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Each day we try to keep the children busy… so a park excursion is always a simple way to get out of the house and give the children some quality, inexpensive, outdoor exercise!  We visited Peter’s favorite park where he learns to play soccer — Newtown Park:

Morgan was working really hard to move the boys across this line!  Peter started out helping her, then he wanted to be on “the boat.”

So, it was just Morgan and all these boys!

Ethan had the boat all to himself when we first arrived:

Guess who gave him the free ride?  Big sis — with a bit of help from daddy.

Morgan is becoming such an expert with the monkey bars!  Honestly, I tried and couldn’t do it!  My arms were killing me — shows you how out of shape I am!  Agh!!!

2010 came too quickly… I mean honestly, is it just me???  I am going to make this brief since I am away from home and from my 2009 photos…

I will do a proper 2009 year in review post when I get home in a few more days.  Until then, may you all have a safe evening.  May 2010 bring you continued happiness, good health, and love.

See you all soon!

“Aghhhh!!!!!”  That is what they said when Peter told them we were going to see sharks!  But, they were so excited! 

Today we headed to the Atlanta Aquarium — and had a wild time (along with the rest of the world!  Yes, it was very crowded!)  So, here are a few photos to highlight our adventure… which ended with Morgan getting sick!  We are resting today…

We started with lunch at CNN’s center — in honor of Amanda (hi Amanda!), we ate at Chick-fil-A!

Their favorite exhibit was this — the Ocean Voyager:

Walking in that tunnel was awesome!  M&M were very hesitant — but once they got comfortable, it was no big deal.  Morgan’s concern?  That they glass would break and the sharks would attack her!  Well, it’s a legitimate fear so I couldn’t force her to do it.  So, what made her do it?  The crowd!  Everyone just kept pushing forward and we had to go with the flow.  But once we were in, we sat on the edge and just stared up at these amazing creatues swim around us…

Their second favorite spot was this – the touch pool which allowed them to touch some rays and sharks swimming back and forth:

While walking around, there were docents giving little talks about different fish.  Morgan walked up to a table and the docent asked her what her favorite fish was.  Morgan replied, “Catfish — I like how my mom cooks it!”  Vince said he and the woman were laughing so hard when she said that.  I suppose she answered the question, right?!  Proabably not what you should say at the aquariurm though!  😉 Think Morgan will eat it if she saw what it really looks like?!  (she just sees the fish fillets breaded!)

These were my favorite — seeing the colorful tropical fish and the jellies:

It was a full day excursion… Morgan went home with a sore throat… I am feeling really tired… but we had a great time!  See you next year Atlanta Aquarium!

Although someone was REALLY tired by the time we left… can you guess whom that person was?

 

They were up… but not too bright and early!  (thank you Santa, that is EXACTLY what I asked for!)

They waited patiently…

and then they shook the life out of their stockings!

Priceless expression, no?!

Ryan was content to just dig into his chocolate bar!

Thank you Santa!

 

 

Then there was dinner!

As Peter (Karen’s FIL) said, “That meal was fit for a king!”

They were surprised.. and very happy!  Of course,  basic rules were set up… the Nintendo DS can only be used during certain time of the day…mostly after meal is complete or on the plane and for limited time only…15/20 minute intervals.  And they were fine with these limits.  (I made them pouches to put their DSs in out of fleece scraps that Anita had given the children when she last visited.)

 

Peter did not know what a DS was, so he was fine with the gift… but much happier with his mom and dad’s gift!  This worked out because his game card chip (which we ordered separately so that we do not have to buy individual games – Vince was able to put at leat 15 games for M&M for now) had not yet arrived for his DS.  Anytime he wanted to play he had to wait for either Morgan or Matthew to be done with their DS – so I finally figured it out to stagger their playing time!

What a Merry Christmas it was this morning!