Visiting with Grandma and Grandpa Gibbs

Grandma Phyllis and Grandpa Tom came to visit over the weekend. We had a good time and celebrated Christmas one more time. We left all the decorations up, so now we have to deal with taking them all down. Grandma & Grandpa arrived on Thursday afternoon. After dinner we opened presents. Natalie, Owen, and Henry were up late, but it was fun. Natalie and Owen were ecstatic that there were more presents to open. On Friday, Mom had to work and Dad had a few things to do around the house as well as some work meetings. Grandma & Grandpa put together Natalie and Owen's new toys. Saturday (after we rushed to get Natalie to ballet only to find it doesn't start back until next weekend) we dragged Grandma & Grandpa to the mall so we could use some of our Christmas gift cards. After an exhausting shopping experience, we went home and some of us napped and some of us worked outside. (Dad put Grandpa to work outside.) We went out for Mexican Saturday night and then we went to the Downtown Aquarium to enjoy some rides. We took turns on the carousel and the Ferris wheel, and then we sent Natalie and Owen on the train ride with Grandma and Grandpa. We have not taken this ride before, and apparently it is a "shark voyage." The train goes to the shark exhibit and also to an area where a big plastic shark "attacks" the train. This was cause for some excitement as you can imagine. Natalie now has more fuel for her nightmares and reasons to sleep with Mom and Dad. Owen was pretty excited about the sharks. Grandma and Grandpa left on Sunday and we all rested from all of our holiday celebrating.

Other than celebrating the holidays, we have been watching Henry grow before our eyes. We think his infancy is passing a lot faster than it did with Natalie and Owen. He is doing great! He is making raspberries at Mom these days, and he's full of giggles and smiles. He loves to be tickled! He's getting into his toys, grabbing things and chewing on everything. He loves Natalie and Owen, and Natalie always gets a smile from him. We can't believe how fast it's going. Natalie is still amazing us with the things she says. Every week she says something wild (and grown up!). Owen is getting to be a big boy. We're starting to get a little more aggressive with potty training (with Thomas the Train and Elmo underwear!), though we're not sure that it will go as smoothly as with Natalie.