Monday, December 22, 2025

not a lot to report

This week flew by with little to show for it.  Emmy had exams this week.  She got out early every day and then hung out with friends and family while we worked.  I was able to wrap up most of the Christmas shopping while she was out and about.  Her friends went to Top Golf and shopping on Thursday to celebrate the end of exams.  

Jason and his buddy were twinning at church today.  

 

Sunday, December 14, 2025

a busy fun and festive week


The second round of snow was more significant than the first.  The kids knew on Sunday night that we'd be out of school on Monday.  It was a nice treat after getting home late from Florida.  My neighbor dropped something off while we were out Monday night and snapped this picture of our house.  It's so pretty at Christmas in the snow.  


We ended up getting another snow day on Tuesday.

Pap would have been 80 on Tuesday.  We celebrate him each year with ribs for dinner.  We even got the gang from Pap's 70th birthday together for the big day. 

I give my mom an ornament with something that reminds me of Pap.  This year I went with 80 for his birthday.  

This was also the 10th birthday we celebrated without him. 

Emmy went back to school on Wednesday and Bryce managed one more snow day.  We all met up Wednesday night for our annual Santa picture.

There were talks of this being our last Santa picture since Chase is a senior.  Emmy said they had to take Santa pictures until she's a senior.  Bryce told her he'd go with her.  We'll see how it pans out over the next few years. 

Smaller crowd this year.  MeMa and Nana and Paul were busy and Dave was still working.  

I capture pictures of this cutie whenever I can.  She was spayed this week.  We're supposed to be keeping her calm, but that's pretty difficult with a puppy.  

Emmy had her disco themed gym Christmas party on Friday night.  A few friends from her team did a secret Santa gift exchange at Starbucks before the party.  

Jason and I had our neighbor Christmas party on Friday night too.  I love making this veggie wreath.  

The Beljacklocks have morphed over the years, but it's a fun group.  

The youth had a Christmas play at church tonight.  Emmy was the main star.  She was basically the babysitter of the little stars, ha!

Bryce and Chase were the camel again this year. 

Monday, December 8, 2025

a snow day and a beach day

We kicked off December and advent with fun advent calendars.

A friend told Bryce that he was in the newspaper following the state championship volleyball game.  I was excited to get my hands on it and proud of him for being recognized. 

Not a bad way to be described as an athlete.  

Bryce and his buddies made jerseys to cheer on their friend at basketball games this season.

Bryce and Avery at the National Honor Society induction ceremony this week. 

Bryce was inducted into the Beta Club and the National Honor Society. 

We had a snow day on Friday.  

Then we hopped on a plane on Friday night and headed to Florida for the weekend.  


We went to Cocoa Beach for the day on Saturday and the weather could not have been more perfect.  

Two of Emmy's teammates joined us at the beach.  Others from the team went to Disney World or did other things, but we're beach people!

Putt-Putt is a must at the beach.

We had the best time!

Bryce even had a good time!

It didn't feel like Christmas in Florida, but there were small glimpses of it.  

She's a nut!

Sunday was meet day. 


Emmy got 1st on bars and 3rd on beam. 

She placed 3rd all around.  


We missed the Mechanicsville Christmas Parade for the first time in fifteen years of living in this house.  It was bittersweet to have our friends here and not be here, but we made sure to catch Santa on the firetruck (on our doorbell camera) at the end of the parade.  To top off our weekend, another round of snow came in, and we get another snow day!

Sunday, November 30, 2025

thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving at the Carolina Country Club again this year. 

We were only missing one person this year!

We went to the movies on Thanksgiving for the first time ever.  We saw Zootopia 2.

We had our annual day after Thanksgiving dinner at Nana's on Friday and decorated her tree.

 

Monday, November 24, 2025

Friendsgiving and volleyball

I finished decorating the house this week and I'm enjoying the light of the Christmas tree in most rooms!

Emmy made a poster to cheer on Bryce at the state championship send off on Saturday night.  

Once we saw Bryce off, we headed to Friendsgiving for a quick visit.  We had just enough time to eat dinner and snap a few pictures before heading to Bryce's game. 

Emmy skipped volleyball so she could hang out with the girls, and she didn't want to miss Santa.  

The girls asked for private planes and yachts to get to the life size Barbie dream house on a private island that they also asked for.  Silly girls.  

Our friends who host Friendsgiving also host the day after with a smaller crowd to finish leftovers and hang out.  Bryce was able to come and get his stocking!


I didn't get many pictures or videos because the game was too intense.  We didn't win the championship, but Bryce played his heart out.  He worked harder than anyone out there and he encouraged his teammates the whole time.  It was a bittersweet ending to a great season.  

We are so proud of his sportsmanship and his dedication to the team.  We have so enjoyed watching him and his team play this season.  

Avery and her family came out to support him too!