Lazy 5 Ranch

Found this post in the draft file.  Uploaded the pictures then forgot to post...whoops!

Over Christmas holiday Aunt Molly & Nathaniel came to the QC to visit.  We headed up to the Lazy 5 Ranch with some friends & had a great visit.  It is so much fun feeding the animals.  I think I love it even more then the kiddos.  Luke loved looking & pointing.  Emma loved watching the animals.  She wasn't ready to toss them food yet, still keeping her distance.  

donkeys roaming at the entrance

little man checking things out

sweet peanut

check out the photographer in the background

Nathaniel & Emma

Luke, Nathaniel & Emma

Waiting for the wagon ride with gma & gpa

Emma had to jump in the pic too! 

Grandpa Jerome & Luke Jerome

Aunt Molly & Nathaniel

Holy horns!!

awe..Lukie & daddy

The Kelley clan 

(well, the Lyberg, Kelley & Orsak part of the Kelley clan anyway)

These lovey friends belong to the Ray clan

Christmas

What a fun Christmas we had.  Emma was so into it this year.  

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house.  Emma & Basil went out on the porch to see if they could spot Santa & his reindeer.  Basil had a constellation app on his phone that shows all the stars plus Santa's route in the sky.  Emma would see Santa's sleigh in the sky (an airplane) & the flashing red light & squeal with excitement that she saw Santa & Rudolph.  She'd jump up & down & ask to look for him again.  She ran inside & brought us all outside to see.  When we got home from Gma & Gpa's Emma sprinkled magic reindeer food on the lawn so they wouldn't miss our house.  We set out 2 cookies, 8 carrots & a cup of milk then it was off to bed.  She went right to sleep.  In the morning she called for us, Bas went in & got her.  Emma said she knew that Santa visited our house because she saw the shadow of his sleigh last night.  Then she climbed in bed & watched TV with us.  When Luke woke up we headed to his room.  Right as she was going to open Lukes door she stopped & saw all the gifts that Santa had left.  I'm not positive but I don't think she realized til that moment that Santa left gifts, or that there would be more gifts under the tree.  Anyway, I'm sure we won't have the option of lounging in the bed next year.  Then it was time to open gifts.  She tore into each one & looked in awe at it.  Luke even got into the excitement of opening gifts.  But for any he delayed opening Emma was right there to help.  My folks & Uncle Phil came over to hang out for the day.  We played lots of preschool games & tore into the Gingerbread house from Uncle Matty....YUM!  Thanks for making this Christmas so special for our family! 

MI Recap

We had a great visit to MI! It was nice that we were able to stay up there so long. Didn't feel as rushed as some visits :-)
Emma checking things out Christmas morning in Traverse City.

Playing with Jackson or "lill one"

Home from Christmas mass. Emma & Reese checking out what they never get to see.

Note for next year: Don't give them M&M's in the stocking as the first gift. She would have been happy to stop there. Save all food items for last.

We had to play in the snow!

All bundeled up. I kept saying that I was so happy to not be a mom in MI b/c it's a pain in the butt to keep a coat on Emma. I guess Mother Nature didn't like that comment b/c it's been so cold in CLT that Emma has to wear a coat & hat!

Now for Christmas #2 in Fenton. This is "nesting babies" from uncle Just.

We headed out to Huckelberry Railroad one night. Thought it would be fun to ride an 1871 steam engine for 40 minutes and see the lights. It was 24 degrees when we started and 17 degrees when we got off the train. I thought we'd be the only crazy people to take this tour...but nope there were 200 other crazies!

We got to meet Dancer the Reindeer.

We rode MI's fastest carousel. It went 10mph. They wouldn't let Emma ride on a horse with us holding her - she had to sit with one of us. Funny.

Emma & Addison as we were leaving the park.

Emma & I headed down to Detroit area to visit Erin, Amy & Avery. So fun to see them!

We headed over to the Wehner's for New Years Eve. Emma made it to 12:10! Jody & I tried to get a cute picture of Emma & Lauren. This was the best of the worst.

All the kids around 11pm.