Year End Updates

As usual, I am very bad at keeping this blog up-to-date. So today as Laurel and Zachary are both back at school and Tyler is napping I thought I'd take a few minutes and update you on our end of the year activities. I've added pictures from October through middle of December. I don't have Christmas pictures uploaded to this computer, yet so I'll try to add them next week when everyone is at school again. I hope you enjoy a glimpse at our lives.

Skiing in Colorado

Four days after our return from Disney (a very long ride home as Tyler started with the stomache bug about three hours into the 13 hour trip), Chuck left for his ski trip with his Dad and a friend of his Dad. Uncle Scott and Aunt Christy moved to Colorado in November so Chuck got to see them and ski with them, too! I was very jealous! Not of the skiing...just because Chuck got to see my brother and sister-in-law!!!

Chuck, III and Chuck, Jr.

The Continental Divide

Chuck, Jr. and Chuck, III...I know Chuck told me what resort this was at and something significant about this mountain, but until I ask him again this description will have to do!
Chuck and my brother Scott

A Disney December

We had a VERY busy December!!!!!
Grandma and Grandpa took all 6 grandkids to Disney for Christmas. Fortunately all the parents got to go, too! So really it was like a little family reunion with Chuck's family. We all arrived seperately but we met up with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Mary Ann, Uncle Scott, Michaela, Faith, Uncle Michael, Aunt Tammy and Hannah. Add the five of us and I'm pretty sure all 14 of us had a great time!

The girls at Animal Kingdom

The boys ride the carousel at the Magic Kingdom

We had very busy days!
Grandma and Grandpa with all the grandkids in Epcot's Italy before our fancy Italian dinner. After dinner we went to the Candlelight Processional.

One of the highlights for our family was going to the "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party". Though it cost extra to get in, I would highly recommend it. We were given a tip to skip the first parade and go ride rides while everyone else waited for the parade. When we first arrived, people were already lined up waiting for a parade that didn't start for at least an hour and a half . There were no lines for rides. There were very few people at the character dance parties. We had a ball! Then when it was time for the second parade...very late at 10:45 pm for the little ones I might add, but with the complimentary cookies and hot chocolate, our kids were real troopers! Even Tyler stayed awake and really enjoyed the parade! And after the parade, we rode more!!! Again with NO waiting! The decorations at night were magical, too!

November Update

The big celebration in November was Zachary's 4th birthday. He had a "Thomas" party with several of his friends from preschool and church.

Another thing that happened in late October/early Novemeber is my embroidery business got a little jump start with Christmas orders. I had orders for at least 31 different totes/purses/stockings/aprons. Here are a few of the custom totes I did for Christmas orders. For more information on my business you can check out my "Under Construction" website at

www.hintonhousecreations.com

October Update

We celebrated Laurel's 7th birthday at the skating rink. She decided she wanted a roller skate cake to go along with the party so you can see our attempt at "edible skates" below. She had a great time and asks to go skating often. Her original party theme idea was Narnia so I was quite pleased when she changed her mind to skating! I couldn't really figure out what to do for a Narnia party!

For Halloween, Laurel was Queen Susan from Narnia, Zachary was a Storm Clone from Star Wars and Tyler was Thumper from Bambi. I can't find the good picture anywhere on the computer so here is one from when the were trying on their costumes