Grandma Betty's Christmas

The Saturday after Christmas brings Mike's Grandma Betty's Christmas every year.  Betty is 93 years young and this Christmas found her in the Nursing Home healing a broken arm after a fall so Christmas looked a little different this year than in previous years.  We met at Mike's Aunt Penny & Uncle Denny's for breakfast and then loaded up snacks and presents to head to the nursing home for a few hours.  

Heading out the door...everyone was feeling tired after our swim day.

 Present time...

Penny & Denny got our kids a joint gift of a big adjustable basketball hoop and balls.  A HUGE hit.  We're so grateful!  They put it together Sunday and had friends over to play!

We exchanged names among the 8 kids and did a "games" theme.  It was a lot of fun.  Ameliya had Adelyn's name and got her a wooden lacing game.

 

Zayden found grandma's office at the nursing home and is looking for her.  "Uma!  Uma!"

 Aunt Penny always plans fun games.  Unwrapping a present with oven mitts on.

 Zayden had Natalee's name for the gift exchange and got her Tenzi - it was a huge hit with everyone!

 

We're so grateful for Grandma Betty and her influence in our lives.

 

Betty's grandkids

Great-Grandkids...same number as last year for the first year in a few!

 Aunt Penny did a saran wrap ball for the adults and the kids.

This boy was d.o.n.e.  Swim day followed by a Christmas day meaning 2 days of sloppy naps.  Whew! Mama took him home for beddy-bye and he went right down after a bath and some snuggles.

Swim Day

We took an end of the year swim day last Friday and the kids had a blast.  It's a drive commitment for us to get anywhere with an indoor water area, but it's worth it once in awhile.  We make a day of it and the kids enjoy it so much.

 We took buckets and shovels to play with - they are always a hit.

 We invited AJ to join us for the day - she loved it.  They stayed through lunch.

 

 

  

Natalee did a lot of swimming underwater.  It was impressive.   

It took Zayden awhile to warm up but once he did he loved it!  He didn't get too brave, but did get in over his head a couple of times.

The kids loved the current river!

 

No, no, Mr. Zayden.

 

We pulled the kids out for a picnic lunch at 1ish.  I'm not sure we were supposed to bring in food - I called and asked and was told yes, but when we got there it seemed like maybe we shouldn't have.  Oops.  A few years ago we went and the little snack shack thing the place has was closed and we hadn't brought food so our kids were hangry.  So I guess I assumed it wouldn't be this time, either, but it was.  At any rate, they stuck to their word that they'd given me on the phone and let us eat what we brought.

 

Natalee was the only one tall enough to go on the big slide.

 

 

 

 

Mia got sleepy...... 

 

 

 

 

We love this swim center because they offer family shower/changing rooms with curtained areas so we can all go in and do what we need to do but not be frantic because so and so's undies are with mom in the girl's locker room.  It's SO handy.  Each room has a shower, toilet, sink, counter, and bench with plenty of room to move around.  We also appreciate the free lockers that the center offers.

The kids were beat when we got out but we had to do a quick Aldi run and then we grabbed them all supper before heading home.  I have to be honest - I really do like Steak and Shake (fresco burger!) but the last few times we've been to one they've been so dirty.  I'm about to give up!

 All in all this was a great day, the kids had a blast, and we all got some good exercise in!