Christmas Vacation

Christmas vacation from school is well underway.  The boys have been content staying home and relaxing.  Sleeping late (anywhere from 7:30 to 9) is a treat.  Playing video games all day?  Perfect.  We've also been playing with (and taking pictures of) the cats........

Playing football outside.........

And playing with Benny's awesome new remote control airplane, given to him by Gram and Grandad.

There's been jumping on the trampoline....after cleaning the pine needles off.

And last night we broke out the Trinomonoes and played a game or two or three.

 

But today was day two of nonstop rain, and we were restless.  So we drove down to Kennesaw and visited "Escalade," a rock wall climbing gym.

The boys had a GREAT time.

 For the record, Benny climbed all the way to the top several times.  He showed no fear.  Both boys found the walls to be challenging, and just the right amount of scarey.  They climbed them over and over.

There's Sam, nearing the top.

 Benny

There were smaller, less complicated things to play with, too.

They loved this short wall, where you climb a few feet and then "fall" into the bean bags below.  They did that a long time, and there were some spectacular falls.

All in all, a good way to spend a rainy afternoon!

Christmas Cats

We've been having a lot of fun watching the kitties have their first Christmas.  I was pretty sure they'd be interesed in the tree.  But I had no idea how MUCH they'd like it.

First off, did you know that underneath a tree is the perfect nesting spot for watchful animals?  Add a fluffy tree skirt that crackles when you pounce, and it's even better.

The treeskirt/undertree haven doubles as a spa, too.  Perfect for lengthy paw washing.

And those ornaments?  A whole TREE FULL of dangling, swaying objects?  It's purr-fect for batting and smacking!

Fast forward a week or two and the kitties are now getting bolder and bolder.  The batting of ornaments has turned into outright smacking.  Yesterday I had to pick up two ornaments that had been knocked clean across the room.  And did you know that clumps of tree branches make the perfect venue for grappling, chewing, gnawing, and fighting across?

And as I figured, one of them finally attempted to climb up the middle. I found Poe halfway up the tree yesterday!    

We put presents under the tree to slow down the trunk gnawing and general climbing on the branches.  They saw that as an improvement!  Poe began opening the gifts with her teeth.

After cleaning up bits of paper and putting the gifts away again, we are now resigned to watching them enjoy themselves. The kids have the best time watching the kitties play with the tree, and we've all enjoyed the photos and videos we are collecting.  This morning Lucy was holding onto her branch with both paws and looking like she'd never let it go. 

And as it turns out.......

uner the tree is the perfect place for a long winter's nap!