We love and cherish visits from the Grandmas. Though with both grandmas with busy work schedules those visits aren't as frequent as we'd like. This time the travel gods were with us and Marmie was able to schedule a work conference in Charlotte. So with some work and some play we enjoyed her visit and to top it off we got to celebrate her birthday.
There were no prisons in Williamsburg. Apparently early colonists thought that spending time in jail was cruel and unusual punishment, depriving the criminal from working on the farm and therefore depriving he and his family of a food crop. However, spending a day or two in the pillory stocks was perfectly acceptable.
The Sunday night before Valentine's Day we had a panic moment. I had forgotten to get Valentines for the kids to take to school the next day. Being Sunday, we couldn't rush to the store. So, we pulled out the craft box and the leftover Christmas candy canes and went to work. Homemade is always better.
Our Valentine's Day feast. Heart shaped calzones and jello jigglers with salad and red punch.
I love North Carolina. Just when you think you can't stand the cold anymore, mother nature sends reprieve. 
Our month ended with having to say good-bye to our dear friends, the Bergstoms, who moved back to Ohio. Addilyn was terribly distraught and cried for a couple days. It's rare to find such good friends in the neighborhood with kids the same age as mine. We'll miss you Mark, Alison, Tori, Abby and Drew. Come visit soon.
Maycie and Alex declared themselves the "Diaper Heads" and thought themselves quite funny.
On a different day, Addilyn and Maycie decided to see how crazy they could dress.
One Saturday morning the kids woke up early. Rob and I could hear them puttering around downstairs while we continued to snooze in bed. Before long, the kids brought us breakfast in bed and told us to stay there. For the next hour we were confined to our room (poor us) while the kids did dishes, cleaned floors and wiped down cabinets as a special surprise. So how does that fit into my theme of "crazy kids"? How many normal kids do you know that do that for fun on a Saturday morning?
We finally got to enjoy temple square with the kids. We tried this a couple years ago when we in Utah for Christmas and they just kept crying about the cold. This year we were more cold weather prepared, temps were milder and we were with the Shurtliff cousins. All which made for a more pleasant experience. The kids loved it and so did I. 
Hugs from Duke. 
Maycie, Whitney and Addilyn in the Tabernacle. 
A white Christmas in the Carolinas. 
Zhu Zhu pets were a big Christmas hit this year. I think mom got just as much of a kick out of them as the kids did. 
Our traditional Christmas breakfast cinnamon rolls, unusual fruit, egg casserole, sausage, egg-nog and hot chocolate with candy canes. The kids love it.
Snuggle time. 
The aftermath. 
This was my favorite gift. The kids got a huge bin of art and craft supplies all individually wrapped to make the unwrapping last longer. Markers, glue, pipe cleaners, poster paint, tissue paper, chalk, craft sticks, googly eyes, pom poms, paper rolls, paper bundles, sculpting clay... am I forgetting anything? I had a lot of fun putting it together and the kids had a lot of fun taking it apart - and then creating, of course. 
Alex was into Star Wars this year. 
Waiting for the big reveal.
Addilyn wrote the letter to Santa this year. 
The jammies. 
I also made them for all my friends since we were spending Christmas Eve at the Smith's house. Kristin Smith, Wendy Smith, Sandy Abbott, Me (pregnant belly and all). 
Alex, Ethan Smith and Josh Abbott. Little buddies. 
All the kids listening to Adam Smith tell the Christmas story. 
Opening jammies Christmas Eve. 
Christmas Eve at the Smiths.
Big kids table. 
Little kids table. 
Gingerbread Chaos.
Maycie's idea of fun is to dress Alex up in leotards and tights and make him dance. Once he came down in a tutu and said, "Mom, will you turn on some princess music?" Should I be concerned? Nah. that kids has plenty of testosterone in him that a few moments in tights won't ruin him. 
Addilyn's 1st grade Christmas program-or I meant "Holiday" program. To be politically correct and fare to all religions it is not referred to as a Christmas program and they sing songs from Hanuka, Kwanzaa, Christmas and secular. 
Maycie's preschool Christmas program. She's way in the back on the right side. 
Alex's preschool Christmas program. 
Our "Deck the Halls" party where we drink hot chocolate, eat caramel popcorn, watch Muppets Christmas Carol and decorate the tree. 
I love traditions so this year we copied one from my sister. We went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and let the kids pick out any ornament they wanted. I wish I would have started this sooner because my plan is to write their names and the year on the ornaments they choose and then when they get married let them take the ornaments they've choosen over the years. 
On the last day of our Utah trip Grandma and Grandpa Mann took us to Leatherby's from lunch and the best ice cream desserts ever. Check out that ice cream sundae. 
Another thing that seems to be synonomous with visiting grandparents - the bounce houses. 
Helping Grandma Mann decorate her Christmas tree. She was very appreciative. 
Waiting to get pictures taken with Santa. 
Maycie, Whitney, Addilyn. 
The dresses.
Utah had a huge snow fall while we were visiting and the kids begged to go sledding.
Flat Iron Park is probably one of the most popular sledding hills in the Salt Lake Valley. As a teenager I remember iceblocking down it with friends. Unfortunately, due to high traffic the hill looked pretty sparse of snow only days after the storm despite 2 feet of it everywhere else. Oh well. The kids thought it was awesome. 
The drive down to Marmie's house.