Monday, December 26, 2016

Christmas 2016

This was our first Christmas in our new house.  I have always had wonderful memories of Christmas in TN, but there is something so incredibly special and heartwarming about waking up in our own home, seeing the kids come down the stairs and enjoying all of their new toys.  I loved every moment of Christmas.  It just felt...right.


Christmas Eve service at church

Olivia was a little wild during the service.  But she sure did like the candle







Trying out their gifts from Santa

Olivia got her very own stocking

Will is so excited!

I cannot believe I did not take a good photo of our stockings.  I love our stockings!  It is my first Christmas having a fireplace and a mantle!!!

Enjoying some treats out of her stocking

Flashlights?  Heck yeah

Putting the last ornmanet on the advent calendar

Loves his huge airplane from Mum and Pops!

More presents!!!


Olivia, trying on her butterfly wings from Gramma and Gdaddy

Batteries charged and ready to go!

How cute is she???

Kerplunk!!!

We got a badminton set.  I see a lot of outdoor fun in our future

Austin came over to show off his new toy

All the kids with their new toys.  Makes my heart sing.

I love them so much it hurts







End of a great day

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Surprise Trip to Fort Wilderness

We were enjoying a random Friday, Christmas eve eve.  Steve was off work for the week.  We went to breakfast at Keke's and then went to a playground to play.  We had the whole day ahead of us with no plans.  The weather was perfect.  Steve got on his phone and was on the phone for a long time.  He got off the phone and then announced....we were checking in at Fort Wilderness in a couple of hours.  Time to go home and pack!




Fort Wilderness is all about camping.  Campers galore.  But, they also have these quaint little cabins.  They even had cute bunk beds.


Fort Wilderness has so many awesome activities....many of which are free for us because Steve is a pretty big deal.

The kids got to ride ponies.  Olivia rode on Blaze and Will on Bandit



We rented mouse boats.  Steve and Olivia rode on one and me and Will on the other









We went to the playground and into the gift shop where the kids played a little.



We were able to get reservations at Trail's End



We went to the Chip n Dale sing-a-long.  Olivia still wants nothing to do with characters.  


We went swimming.  Swimming!!!  It was that nice out!



The evening ended with Will's favorite, the water parade

What a great day!

But the next day, we had more adventures in store


 We went bike riding as a family.  This was so much fun!  And such a big deal for Mr. Will who had never rode his bike anywhere except for our neighborhood






I want to go back every year.  The campers go ALL OUT with their Christmas decorations.  It is so much fun just to ride around and look at all of the campsites.  


I love being spontaneous and making memories.  We will remember this forever!!!  Now, on to Christmas Eve activities.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Love Our Neighbors!


I cannot express how much we love our new neighborhood and our neighbors.  Don't get me wrong, I always liked Abelia: Melly Hale and Roland were fun, but we never really did anything with them.  
Starting at the beginning of the Christmas season, Miss Stephanie held weekly Bible studies for the children at her house.  It all culminated with a Christmas show and Christmas caroling.  It was so, so special and meant so much to me to be a part of it.


Decorating cookies at Miss Stephanie's house


Christmas pageant

My sweet little shepard



We even got to go to Mrs. Koster's house (Will's VPK teacher) to do carolling