The Gift of Science

For Christmas, Mops and Gee Gee (Ben's Mom and Grandmother) gave our family a year membership to the Adventure Science Center. William LOVES studying his toys to see how they work. He spends tons of time studying and observing, so the science center seemed like the perfect fit for him....and boy were we RIGHT! Today was our first visit and they had a train exhibition near the lobby. William was in heaven! It took us an hour just to move past the lobby! We tried to go to a magnet demonstration but the trains won.

Trains and more trains and plenty of buttons to push!

I wonder if he will be sad when the exhibition leaves January 1st. I think we'll have to go again before it closes!

There were plenty of other fun things. This piano freaked him out a little. As much as William LOVES music, I'm thinking by May it will be his favorite exhibit!

They had a play area with slides. Too many big kids today but maybe he'll be more comfortable with this part when the big kids are back in school.

They also had a full size ambulance that had wheels lowered into the ground (so it was easier for the kids to get on and off). Again the big kids where hogging it.....the kids could sit in the drivers seat and the siren and light switch worked.

Finally it cleared out a bit but the drivers seat was always occupied.....maybe next time. We have a whole year to come back to this one!

We found the Toddler area. He was running around all excited. The exhibition is about growing food and healthy eating. The kids learn about the farmers market......

(William liked organizing the pumpkins)

gardening

the outdoors

and they had a kitchen setup with recipe book and living room. Also a tree house. He loved it! We will have to go back before the exhibit closes (January 21). They switch out the toddler area so the kids get different experiences.

The science center had something for everyone, including adults. I can't wait to go back! We didn't even get to the planitarium today! Definately an awesome gift and we will get to go as much as we want to ALL year! Thank you Mops and Gee Gee. We are going to have a year full of fun memories here!

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Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

William has the most beautiful hair in the world. I just love his curls and so does my mother-in-law but after getting one girl comment to many and a little encouragement from Ben, it was time for a haircut. My mother-in-law claimed murder but it had to be done. So this morning was the day and I wasn't going to talk myself out of it.

William even got a special chair to sit in.

He wasn't happy about it. Even a sucker didn't make him happy.

Dora the Explorer came to the rescue!!!

He still wasn't happy but at least distracted.

Then back to the sucker.

Yay!!! We still have curls!!!

Yes, of course mom saved enough curls for ALL the Grandparents!

 

(picture later)

William got a certificate afterwards for his bravery!

Want to guess how many suckers he went through?

1 fell to the ground immediately and went into the trash, 2 were consumed during the haircut and 1 afterwards......I guess our next visit is to the dentist.

Isn't he handsome? See the curls? It's crazy how much more he looks like his Pops now. For the rest of the day, while we were running errands, I was doing a double take everytime I looked at him, "do I have the right kid?" Then he would smile. Yes, I have the right kid!

I think he likes his hair and maybe he's forgiven me or maybe he will forgive me before the next one (in 2.5 years?)

 

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Ms. Reesie's Class

William LOVES preschool and really likes his teacher Mrs. Reesie.

By request, here is his first class photo. Two of the kids come on opposite days from William. On his school days, only 4 girls and 1 other boy come (6 total).

 

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Rockin' Halloween

We decided William was old enough for trick or Treating this year but first things first. Yesterday, William and Ben did a father son pumpkin purchase for carving and a ton of candy for the army of trick or treaters that would come to our door.

After nap time, we got started on the pumpkins. Pops went first and mom went second. Both pretty simple.

Which pumpkin do you like best? William thought they were both goofy.

Then it was time to get our little man ready for his first time Trick or Treating. This year he went as a Rock Star. He loved his outfit and wore it proudly. He got TONS of compliments on the hair.

By the time he went to the third door he was a pro proudly holding out his sack and saying some resemblance of 'Trick or Treat' and 'Thank You'. I think everyone thought he was so cute that they gave him extra candy. Look at that loot!!!

William liked the Nerds best!

Then it was time to go help Pops at the house. He was mobbed by Trick or Treaters!

We had fun Halloween family time. Hopefully it will be a little warmer next year.

 

Happy Halloween!

 

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Celebrating Dad

My father's 70th Birthday was earlier in the month (Oct 6th)....since he wanted to celebrate with his siblings in England on the big day, my sister and I (and our families) were invited to a weekend in Gatlinburg. It was fun. William hadn't seen his grandparents in a long time and I know he had a great time with them!

Tuesday, October 23rd - Since I had work a commitment in the morning, William went to preschool and when I was done Ben and I picked him up. Unfortunatley,he had already fallen asleep on his mat at school but his teacher helped me pack him up and he finished his nap in the car.

When William woke up, we decided to let him stretch. We still had 2 more hours to go. Pops helped.

William was busy practicing letters while we Pops was driving.

Map to the cabin, defiantly not to scale (and missing a couple of curves in the road)!

Wednesday, October 24 - The next morning we saw the view from the cabin. beautiful!

We all were a little stiff from sitting in a car the following day, so after a few bugs were worked out, we decided to take a late morning hike. William led the way!

Pops took William to the stream to throw leaves and rocks in. William saw a couple of trout (ish) too.

William taking a break with Grandpa.

After his nap Mom and I took William to the park for a run on the playground. Ben fixed steaks and fish on the grill with unseasonably good corn on the cob! It was delicious but didn't lure any bears out of the woods.

Thursday, October 25 - Ben, William and I decided to poke around in the craft shops with William before his nap. We found a place with live gospel music. William loved it and busted out some dance moves.

When Sarah and Wade arrived, it was time for William to get some excercise at the playground. Auntie came along and took some amazing photos.

Seriously? how do you pick good pictures when they are all good?

William also had some fun in the leaves.

When we got back, mom fixed taco salad for dinner. Yummy! Everyone enjoyed it including William.

Friday, October 26 - Men took an 8 mile hike to waterfall.......,

at the top (below)!

...,,,while the women and William took a ranger guided walk with William. Again, Auntie Sarah took amazing pictures.

My little comedian (below)

We saw some dear but no bears. The ranger said that the park had 2 bears per 2 square miles......our bear spotting chances were very good!

but no bear was seen by either group :-(

The ladies we also went to a tea room (The Wild Plum) with William since the men took a picnic on their hike. William was so good and won lots of old ladies over with his smile.

We had a little wait at the tea room. William had the crowd entertained until our table was ready.

Entertained with a rock game of course!

When everyone was back at the cabin, we celebrated Dad's birthday.

We decided dad needed help filling his new wine cabinet from mom. Wine accessories (and a Gatlinburg Mug) to accompany a Virginia wine subscription! Sarah also wrote a poem framed it with a spot for a group photo.

Saturday, October 27 - Saturday morning (our last full day). It was chilly and drizzly but the group didn't let that stop them. William was the first up. He hit the ball like a pro!

Checking out the green like his Pops taught him.

Watching the professional (Wade).

William waited for his turn like a pro.

A little bear wrestling before the last hole.

William says Grrrrrr. This ended up being the closest thing to a real bear that we saw the whole trip.

Wade came in 1st, William came in second.....we are still trying to figure out how William did so well.

Later that evening we had dinner at an 'authentic' English pub. Here is our group picture before dinner.

The food at The Fox and Parrot was excellent but i think that everyone was in agreement that the tavern was more authentic to Gatlinburg instead of England. We forgot to take a picture :-(

Sunday, October 28 - packed up and drove home - No teddy bear picnics on this trip!

Ben, William and I stopped at a restaurant we really enjoy (The Old Mill) for Breakfast. Loved looking at this tree while we ate.

Hope you had a wonderful 70th Birthday Dad and that you fulfill your dreams for the coming year.  Your family loves and supports you.

Love,
H, B & W

UPDATE: for more pictures and videos (for William's Groupies), go to his Omi's blog (here: Feeling Blessed).

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