Dallas Christmas Part 3 (Making Our Days Merry & Bright)

We had a full two weeks in Dallas and so were able to fit in lots of fun things during our stay, mostly with family because friends are often just as busy during this time. There were many puzzles, the short-lived chocolate house, NYE disc golf and donuts with Greg & Jack, and a day at Crayola. 

With grandma and Sophie's help we finished this 1000 piece in about 3 hours!

First experience with a a Magic Puzzle (surprise twist at the end)

Sophie did a 300 piece and Davey did a 100 piece, both all by themselves

This one was so pretty and probably my favorite build over the break

Chill time with Papa

Sophie and Davey got these little craft planters for Christmas, but Davey's had an accident and fell off the counter losing some seeds, so it looked a little sparse compared to Sophie's. He was upset until we told him the dinosaurs had probably just eaten some of his plants :)

The infamous chocolate house. Grandma helped Sophie build it from Hershey bars instead of gingerbread and apparently it tasted as good as it looked because we later found it eaten down to the foundation.

Griffin's pack n play was a little too close to Papa's desk during nap - oops!

The disc golf crew! It was a fun outing to end our year. Except for Davey. His team tied for first and he wanted a solo victory, hence the crying. 

Griffin could care less about frisbee but was happy that Trixie was there to watch and follow

First visit to Hurts Donuts

We brought them to a park so we could eat and play

Play doh at 7 am was Griffin's way to ring in the New Year

During our stay we also made a trip out to Tyler to help Aunt Liz move into her new home! The kids were not helpful at all, but did enjoy finding random places to hide while the adults moved stuff around.

We bought tickets to visit Crayola but they were unexpectedly closed 👎👎 The kids were so sad. However! We hung around long enough to catch an employee who refunded our tickets and also gave us free passes to come back later, so it worked out okay in the end!

Some fun on our return visit (that was free!)

Dallas Christmas Part 1 - Counting Down to Christmas

We left for Dallas on the 21st, which gave us a few days to fit in some pre-Christmas fun, including a zoo trip (later post) and a family dinner on Christmas Eve. We always look forward to the different people we get to see and traditions carried out depending on where we are spending Christmas that year. The door wrap may become a new Dallas tradition :)

First ever stop at the Buc-cee's in Denton!

Grandma introduced Sophie to nail wraps

We covid tested ahead of gathering with family for a Christmas Eve dinner and then hung them all by the fireplace with care - negative!! 

I didn't take a group picture of the family all gathered for dinner, but here are the cute placeholders Sophie made for the table all by herself

Cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer

Grandpa reading stories to help Charlie fall asleep

Some Christmas elves wrapped the doorway to keep the kids from peeking

Santa has come! And he was very generous :)

Thanksgiving - Zion's National Park

Our day in Zions was very cold. We had to get an early start since the park is so popular, even in the winter months, and we wanted be sure we could get parking in the main lot and access to a shuttle without a long line. The kids didn't even mind that masks were still required on shuttles because they said it helped keep their faces warm :)

Our main hike was the Riverside Walk that follows along the Virgin River to the start of the narrows. It's perfect for families as the main path is paved, yet there are tons of rocks to climb and parallel dirt paths along the water for older kids who are feeling more adventurous. Dave hadn't come to join us yet at this point, so I was grateful to have grandparents and cousins there to help with the other kids while I pushed Griffin in the stroller. 

While climbing big rocks we learned neither kid had hardly any traction left on their shoes which made for a slippery experience on the sandstone, but they persisted despite the sliding

The red cliffs still look beautiful in the winter

The Virgin River was such a pretty color of blue, but sure looked cold!! We saw lots of hikers in dry suits headed to the Narrows and I was glad to not be among them. Just thinking about wading in the water made my feet feel numb.

Charlie and Jack were good hiking buddies

Griffin had a great nap despite his swollen lip

End of the trail, you can see the narrows up ahead

All the Howe and Hindman cousins

Griffin and I matching in our periwinkle blue

We also made one quick stop at the Three Patriarchs before heading home

Poor Charlie passed out on the return shuttle