'Tis the Season...

...to have some real family fun!

Considering how jam-packed the past few months have been (with endless e-mails to read, and student care plans to grade, and grad school research papers to write), I decided to do my best to spend as much time with the kids as possible this month. After all, things have calmed down until January -- for me, anyway. (Daddy is still working insane amounts of overtime. However, since overtime is an incredible blessing in this economy, we try not to complain too much about that.)

Our first family fun event was attending the Festival of Lights last Friday at our local zoo with our friends, Nikki and Jamie, and their three girls. The Festival of Lights is a Christmas tradition that we have neglected for the past few years...but we've brought it back! There aren't many animals to see at the zoo during this cold weather event, but the Christmas light displays are truly amazing. With Carson still in his boot to allow that hairline fracture to heal...
...we were pleased to see that the Littles fit in our Little Tykes wagon! Since Meggie had her last final exam that very afternoon...
...it was an especially celebratory evening for her! It is so hard to believe that my first-born already has a semester of college under her belt...and got two A's and three B's in the process!!
Why, there is a great picture of me and my smartie pants college girl right there!

Most of the evening was outdoors, but there were occasional opportunities to go inside (and warm up a bit). However, those indoor opportunities (like the Reptile House) did not have enough room to allow for the wagon. Luckily for Carson...
...Evan (his awesome "brother-from-another-Mother" as they call each other)...
...schlepped him through the indoor exhibits so he wouldn't have to hobble around on that horrible boot. If I haven't said it lately, let me put it on record that Evan is just the most amazing kid. So great with the Littles (and tolerant of their crazy, loud selves) and such a sweet boyfriend to Meggie...he is a true blessing to our family!

Well, what is this? A picture of me and my awesome (sleep-deprived) husband?!
Not only that (which is rare enough), but I'm wearing a HAT IN PUBLIC!! If you know me at all, you know I do NOT wear hats. Ever. But, hey, it's Christmas...and my head was cold.

After visiting the petting zoo...
...and washing our hands, the kids went from this...
...to this...
...in the span of a few minutes. We thought the Littles were joking around about being so sleepy, so we headed out...
...with Molly on Evan's right hand and Quinn on his left. (Yes, he has a way with the 5-8 year old set...kinda like the Pied Piper.)

We agreed to meet up with Nikki and Jamie and their kids at Orange Leaf for dessert. (If you are unfamiliar with Orange Leaf, you are truly missing out. It is a self-serve frozen yogurt place that has become my proud new addiction.) By the time we arrived at Orange Leaf...
...the Littles were actually too sleepy to eat dessert. I mean, THAT is sleepy!! While Carson was just resting his eyes and would respond when we talked to him...
...Molly was thoroughly crashed on that horrific orange couch! Nikki and Jamie's girls (who are all younger than Molly) thought it was hilarious that Molly was so sound asleep!

So there you have it...an actual night of quality, family time with no interruptions for e-mails, or student care plans, or research papers. It has been so long since I've been able to relax and really enjoy life...I almost forgot what it was like to have fun!

Thankfully, my kids are always willing to remind me...