to swing into the water. Next time I want to bring a bag for my phone so I can take pictures of them jumping from the tree. Griffin naturally made things a little challenging, but I was still able to spend time relaxing in the river tubes or chatting with friends.  

These two lake lovers jumped right in when we arrived

Charlie, on the other hand, stayed on shore while I got us all set up for a day of fun on an empty beach

Griffin was a new walker and the sand took him a bit to get used to

Me, with my friends Candice and Erika

Emery brought her kayak and the kids had fun paddling all over. They rode double, and sometimes even triple because everyone wanted a turn to go out for a cruise.

These two are the cutest friends. I would not be at all sad if they got married one day.

Not the normal way to sit in a chair, but he was pretty proud of himself for figuring out how to get in without any help

These boys never get tired of digging

Griffin loved lounging in the shade and watching everyone else play

Sophie made herself into a mud monster right before it was time to go home. So awesome awesome...

Lake days are fun, but exhausting. I hope the kids have some smidgeon of appreciation for the effort that goes into making them happen.