She's a genius, with no lack of confidence.

Tonight's dinner conversation. New Year's Eve pizza in the living room on TV trays watching college football bowl games.

Caleb: Daddy, do you know everything?
Greg: No, I don't know everything.
Me: But he does know a LOT!
Caleb: Well, who knows everything?
Me: GOD is the only one who knows everything.

three-second pause

Carly: And me. I know everything too.
Me: No, Carly, you don't know everything, only God knows everything.
Carly: Yes I do.
Me: No, you don't.
Carly: Yes, I do!

....I could go on, but do you need any more proof that she is already a know-it-all? I thought not.

Also overheard during dinner tonight:

Greg, to Caleb: The older you get, the more you'll learn. Then the older you get the more you forget.

I think that bears repeating: The older you get, the more you forget! I'll have to remember that one.. hardyharhar.

Our vacation to "Dallas"

This week we went for a short visit to "Dallas." I put "s around it because for the majority of the time we were actually in Grapevine. However, I told the kids we were going to Dallas to visit some friends, and stay in a hotel, and they took me at my word and kept asking, "When will we get to Dallas? What are we going to do at Dallas? Will there be elevators and escalators at Dallas?" We stopped trying to correct them and just rolled with it.

First we met some of our good friends Brian, Tiana, Kennedy and baby Jameson, and had lunch and roamed the mall:



Boys....



I'm so bummed I didn't get a picture with Tiana! Haven't seen each other in three years and we forgot to get a picture. Boo. :(

After they left to go back to Austin, we checked in to our hotel and explored for a few minutes before we went to the Bass Pro Shop to look around. It's a fun place for little kids and big kids alike!










Checking out the boats:


Catching the Big One:




And picking out our new ATV: haha


We caved and went back to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner. It was wild... and loud! And dark. Well, at least we can say we've been there. It's the experience that counts, right? :)




While we waited for out table, I did a little shopping and Greg took the kids on a little train ride around the mall.






Loving each other:




The next day we took the kids to downtown Dallas to the Dallas World Aquarium to see lots of pretty birds, lizards, turtles, fish, sharks, rays, and manatees.


Carly feeding a toucan. Caleb did too but the picture was blurry. Boo.


Three story indoor waterfall.




Sharks! Lots of them! The shark tank was a tunnel shape so the sharks (and rays!) could swim over and all around us. And it was against a dark background. Freaky!


Look at the face on my daughter. She was making a "sly" face. Stinker!


The belly of a shark:


Sharks, Rays, and Greg. The three biggest menaces to fish societies everywhere. Ha!


Shark over my head!!


Some pretty, calm, non-threatening flamingos:


Manatees! Those boogers are HUGE! This one was right up on the glass chomping on a piece of floating wood.


Afterward we ate lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in downtown Dallas before we headed home. The kids had a great time and we successfully wore them out!

Christmas Again!

Christmas Day, my mom and brother came over for lunch and presents. This is Mamaw's last holiday with us before she goes to Africa in February! We posed the kiddos and got some great shots with her. This one is my favorite:


Carly shows off one present. Toy Storyyyyyy!


Caleb loved his watercolor set from Aunt Melody! In fact, both kids got a set and both love it!


Proof that Uncle Cody was here:


A little down time on Christmas afternoon. This was a huge treat for them. Normally we don't let the kids in our bed, ever! But the grownups were watching football or basketball or some other such sport in the living room, and they got the boot! (Caleb wasn't sleeping.. I think he blinked)


Even more to come!

Christmas!

Two days before Christmas, we made sugar cookies and decorated them with icing, sprinkles, raisins, marshmallows, and candy-covered sunflower seeds (pantry cleanout!). The kids had a blast!


Caleb with all our masterpieces


Carly's cookies


Caleb's cookies


Christmas Eve, our family of four opened gifts to and from each other. This year, we took each of the kids shopping separately and had them pick out a gift for their sibling, mommy, and daddy. We tried to focus on giving much more than what they would receive. So this little Christmas Eve exercise was perfect because we had lots of time to focus on each gift, and make sure to thank the giver of the gift. Caleb got great joy out of seeing Carly open the gift he picked out for her. And Carly was really excited to tell Caleb that she picked out the red bow on his gift because he loves red. So cute!

Caleb helped hand out gifts


Carly gave him a dart gun! Fun times ahead!


Carly getting excited


This is a big box! Need to stand up to open it!


Caleb waiting and watching patiently


New Barbie! It's a "flying ballerina Barbie"


Setting out milk and cookies for Santa! So excited!!!




And then Santa came! The whole stash:


Caleb's pile:


Carly's pile:


Their shared gifts:




Christmas morning! Caleb sorting through his stuff:


Carly looking at her stash:


They each got a recorder in their stockings. Yeah, thanks a lot, Santa. *headslap*


Carly got some Dora earrings in her stocking. They lasted about 4.7 seconds on her ears. Just long enough to get a picture!

More to come! Merry Christmas everyone!