Fun with the Fishies

We had a great chance to go to the aquarium with the Lockhart fam this weekend. Brandon, Britton and Payton missed out, but though we missed them, the rest of us had a fabulous time. We went to the aquarium back in 2005 shortly after it opened, so this was our second visit. It was great to see how the experience has changed for the kids as they've gotten older. Nate was only 1 1/2 at the time of our last visit and MC was 3. The first visit was pretty much a state of wonder and awe at the beauty and the reality of fish and whales. This visit the kids were still in awe, but also interested in learning a little about the water life. Here are a few of the things that stuck...

• Otters live with their families all their lives. And they love to play.
• Rays and sharks have bodies of cartilage (no bones) but rays have gills underneath while sharks have gills on their sides.
• The Pork fish actually oinks when you pull it out of the water.
• The whale shark can grow as big as a school bus.
• Beluga whales are white so that they can hide amongst the ice. And Beluga means white in Russian. (I was so proud of MC as she came up with this question on her own and asked one of the volunteers to get the answer.)

MC even named several of the animals. One otter was dubbed Bob, the beluga whale, Beluga, and one of the pink fish, Lucille. Nate was anxious to see the penguins, unfortunately they were on 'vacation.' That didn't go over too well. However, it wasn't too long before he was distracted with all the sharks. I got several pictures...check 'em out.

Chillin'. She's getting tall isn't she!?!

What a fish face!

The jelly fish were very cool, neon-like in their tank.

Oh to be a star fish, just hanging out.

Happy New Year!

Is it still appropriate to say happy new year 14 days in to January???? I hope everyone's year is off to a bang. Around here, it's been all we can do getting back into the school routines after such a wonderful Christmas break away from it all. But we're making it and are looking forward to all of the crazy changes that promise to come our way this year. Below are a few of the highlights from our Christmas (or at least the ones I caught on camera - I was a little lax this year).

One of many Star Wars toys that Nate got for Christmas. The beauty of it is he was this excited with every gift.

MariCagle was most excited to get Ruthie. She loves Ruthie and her outfits, especially their matching pajamas.

Gingerbread houses...a new tradition.

They're ready for the excitement of the new year in their Nebraska t's. If nothing else, it will definitely be exciting. :)

Visiting Santa

MariCagle and Nate have visited Santa on two occasions. The problem is that they ask for different things with each visit. MC has been somewhat consistent, but Nate is just all over the place. I hope Santa can keep up! This is probably my last post until after the new year so best wishes to everyone for a very Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!!!!

More Christmas Cheer...

Here are a couple of MariCagle and Nate's pieces of work in the last couple weeks. They have Christmas on the brain. Don't we all? It's a the 'most wonderful time of the year' after all.

Nate's teacher helped him to make this wish list for Santa. He made it Friday morning and that evening we had already planned to watch 'Star Wars' episode IV that night for family movie night. After enjoying the movie, his list has expanded with all things Star Wars. Notice he is attempting to write his name in cursive. Cursive handwriting is MC's new obsession. She has some time before she actually begins this feat in school, but I guess it seems like a grown-up thing to do. And as usual, Nate likes to try everything MariCagle is trying.

MariCagle still enjoys drawing and writing a great deal. Her work now centers around Christmas. Below is one of my favorites that she's done recently. Hope everyone is having a very blessed Christmas season!!

Merry Christmas!

In honor of our last Christmas in Gainesville, we took Christmas card pictures in our Gator shirts complete with our family mascot Albert.

We wish everyone a very
Merry Christmas
and a
Happy New Year!!

Go Gators!

I have to say that the Gators have made our time here quite unforgettable or perhaps we have been their good luck charm. Since our arrival in 2004, they have won one football national championship, two basketball national championships, and barring any BCS computer mess-up, will vie for a second national football title!!! Wowwee! I hope we bring the same luck to the Cornhuskers.

Check out our Gator good luck charms through these 4 1/2 years...

Happy Thanksgiving Indeed!!!

As if we weren't thankful enough this year for our two wonderful, healthy children and absolutely fabulous family and friends...BRANDON GOT A JOB! We got the call Tuesday evening in route to visit the family for Thanksgiving festivities when the University of Nebraska called to make Brandon the offer. We were very pleased (that is an understatement) and Brandon was able to work out all the details making it official by Saturday. So come summer we'll be moving to Lincoln, Nebraska. It's a good thing we have plenty of time for all of this to settle in. But again, it was an especially blessed Thanksgiving for the Lockhart clan.

Below are a couple shots from our Thanksgiving fun (sorry I didn't take more)...

This is at Nate's 'mini feast' at school. The children all dressed as pilgrims or Indians (their choice) and we enjoyed a 'mini feast' that they had prepared for everyone. Nate was so proud of himself as he helped snap the green beans, wrap plasticware, make placemats and tablecloths, make homemade biscuits and roll up turkey for the feast. I told him I was going to let him start cooking every night!

Nana saved the wishbone for MariCagle and Nate to snap. Above they are ready to battle. Below you can see that Nate won. Though MariCagle swears that he used more than three fingers. :)

We are excited to get ready for Christmas. It is truly a wonderful time of the year! MariCagle and Nate have been working on their lists for Santa. With our news of Nebraska, they have added 'big fat coats,' mittens, scarves, and rolling suitcases. Go Cornhuskers!