Getting ready for Christmas!

So many photos to add, so little time. Here's a quick rundown of everything that's been sitting on my computer, waiting to be added.

Holly and Trevor continued the annual gingerbread house tradition.


We used the first gingerbread kit, oh, at least 9 years ago. I'm so glad this has become a favorite activity. Holly made the house this year; Trevor, the train.



Holly and Trevor wrapped presents. I found the best hiding place for Robert is in plain sight--in Holly's closet. He will never step that far into her bedroom, haha.


Lots of people sharing sweets and giving small gifts. These cookies were from two of our young library volunteers.


While eating dinner the other night, my stomach turned to hear the fire truck sirens going up and down the main road--and then it came to the end of our street. The truck was decorated for Christmas, taking Santa out. I'm not sure if he delivers gifts or visits children, or what, but when he saw me taking photos, he came over and gave me a candy cane. Holly and Trevor (and Robert) hid safely inside.
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It's been cold, cold, cold for several weeks. Holly and Trevor planned to stay up and watch the rare solstice eclipse. At 1:30 a.m., they went outside to check the position of the moon. There was already quite a bit of cloud cover. At 2:30, Trevor gave up and went to bed. Holly and I went outside and were unable to see the eclipse, as low clouds had rolled in. Too bad. While the solstice eclipse is a rarity, there will be another total lunar eclipse in June (although I don't know if it will be visible in Virginia)(.

We drove out to Lynchburg for Christmas Eve service last night. Still feeling our way with this new church. It's big, harder to get to know people, and made even harder since we've not gone to anything other than Sunday morning services. It was a very nice drive, much less stressful since Robert drove--I dislike that drive in the dark, I'm too fearful of hitting a deer, or being hit by a deer.
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We made a brief detour on the way home to swing by the Elks Retirement Home in Bedford.


The lights first began back in 1953. Now totalling over 50,000, the display is quite famous locally.


Traffic was bumper to bumper but moved nicely through the grounds.


By the time we got home, Robert and I still had the kids' gifts to wrap.

(Elks' home)

For years when they were little, I would end up staying up half the night, wrapping presents, decorating with ribbons and bows. I dreaded it but could never pull it together earlier than that. For the past several years, Robert's encouraged me by wrapping with me several days early. Our plans this year fell through. (Welcome to the dark side, honey!)

But it didn't end up being that bad at all.


Merry Christmas!!!!!

Shopping Day!

Beautiful morning after the snow.



"Shopping Day" has become a tradition that the kids look forward to. Usually we shop for Robert and go out to lunch. We don't have much to get him this year (he's already chosen his Christmas presents), so he came along.

Our first stop was lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant Alejandro's. Hey, we have our priorities. I tried to get a great Christmas pic of Holly and Trevor, and if I'd been successful, you'd see it here.



We went to the "old lady store" (according to Holly and Trevor), and Holly bought a pair of shoes (not "old lady" shoes though).



We drove to the mall and battled the parking lot. Trevor's been growing, and his pants from last year are a little short, so we bought him a couple of pairs of jeans. We wandered through the mall, admired the decorations, and people watched.

Uneventful, enjoyable, relaxing family day.

Hey!

We made the local newspaper! Isn't that sweet?!

Second snow!

We knew it was coming, and we were prepared. We figured out how to turn "Emergency Heat" on for the poor heat pump, which just does not heat up the house when it's 20 outside. I was scheduled to work but didn't go (they were not surprised), and Robert built a fire in the fireplace.



Soup began cooking on the stove, the kids did a little school work, and we played video games.



We drove around the corner to the soccer fields to use the saucers. We bought these after the big snows last year. To our complete surprise, there was not another soul sledding! Even Trevor remembers sledding in Colorado Springs, where there was always a crowd. We even brought Lucky along to run in the snow. I think he misses the old house the most, he no longer has the freedom to take off. The weather was almost perfect, low 30s, a little icy sleet coming down.



Robert dropped us off back at home, and he went to pick up a movie for later tonight. I made hot cocoa for Holly and Trevor.



I have to say it--what a huge relief to live on a road that is plowed by the state, to live five minutes from the grocery store, to not dread the possibility of losing power (we'd still have water; we have alternative heat).


It was a wonderful second snow of the season.

More friend time

Holly is not yet back to 100% and missed her biology class today. Trevor and I had plans to meet up with friends to paint pottery.



It's a laughable myth that homeschooled kids are unsocialized. The truth is that sometimes we should stay in more. :)

Tuesday

It's been bitter cold, lows in the teens, with highs near freezing, and winds bringing the wind chill close to 0. (Record-breaking low of 10, brrrrr.) Tuesday was supposed to be the kids' and my annual Christmas shopping day. We didn't have a huge day planned, just lunch and the mall, but we look forward to the tradition. Holly was sick over the weekend, not quite recovered, so we postponed our trip for later in the week.

The cold hasn't kept the birds away from the feeders.

Female cardinal

while her mate keeps watch

The cats are disappointed. They have to angle themselves well beneath the window to glimpse the birds, as we have no windowsill and no other good vantage point for them to birdwatch.

downy woodpecker

Friends came for for dinner later in the evening. They brought two beautifully wrapped presents for the boys to open.


I love that my 12 year old son is still thrilled at the idea of matching pajamas. They were so funny and excited! (And it doesn't get any better than Star Wars pjs, believe me.)

My wonderful friend also brought an amazing peanut butter and chocolate trifle for dessert. We pretty much ate, drank, and gambled our way through the night.


Or something like that.

Pics from Saturday night

Robert made eggplant parmesan. He's been working for years to find a good recipe. Isn't it gorgeous?



Meanwhile, Trevor did his famous random internet searches; I think this one had to do with "custom Lego minifigures." He's kneeling on the floor. When he has shoes on and I don't, he's taller than I am.



Lucky watched all with great interest.



We finally continued working on the Christmas tree.



The kids and I started decorating it at least a week ago and then stopped. I finished putting up the ornaments, Robert rearranged them all (not really). He does the big finale, putting on the tinsel. It's almost done.

At my house this morning

Nope, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Yet, anyway.

Chilly, foggy morning.





We had our first snow of the season last weekend, which dropped several inches depending on the area. I was working and brushed off 4" of snow from my car. There was much less at home, just an inch or two, not quite covering the grass.

It's been trying to snow again now, but it's a little warmer out. I don't think there will be much.