LS Ayres Tea Room and Santa With Grandma

On Tuesday, we headed down town to The State Museum to visit Santa and eat in The Tea Room. We just love all the Christmas Trees in The State Museum. It is just so festive! The Children's Choir was singing while we were there also. We made our way to Santa's village and rode the train to Santa's house where we were greeted by Mrs. Clause. The boys even got to sit in a sleigh. The boys were so eager to see Santa. While on our train ride, we also saw Raggedy Ann. What a nice surprise and she handed out Christmas Cards. Grayson told Santa what he wanted as did Grandma and myself.

After our visit with Santa, we headed down to The Tea Room. Grayson got a Shirley Temple. Rogan enjoyed Grayson's drink also! My boys don't drink any carbonated drinks so it was a treat for them. The food and service was wonderful as usual! After lunch the boys got a special gift from our waiter. They got hand crafted train whistles. They have been enjoying them ever since. This is the second year we have made this special adventure with Grandma. It has become our tradition with her and we are looking forward to many more years of doing the same!

We also have been to The Children's Museum for Jolly Days. We love going down The Yule Slide! I took Rogan down the slide after Marc did. The boys had to make two trips down the slide. We have breakfast with Santa this Saturday..can't wait. The boys just got their letters back from Santa. We took them to his special mail box last week and Santa wrote back to them. Grayson also went to his first Pacer game last Friday with Marc and stayed the entire game. Grayson loved it. He is really into basketball so it was a very special trip for him and Marc. As you can see from the photos, the boys have also been enjoying baking with me and making big messes. We hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. My boys like waking up every morning and scowering the house to look for Nigel our elf from the north pole. That is another new tradition thanks to our Aunt Pam! The boys get so excited to see where Nigel has hidden each day. Our elf watches over the boys and reports to Santa every night their behavior.

Marc went to Grayson's Christmas party at school on Wednesday. I have been fortunate enough to attend all of Grayson's special school events and field trips thanks to the help of Grandma. I figured Marc would want to spend some time in Grayson's classroom this time. He said Grayson and his classmates had a great time with their gift exchange, holiday snack and singing songs and hearing special stories. Thanks to Marc's job, he is very flexible and can take Grayson to school on the days that he goes. It is special for both him and Grayson. Peace, love and happiness to all of you!

Turkey, Family and Grandma

Well, Thanksgiving was wonderful, spending it with The Lyons side of the family. It was great to see Kelly and her two children, Andrew and Megan. The food was yummy and family time made it even more special. That day we also put up our Christmas Tree. The boys were so excited. Rogan was amazed and mesmerised by the lights. The boys enjoyed helping Marc put up the tree and lights. Grayson told me, "Mommy, our tree is beautiful!" Rogan was such a good helper like big brother Grayson with hanging all our special ornaments.

Shortly after Thanksgiving Day all our attention became focused on Grandma Callaway. My mother, myself and Sarah had just been to visit her on Monday (before Thanksgiving) and by Thanksgiving Day, she had taken a down ward spiral with her health. Her kidneys started shutting down as did every thing else. It was so hard seeing her in so much pain but to hold her hand and comfort her made it worth every minute. In the next few days, Grandma got worse by the hour. Saturday morning she was no longer able to communicate with us but she could still hear us. She was ready to 'Go Home' as she had been stating the last few weeks, meaning she was ready to meet her maker and ascend to heaven. Around 1:30pm November 27 th Grandma got her Christmas wish and was taken to heaven. Her passing was so peaceful and beautiful. I feel blessed to have been by her side as she was taken to heaven, what a wonderful gift. She came home for Christmas just like the song. We all know she is in a better place but I still miss her each and every day. It is funny how many things remind you of that special loved one when they are no longer with us. I know she is with us in spirit but I still see her and think of her every where I turn.

Thanksgiving was a bitter sweet time for us all. Lots of joy and lots of sorrow. I know Grandma would want us to rejoice for her so that is what we are all trying to do. Her memory will live on inside of everyone she has touched. We are now counting down the days for Christmas and getting ready to visit Santa at The Children's Museum and The LS Ayres Tea Room. We also are having breakfast with Santa and squeezing in a trip to Christmas at the Zoo and a drive around the circle. Earlier this week we went to Grandma Lyons house and had lunch and helped her put ornaments on their tree. Love and happiness to all of our families! Today we are enjoying staying around the house, playing in the snow and baking.

Turkey Time Again

November is just flying by! I bought milk the other day and could not believe the expiration date said December...wow Christmas Time is just around the corner! Halloween was such fun this year with the boys! Grayson was excited as ever and Rogan loved every minute of it. He carried his bucket just like big brother Grayson and walked to all the doors also. Rogan did not want to put down his candy for fear it might disappear! Grandpa and Grandma bought them candy buckets that light up!! So cute!!! You couldn't miss those Mathias Brothers!

I also got to help out with Grayson's fall party at school. It was so much fun! All the kids were dressed up in their costumes and paraded around the school. They also had a festival in the gym where all the kids could play games for prizes! I had as much fun as Grayson. I also read to his class...I love reading to my little guys so reading in front of his class mates and their parents came natural to me!

Grayson started basketball and is playing every Saturday and is loving it! He told Marc and I the other day how much he loves basketball and was very serious about it. I have enjoyed watching him play. Even Grandpa and Grandma have made it to a game. Marc's dad came over for a visit with the boys. Grandpa Mathias played basketball with Grayson and soccer. It was beautiful the day he came so we all enjoyed playing out side for a bit.

Rogan has some big news....he got his first hair cut!!! He looks like a little boy! That first hair cut makes such a change in appearance. He went from looking like a baby to big boy like Grayson in a matter of minuets. As I watched his hair fall to the ground I could feel this lump in my throat that there was no going back, we had made that transition. I must say, he did great. My friend Imri cut his hair, she also cuts mine. Rogan just loves her so I thought how perfect. She came over for a play date with her son. Rogan ate a sucker while mommy held him and listened to Sugar Land while Imri cut his hair! He looks adorable!!!!

We are now getting ready for Thanksgiving at my mother's house and looking forward to it! My cousin Kelly, is coming with her family for the holiday weekend, can't wait to see all of them! We are also counting down the days until we put up the tree and Neijel (our Elf on the Shelf) comes to town. Grayson can't wait to put out Christmas lights around the house outside with Daddy. Tomorrow night we are going to Grayson's school for his first play!! My baby... in a play! It will be bitter sweet! We also just went for our family/holiday photo. We are getting geared up for all the holiday fun around the corner!!

Grayson's big birthday party bash!!!!

Our baby...or shall I say, big boy... is five!!! Wow!! That is hard to say. Grayson had such a wonderful birthday weekend! Yes, he has a birthday weekend. Saturday was his party. My mom came and met me early so we could decorate and get every thing ready while Marc was taking care of the boys at home. I made these yummy ghost marshmallow treats and bloody ice cream eye balls. Grayson and his friends thought it was really cool. Grayson made his grand entrance and just loved all the decorations and his cake. It..meaning 'The Cake' had to be Wolverine. All his friends arrived shortly there after along with our family. It was so great watching all the boys play together and eat. Their conversations were a good laugh for us all. Grayson got so many wonderful gifts! He is having a blast playing with all of them. Grandma Callaway made it to the party along with Uncle Ross and his son David. A huge thanks to my father for going and picking up Grandma Callaway so she could come too. We knew she wouldn't want to miss Grayson's big day. Marc's Dad and his wife Lorri and Marc's younger sister Shelby were able to make it also. Aunt Sarah and Justin came... of course!! Aunt Julie and Grayson's cousin Ashley came too! We all had such a wonderful time not just the boys but parents and family as well.

On Sunday, we went to The Children's Museum. We have made it a tradition to take the boys on their birthdays. We also love going around this time for all the Halloween festivities! We went to The Lights On Friendly Hours, for the haunted house at the museum. Afterwards, we headed to Grayson's favorite restaurant for lunch...Texas Road House. Grayson opened his presents from us that morning so he could play with them all day with Rogan and Daddy instead of doing it after dinner and second cake! Grayson was so excited about turning five this year! He has been telling everyone.

We have been enjoying this fall season. After we returned from The Smoky Mountains, I went with Grayson's class to the pumpkin patch. I was a chaperon. It was great being able to have that experience. Grayson could have cared less that I was there. He was more interested in being with all his friends. Therefore, I was able to take lots of pictures. The next week Marc went to Dad's Night at Grayson's school to carve a pumpkin and for a party with yummy treats. Grayson and all his classmates sang at Dad's Night also. Grayson got a ribbon for being the loudest singer. That's our boy!

We also went to Zoo Boo!!! It is another one of our fall favorites! The Zoo looks so festive this time of year. The boys went dressed in their Halloween costume. Grayson was Wolverine and Rogan was Batman! It was nice and sunny that day, perfect weather. Thursday, we are headed to Conner Praire for their fall celebration and The Headless Horseman. More fun to come and our Grayson starts basketball at the YMCA this Saturday! Can't wait. Grayson keeps asking me about every day, "When are we going back to The Smoky Mountains?" I replay, "Next fall honey." Followed by, "How many more days until we fly to Disney again?" My reply..."Six more months." I have decided to put a ticker on our blog to count down the days until we fly off to Disney again so we all can follow that. We just bought our plane tickets and are staying on Disney property in a tree house! The count down until we see the mouse himself has begun! Happy Halloween to everyone and be safe. My boys can't wait!!!

Our Family Vacation to The Smoky Mountains

Wow...breath taking!!!! Every day was just wonderful, waking up in the mountains and looking at them right out our window and balcony! Our resort was so beautiful. We had such a peaceful relaxing time. The boys just loved every minute, from hiking in the park to swimming at the water park in our resort to just taking it easy! We made every day special and exciting. We had to hit our most favorite restaurants...The Pancake Pantry and Bennett's BBQ! The best fudge around comes from the Smokies! Yes, the Pancake Pantry has amazing pancakes!!!! I always have the blueberry and Marc loves the chocolate chip. Grayson got bear shaped pancakes and Rogan loves the blueberry too. I remember going there when I was younger with my parents. It is truly a tradition! We were even lucky enough to see a black baby bear crossing the street in the park. I am sure it's mother was close behind but we did not see her.

We took the boys to this great Aquarium located in Gatlinburg. Grayson and Rogan had so much fun! The sharks were huge as were the sting rays. The boys actually pet the sting rays while they were being fed. Grayson and Marc went to a car museum and saw Herbie (the actual car) and Kit from Knight Rider just to name a few. They also saw the General Lee from Dukes of Hazard! Wow!!! The ride down there was good. The boys did really well!! :) Rogan did better than when we took Grayson to the Ozark Mountains when he was Rogan's age and we thought he did good! It was better than our flying adventure. When the week was over, we were all sad to leave. I told Marc, I enjoyed staying in the mountains in Gatlinburg more than our trip to Disney. It was just so peaceful. Don't get me wrong, we love Mickey and Disney but we needed a vacation after that vacation. We are still counting down for May when we return to Disney. I am sure flying will be even better now that Rogan will be two this time around. I hope you all enjoy the pictures. Our vacation was just amazing. Tennessee I could call home! We can't wait to return next fall.