Lewis Ginter

Our local botanical gardens transforms their grounds into a winter wonderland each Christmas.  We have a membership this year and they offered a few free nights for members so we jumped at the chance to go on a night that it wasn't freezing cold.  

The Giving Tree was our favorite.

When we first arrived I saw kids with these headbands and I had to have one.  Luckily, Emmy liked it as much as I did!

Pretty tree!

Pictured never do lights justice, but I loved these trees.

Bryce opted for glasses that made all the lights look like gingerbread men!

The kids picked Chick Fil A for dessert afterwards!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving break started on a Tuesday.  Emmy typically has gymnastics on Tuesdays but we skipped it because the kids had been dying to play in the leaves.  It was finally a dry and warmer than normal day so we took advantage of it.

We headed to Raleigh on Thursday to celebrate Thanksgiving at the country club with my dad's family.

Sadly, each year we seem to be losing members of this big family, but we're happy for the memories we have and the memories we continue to make.

We had Thanksgiving number 2 with my mom and Nanny on Friday.  After dinner we helped Nana decorate her Christmas tree in our pajamas.  

Nana and her babies.

Three generations.

The dogs can't be left out!

We went to Culpeper on Saturday for our third round of Thanksgiving and celebrated with Jason's mom's side of the family.  This is the only picture I managed to take and I didn't get any on Sunday for our fourth and final Thanksgiving meal.  

SANTA!

Each year we head to Bass Pro Shop before Thanksgiving to visit Santa before the rush.  This year was no exception, however, there was a new Santa this year. 

Here's a look back at Santa visits from the beginning. 

2017 grandkids

2016 grandkids

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

leaders, cake pops and birthdays

Bryce's teacher chose him to be the SCA (student council association) representative for his class this year.  They had their first meeting last week and his good buddy Thomas is the representative for his class.  I picked them up after their meeting and we headed straight to bible study.

We actually had time to run an errand during the week last Wednesday so we made a stop for hot chocolate and a cake pop.  I definitely recommend the chocolate peppermint pop! 

Bentley turned 1 on Sunday.  The kids wanted to take him to Bruster's for a dog sundae but it just didn't fit into the schedule so we celebrated with ice cream at home.  They insisted that he needed a candle.  He was scared to death of it so we barely got a picture!

He's got these two wrapped around his little paw!

winners

Bryce played on a travel ball team this fall and had lots of fun and learned a lot.  The team was new and the kids had never played together before this season.  They worked hard and played hard but only managed to squeak out two ties for the season.  Sunday that all changed when they played in a post-season tournament!

This was his smile after they won their first game of the day (and first win of the season).

And here they are lined up to receive their medals after winning the championship!  They went on to win a second game which guaranteed them a spot in the championship (which they won).

He's so proud of that medal.  He and Jason may have a talk about earned award and participation awards, ha!

It was freezing on Sunday.  We joked that the kids were a cold weather team!

Way to go number 34!

friendsgiving

We attended Friendsgiving last Saturday night for the second year in a row.  We had a great time and the kids enjoyed the special visitor.

This wasn't even all of the kids!

I love Bryce's hamburger on the plate he drew.  He'd eat a hamburger for Thanksgiving over turkey any day!

Table runner hand prints from last year.

Gobble, Gobble!

winery weekend

This weekend was scheduled to be our annual Wintergreen winery weekend with friends.  Everyone's schedules kind of fell apart as the date neared so we had to cancel.  However, I was determined to make the best of it at home!

Saturday morning I got to sleep in.  Jason was hunting, but the kids knew to do their own thing if they woke up before me.  Bryce was up at 6:45, I got up at 7:45 and Emmy slept until 8:30.  I felt so refreshed.  I even got up and made muffins and a yummy breakfast complete with a mimosa.  

Later in the afternoon Jason and I and our friend Kathryn headed to New Kent to a few wineries.  The first stop was Saude Creek.  We had never been here and it was just beautiful.  The setting made it feel like we were in the mountains even though we weren't. 

Our next stop was New Kent Winery.

They closed early for a private even so when we left there we stopped at a fun burger place we happened to pass between wineries.  

The burgers were SO good.  

The kids spent the night with my mom so after dinner we were able to visit our friends who usually go with us.  They just closed on a brand new house, hence why they couldn't go out of town this weekend.  We watched a little of the HOKIES game when we got home and then went to bed early on day light savings night!  It was glorious!!