Family Vacation Part 3

Finally, we went to the Gaylord Opryland Resort to wander around.  I wanted to get there while there was still enough daylight to see, but it was hard getting babies up after naps, so it was pretty dark once we go there.  We only saw one part of the hotel, but the kids don't know they missed any of it, so we didn't mention it.  I was disappointed, but I've seen it before, so I wasn't too upset.  We did get to see the water show, and everyone liked it.

And they still had some Christmas decorations up!

Family Vacation Part 2

The next day, we went to the Opry Mills Mall, and ate at the Rainforest Cafe.  We've walked past the Rainforest Cafe many times when we lived in Flower Mound and went to the Grapevine Mills Mall, but we never ate there.  Of course, we didn't have kids, either, so we never really had an interest in going.  It was a fun place for the kids to enjoy.  Everyone liked it until the rainstorm started and Bethany flipped out.  My favorite part was holding my shaking two year old.  I love me some two year old hugs!

After lunch, we went to pet the stingrays and walk through the Aquarium restaurant.

Family Vacation Part 1

This week we had our very first family vacation that did not involve staying with family.  We went to Nashville for a few days and had a great but incredibly cold time. 

Our first full day there, we took the kids to see the Parthenon.  Most of the pond in front of the building was frozen over and all of the ducks and birds were walking on the ice.  There was a van from a news station there - I guess it was a good story.  It was pretty cool to see the birds walking on the ice, no pun intended.

Inside the Parthenon is a replica of the goddess Athena.  I can imagine that the people who went to the temple to worship her were probably terrified of such an imposing statue, and since they would not have had the modern lighting that we do, she probably would have been scarier by torch light.  We had a great conversation about idols and what God has to say about cutting down a tree and using part of the tree to warm yourself with a fire and the other part to carve an idol.

I'm so behind...

I really do have good intentions when it comes to updating this blog.  It just doesn't seem to happen very often.  So here are some recent pictures of the family...

Nathan's glad that he's almost outgrown the doll stroller

Micah at his last soccer game

Seth and Micah at their end of season soccer party

What its like at our house when I want

a picture of everyone (except me, of course)

I crack up when I see these pictures of Keith.  Well, full

disclosure here...I generally crack up when I see Keith at all.

Oh the joy of taking pictures at 9.30

at night instead of letting everyone sleep...

Abby's just as cute as she can be

Videos and pictures

We've been going through "Training Hearts, Teaching Minds" in our family devotion time, and Question 4 asks, "What is God?"  The answer follows: "God is a spirit, Whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable."  Keith reads the question, and we repeat it back so we can memorize it.  Bethany, who just turned two a couple of weeks before this clip, got in on it, too.

Abby spent some time outside, investigating bushes.

Bethany was given a doll's double stroller over the summer.  She decided that she wanted to ride in it instead of her dolls, but found that getting herself in and out isn't as easy as putting her dolls in it.

We recently went to a fall party, hosted by some friends.  Abby, Micah, Seth, and I went while the babies stayed home with their daddy to sleep.