The New Year in Ohio - Welcome 2011!

Happy New Year! This year we were able to spend a week with Nana and Papa in Ohio for the New Year. We had a wonderful time! It is always so sad to leave! :( This time, Bill was sick for the whole week, so the poor thing stayed in bed the whole time. But the boys and I had a wonderful time with Nana and Papa. It is so wonderful to get to be with my parents and spend time with them. I just hate that they live so far away!

Our very first act in Ohio? The snow, of course! On the plane, Eli kept talking about getting to build "Frosty". Unfortunately for us, this was one of the warmest it had ever been in Ohio at this time, so this day was the only day that we got to see any snow at all. Overnight, all the snow melted and we didn't see anymore. I'm thankful for that first evening that we got to play! Here are Brady and Eli throwing snowballs at Nana. They really enjoyed getting to play in the snow. I'm afraid these Texan boys don't get to see too much of that!

Eli exploring the white stuff.

Brady showing off his snowball making capabilities.

The very first night Nana and Papa took us out to eat at Cracker Barrel. YUM! Poor Bill was in bed. He missed out on some good eatin'!

Here are the boys in their matching pj's Nana and Papa got them. So cute! Notice the dinosaur on the pj's. They love these things. The only night we aren't wearing them is the night Mama is washing them! :)

Sweet, sleeping Eli.

Sweet, sleeping Brady.

Eli helping. I love right now that they both WANT to help us do everything! Now, if I can only keep that attitude when they get to be teenagers!

We also get to do lots of playing at Papa and Nana's house. Here, we have a tea party hosted by Brady and Eli.

Playing animals in the living room. (Seems like Daddy was able to make it out of the bedroom for a few New Year's Day football games. :) )

Playing dinosaurs with Papa...

Nana always has plenty of crafts for the boys to do. Here is Brady doing his "Under the Sea" craft.

Eli creating his Hawaiian house.

And what is a trip to Nana's without making cookies?

Icing! The more, the better!

Here is our last night dinner. Bekah, Eli, Rachel, Papa, Nana, Bill, and Brady. We ate at Smokey Bones, a BBQ joint. It was GREAT!

Papa and Nana with the boys. Man, I wish we lived closer to each other!

And our little family.

It turns out that Bill had a middle ear infection in both ears! It was so bad, he wasn't able to come back on the plane with us on Tuesday. Instead, he had to stay in Ohio until Thursday to give his ears more time to heal. So the boys and I packed up alone and headed back to Sugar Land. It was very sad to come home. Ever since we left Ohio, the boys have been pretending to take airplanes to Nana and Papa's house and asking when the next time is that they get to go. I'm so thankful and blessed to have such wonderful, loving parents! I love you!