Ice skating

We really wanted to ice skate this Winter Break and the only day we could coordinate with the Thomspons (and no one was sick) was today.  So we set off for Tysons Corner and the ice rink outside the major mall there. The Thompsons would meet us there. I hadn't skated since college and forgot how heavy ice skates were. I also didn't wear the proper socks and got ankle blisters. I spent my time helping Paige go around the ice. She never really got the gliding motion and kept trying to walk. She and I lasted about 20 minutes and then she wanted to rest, meaning that we returned our skates and sat down to watch.

 Eva was pretty good, eventually gliding around with hands in her pockets.

Brendan wasn't bad but he was soon uncomfortable in the skates as well.

Darby was having lots of trouble but was tenacious. Eventually she got a skating aide and took off. She was the last one in off the ice from our family.

The Thomspons had trouble finding the place and arrived after Paige and I were done. Some of their older kids have skated before and so they lasted longest.  Look at these cute girls!

We McDaniels retired to the fire pit to wait and watch.

 After a while we had hot cocoa. It was very pleasant.

Not wanting to go home, Jason found a Famous Dave's on the way home and we all ate together. BBQ is always good. Then we went home to try to stay up until the new year began.

National Zoo

One of the wishes for break for the kids was to go the zoo. The National Zoo in Washington DC is free and awesome!  It was an unseasonably warm day this Wednesday and so it was perfect for an outdoor zoo day. As we were about to arrive Paige announced that she had to "go pee right now!" Jason pulls up and she and I ran out of the car and into the zoo to find a bathroom while he parked.
After meeting back up we laid out behavior expectations for today's outing. You can see the enthusiasm in their faces, can't you? ;)

Since we met up by the Asia Trail, the giant pandas were the first animals we saw. And they were SO cute! One was so interested in eating that he had his head stuck in the crate trying to get the last morsels.

Inside the panda habitat we saw two of them up close. They began to wrestle. It was adorable!

Next was the red panda which was quite cute.

After that we just followed the trail seeing elephants, wolves, small mammals, etc. We went into the bird house, where the birds roam freely. We got within touching distance of a peacock. We even saw two mice, which I'm pretty sure didn't belong there. But, being his first time seeing a wild mouse in person, Brendan was pretty excited.

Paige loves the flamingoes!

The most magical part of the day was spent with the sea lions. One took a liking to Darby. She spent over half an hour across the glass from Darby playing with her. Darby was able to motion for her to go up and down, which she did. Darby would make a certain hand motion and the sea lion would twirl and chase her tail. If Darby moved around, the sea lion followed. It was the most amazing thing. They had such fun playing with each other.

Later, in the aquarium, a lady found us who was nearby at the sea lion tank. She told us that when we left, the sea lion went to the surface and didn't come back to interact with the people. Awww. 

The Amazon aquarium was amazing! There were fish in the tank that were bigger than me.

Brendan also got to see piranhas, which he was very excited about. They look so harmless. Earlier, in the rain forest building, where animals roamed freely too, he got pecked by a spoonbill.

Brendan most wanted to see the gorillas and apes. Did you know that they pick their noses? I didn't but we saw one do it.

By then the kids were tired and hungry (two hours walking is pretty good for them) so we went home. We didn't get to see all of the zoo but the girls decided that they wanted to return on Girlday for their birthdays. Awesome! Looking forward to it. 

Christmas 2016

The kids woke up around 6am and got into their stockings, but did as they were told and did NOT wake the parents. The puppy, however, did. So I got up to let her out to potty and put her right back in her crate for the present opening. I knew she'd cause trouble with that, not to mention trying to eat stocking candy. I think the kids were happy with their stocking stuffers. Paigey got princess stickers.

 

 Brendan got a puzzle. 

Darby got drawing books and Eva got a gift card for Kindle books. I let Jason sleep in until the traditional 7am and then sent the kids up to wake him and bring him down.

Darby was the elf this year. She loved it. Such a cute elf too. :)

This year we tried to stick to "something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read." And, each sibling bought a gift for another sibling. Daddy Jason was in charge of my gifts. He spent more than he should've on one of my gifts (my new Dyson!) so I opened the family gifts too. The Waltons sent us lots of new games for Family Game Night.

 

 

Jason got a new vintage tie, some new pants, a microchip thingy to locate his keys and a book called "Bad Arguments". 

Brendan got more Lego Dimensions characters (a BUNCH since we bought them on sale months ago and have been hiding them), new fidgets, pajamas and a funny shirt, and a graphic novel series called "The Amulet". Eva bought him a book as well as her sibling gift.

 

Eva received a pink spotted elephant (its what she asked for), a new bottle holder for her lunch water bottle, a jacket and pants and a new book. Darby bought her pajamas and a Barbie.

 

Cute sister  hugs of thanks!

 

Darby got  a kindle e-reader and case for it (she wasn't too sure about it at first but loves it now), a jacket and pants for winter and another drawing book. Paige gave her a jewelry set with the Frozen movie theme.

 

Paige was given the gifts of a new razor scooter, an Equestria Girls stage set, some dress up gloves and another book in the Bad Kitty series. Brendan bought her a My Little Pony set and  another Equestria Girl doll. 

After all gifts were opened we let Stella lose for her "present". She got to tear up boxes and paper to her heart's content.

I knew Paige wasn't feeling well by the way she reacted to her presents. A weak, "Yay" was about all she would do. She didn't want to eat the eggnog French toast I made for breakfast and then threw up. And so no church for us. Jason took the others for the one hour service that was to happen on Christmas Day. I was sad to miss it but Paige spent all day asleep or laying on the couch. She barely played with anything she had received. But the big sisters did. :)

I made a roast for dinner (which wasn't as good as I wanted) and we played family games at night. if Paige had been feeling well, it would have been a completely wonderful day.

Merry Christmas!