NYE and 2022 wrap up

We typically celebrate NYE with the Shipleys but they had a pipe burst over Christmas and they got a new dog and they weren't up for hosting this year.  We decided to do something different and went out for Hibachi.  

It was a fun show and yummy food.

Emmy rang in the new year with Taylor and Bryce stayed home with us.  We watched football which helped us stay awake for the ball drop.

This year has had many highs, but also some lows that unfortunately are going to carry us into the new year. We continue to lean on our faith and our family and cherish every minute together.  

christmas 2022

We enjoyed our week off from school leading up to Christmas.  

We made a gingerbread house.

We made cookies for Santa.

Bryce's girlfriend, Alex, joined us.

They exchanged gifts and are just the cutest. 

Thanks to the internet I got creative for Christmas Eve breakfast.   I think they turned out magazine worthy, ha!

Bryce had a cough for a few days so I took his temperature on Christmas Eve and he had a touch of a fever.  Since we celebrate with my mom on Christmas Eve we decided to eat separately to not spread germs.  We had Chinese for the third year in a row. 

We did still get together for presents but wore masks just in case.  My mom and Paul were headed out of town the day after Christmas and didn't want to run the risk of getting sick. 

Our Sunday school class was asked to light the advent candle at the Christmas Eve service. 

We elected a combination of "three wise guys" for each service, ha!

 I prefer the modern service and the music, but it's not Christmas without the candlelight so we went to both!

Christmas morning!

Presents and stockings!

I heard both kids say "I got everything I wanted" so I'd say it was a successful Christmas. 

After a slow morning at home we headed to church. 

After church we headed to Jason's parents for brunch and presents. 

We had two fewer stops this Christmas so we had a little more time at home to enjoy our gifts and have some down time.  I wrapped up the evening with a festive movie and a matching beverage!

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

the home stretch

It was a festive week counting down until Christmas break!

On Tuesday night Emmy helped introduce the 2nd grade play at school and then played her recital piece on the piano again.  We got home from the show just in time to catch Santa on the fire truck!

Bryce's school had tropical day for one of their spirit days.  I'm certain bathing suits were not the school's idea of tropical wear, but it was a teenage battle I wasn't fighting that day!

Friday was pj and party day for Emmy!

Friday was crazy sock and Santa hat day for Bryce.

Both kids went to birthday parties on Saturday.  Emmy went to an indoor swimming luau party and Bryce went to a paintball party with his baseball team.

We headed to Kings Dominion for Winterfest on Saturday night.

It was cold and crowded but we enjoyed a few rides, a tasty treat and of course the decorations!

Emmy lit the advent candle at church and her class sang a song on stage. 

Sunday night youth group was fun.  The kids were in two teams and had to wrap a teammate and put them under the tree.  Somehow Emmy and Bryce ended up getting wrapped.

The kids drew numbers to make their teams and Bryce ended up on a team of all girls and Emmy ended up on a team of all boys!

It was hilarious to watch.  

They were a little hot afterwards!

We wrapped up the weekend with a game of Mechanicsville-opoly!

 

merry and bright

Bryce is bummed to not be wrestling because of his broken arm, but he's still cheering his team on.  They won their first match on Tuesday but lost on Thursday by just 3 points.

Bryce made this wreath in ag/shop class and was so excited to give it to me.  

He did such a great job and I was so excited to receive it.

Nana and I celebrated what would have been Pap's 77th birthday on Friday.  We had his favorite, ribs, for lunch.

We sang happy birthday and Emmy blew out the candle for Pap's heavenly birthdays. 

I give my mom an ornament each year for Pap's birthday.  This year was a pontoon boat for the times they enjoyed on the lake!

We had our 8th annual neighbor Christas party on Friday night.  It's always a good time!

Emmy had her Christmas piano recital today.  

She did a great job playing Deck the Halls. 

We went out for a Starbucks treat afterwards!

Bryce went Christmas caroling this afternoon while we were at the recital. 

We're enjoying doing some festive things but not overdoing it this year!

how is it already december

We went to see Santa on Thursday night.  Bryce was supposed to get a hard cast that day but was pleasantly surprised with a removable brace!  He was trying to hide it in the picture, but I told him it was fine if we saw it, and this is what I got.  Santa participated in his antics.

Luckily, they snapped a good picture too.  Emmy looks so grown up.  

Emmy had a meet in Virginia Beach on Saturday. 

They played the wrong floor music at her last meet, so she was a little nervous going into this meet, but they got the music right and she placed third on floor!

This meet was lucky 7's.  She placed 7th on bars, beam and all around.  She was pleased with her performance at this meet because she landed her beam skills and got her highest beam and floor scores of the season.

Sunday was the annual Mechanicsville Christmas Parade.  The kids have all but aged out of it, but it comes down our street so it's kind of tradition to watch with family and friends. 

Santa wraps up the parade each year!

Christmas is in full swing, and it will be over before we know it.   We 're trying to soak it all in and enjoy the season!