Science is fun

We trekked down to Detroit today to visit the Detroit Science Center, oops, I mean the Michigan Science Center, for the first time as a family. I worked at the Detroit Science Center back in the day, which happened to be during the one-year renovation and expansion project that revived and reinvented the brand new New Detroit Science Center. It was one of the best experiences and jobs ever and I still miss it at times. I keep in touch with my former co-workers and often stop in to say "hi" when I'm in the area just to take a peek around and scope out the latest exhibits and projects. I've never ever once been a paying customer at the Science Center... until today. And now we're members! And happy to be so!

Unfortunately about a year ago the New Detroit Science Center closed due to poor management, large debt and loss of supporters. A team of local investors worked hard for a year to pay off the debt, assemble a team of new leadership, bring on new supporters and a few months ago the Michigan Science Center was launched. It brought back so many wonderful memories to be there today. We had so much fun! We didn't get through everything before we had to head back home, but its good to know that we can head back at any time to explore more!

 The Science Center has Michigan's only IMAX dome theater! We saw Into The Artic. Kayla couldn't believe that the movie went above, beside AND behind you and Khloe said, even before the movie started, "This is fun!" We can't wait to go back to see more films.

I got a very real sense from my girls that I would be the coolest mom EVER if I still worked there. 

I felt so proud to take my family there today. I think Aaron was proud for me...

Aaron: Kayla, Mommy helped build this place.
Kayla: Wow! You did Mommy? Really? Like you were out there with a hammer?
Me: No, not so much. I did more of the inside stuff.
K: Oh, like painting.
Me: Well, more like the design of the space and the planning.
K: Oh, design.
A: Yeah, mommy is famous.
K: Mommy was already famous! Now she's just more famous!
Me: Thanks honey.

Post Merry CHRISTmas!

The Christmas fun isn't over - not yet. There was still more Christmas to celebrate with Matt and Amy. They flew in on Christmas Day. We had our traditional afternoon and evening of playing games, eating fondue and opening presents. It's always a special treat to have Uncle Matt and Aunt Amy home!

Uncle Matt and Kayla share a special bond - they both enjoy watching funny cat videos from the web.

Playing The Game of Life - Kayla almost came in first!!!

Thank you for all the wonderful gifts!

 The irony of this photo wasn't lost on Amy - surrounded by so many large TV's yet watching a movie on a tiny little laptop screen. I don't know who was more excited for Frozen - Kristi's second viewing or the girl's fourth viewing. There was a lot of singing and laughing going on!

This was a fun memorable holiday this year! We are feeling so full of love and blessings. Also thankful that we all stayed healthy this holiday season and that we could all be together!

Merry CHRISTmas!

As predicted by Kayla herself, her wake-up call came very early in the morning. It took much convincing the night before to not have her set her alarm for 1am or 3am or even 6am. She ran in our room early to wake us up, woke up Kristi and then ran downstairs to find out if Santa really came. The sounds of her yells and feet running upstairs answered the question for us. We all went downstairs to begin the opening of stockings and presents!

Kayla said her favorite Santa presents are her American Girl doll, Krysten, her case and all her clothes, a Barbie movie, a fairy book and fairy figurines, a Frozen cup and Twinkle Toes shoes. Khloe was instantly in love with her set of Strawberry Shortcake dolls, Strawberry Shortcake purse, Twinkle Toes shoes, and Lalaloopsy movie and book. Santa did good this year!

Next off to Grandpa and Grandma F's house for a day of more gift opening and fun!

This will go down as the memorable Christmas of Aaron's homemade Ugly Christmas Sweater. Aaron couldn't get out of "Christmas Vacation" movie mode all day. The girls kept telling Daddy, "Stop calling me Clark! My name is Kayla/Khloe!" You certainly need to see the sweater in person to appreciate its full array of stunning qualities.

Mommy and Daddy's special presents

 Kayla received one of her all-time favorite gifts ever, her iPod Touch. She was so in shock (as we predicted) that she was beyond speechless.

Her new outfit for her and her doll from the Jo's!

Some of us had more fun than others, and it worn him right out!

Merry CHRISTmas Eve!

Christmas Eve began with the opening of our family presents. I received one of the best gifts ever -a new video camera!!! Woohoo! That's how I spent most of my Christmas holiday... with a video camera in front of my face!

Christmas Eve also saw our minute-by-minute tracking of Santa on NORAD. Such a fun, interesting and magical website, so much that it... makes... you... believe. We checked in on Santa's progress around the world up until the very minute Kayla closed her eyes to go to sleep - Santa was in England and had already delivered over 4 billion presents.

Koh-kee! Our budding gymnast in her new gymnastics outfit and her new baby doll.

Khloe with her two new favorite gifts - plaster molds to paint and her gymnastics outfit.

 After opening presents with our family in the morning, opening presents with Grandpa and Grandma A in the afternoon, and dinner at our home with all the grandparents, we went with everyone to the 5:30 Christmas Eve candlelight service. I don't remember it ever being so packed! Wow! It was so packed that we all couldn't sit together!

The Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is a tradition that we are enjoying, and the girls loved holding the candles at the end. 

(Sarah, thanks for letting us borrow this dress! Khloe was so excited to wear it, she kept asking to wear the "Target dress". I couldn't figure out how she knew it was a Target dress (Cherokee brand!), but then I realized that all the swirls on the dress resemble the Target bulls-eye! Haha! Perceptive little girl!)

 After the service we drove around looking at Christmas lights. There is one lake-front neighborhood in particular that goes all out and there is bumper to bumper traffic to prove it. The houses are beautiful to begin with, then they light them up festively and put out luminaries, but then they create these 'light balls' that are hung high in all the trees. It's a stunning sight! After looking at Christmas lights, we started a fun new tradition at our home. We changed out of our dress clothes, layered up in full snow gear (it was cooooooold!) and released four colored lanterns into the air. Just like Tangled! It was so fun! (And just an FYI, even if a lit lantern gets stuck high in a tree, it won't burn it or your house down. Good to know). 

Freshly frosted gingerbread man-shaped sugar cookie carefully decorated with heaps of sprinkles, because "Santa loves sprinkles". Kayla knows so. Then there was a sentimental good-bye with Cherry (as there always is on Christmas Eve night) before Kayla went to bed. A note from Cherry wrapped inside her Twinkle Toes shoe box made her morning the next day! She will cherish that note all year.

The Santa presents are wrapped and placed by the chimney ready for two excited little girls! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Cookie decorating party

Kayla and Khloe hosted their first Christmas cookie decorating party for all their neighborhood girlfriends - Gabby, Gina, Addie, Sotoria (and her cousin Ava), Lexie and Layne. The girls had a blast making cookies. We went through 4 dozen Christmas cut-out  cookies, six containers of colored frosting and countless toppings from whoppers, skittles, sprinkles, chocolate chips, chocolate Santas, and sugar candy canes. And I hosted all of their moms for appetizers, wine and homemade Irish Cream. It was a wonderful afternoon with good friends!

Merry Christmas

How the girls wanted to ride in the car together to church - holding hands <3