Friday, December 25, 2015

Georgia Christmas

The children keep their eyes open to all sorts of natural wonders. They spied this from the interstate so we had to pull off and explore! Neat old piece of machinery and manmade falls.


I was so excited to share with the kids one of my favorite Christmas Traditions, which you can only see at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain GA. FANTASY IN LIGHTS!
On the 'beach' of the lake is this wonderful lighted nativity which lights up a bit at a time as the story is read from Luke. I didn't get the grand finale picture when it goes from all white to full color as Joy to the World plays.

Leaving at the end of an exciting night. I though Levi was going to fall out of the trolley he was so eagerly watching all the lights go by. Isaiah wasn't able to keep himself seated by the end! I didn't take pictures along the route....just soaked up the expressions on the kids faces.

Morning lighting wasn't grand, but here are our three on the steps of the church where we were married.

A little better, but you can't see the church as well.

Callaway Country Store


First time we ate at this hilltop restaurant and the breakfast did not disappoint. Levi wanted plain old cheerrios, but when the milk arrived in a tiny pot to pour himself, I was reminded nothing about Callaway is plain!


Birds of prey show was fun for Rebecca, but the boys had to watch from a distance....

BOYS will be boys!

The Discovery Center, just one cool stop inside the gardens


I cannot even convey how great this trip was, I have so many great memories from here!











There two are so sweet and loving to each other....not so with her other brother. 







The organist was playing all Christmas Carols when we visited the chapel.




Saturday, December 5, 2015

One of THOSE days!

Its been an interesting week to say the least. Starting with a trip to the doctor on Monday because Levi claimed he had legos down in his ears and ending with coming home to a freezer not running on Friday evening. In between those minor events things were even crazier. Aaron has had a rough week at work late nights, problems, and working on Saturday....he's just been covered up! I had some really great parenting moments, but Friday was finally here and we were headed to the woods. Our weekly hikes are the highlight of our school weeks. Yesterday it was sunny, crisp, and started perfectly. We took a picnic lunch read Vivaldi's sonnets while listening to the Four Seasons Concertos, introduced the kids to a painting by Millet and then we trudged out on a favorite trail with our friends. Lots of great memories by the lake, in the lake, in the woods. We returned to our cars to find our passengers windows smashed in and both mine and my friend's wallets stolen. So we sat in the quicly dopping sun and temperatures with wet, tired, hungry children waiting for the police to come make a report. I even tried very hard to get in touch with a park ranger. I was really upset that once I did reach someone by phone at the nature preserve. They seemed quite unconcerned, said it happens a lot, and to never leave anything in your car. After and hour and a half, two police officers, we finally headed home and still never saw a ranger. We have hopes that the cameras may have caught the incident and since my credit card was used at a nearby gas station we may be able to get surveillance from their cameras. Whoever did this was just a lousy person! Who steals from messy, beat up minivnas?! On my, very cold, drive home I drove through a wreck.....as in the wreck happened in the far south bound lane and one car shot across my northbound lane and into the ditch as I drove through shards of taillights!!!! I wanted to kiss my front door when I finally got the kids home safely. Sent Becca down to grab some frozen pizzas for dinner and thats when we discovered the freezer was thawing and all the apples I had frozen from the orchard a loss. Can you believe it?! As bad as it sounds though, we are thankful that Aaron's crossed wires fried parts and not him, the children and I were not hurt during the robbery, and I was NOT in a bad wreck on my way home. A few rotten apples is nothing! Thanks to God for all His protection!


Holly tree with berries





It was soooo cold, but the kids just can't resist getting their feet wet!

 Returned to this disaster......


The kids thought meeting the police and playing in his car was fun. Levi told the officer as soon as he arrived in his funny fast voice and mispronounced words "I will help you, I've got stuff in my pack and I looked for clues. They used this rock as a weapon to smash our windows". The officer just smiled and nodded. LOL 

Its beginning to look a lot like....

November and December are absolutely the best time of year! Everyone here gets so excited about decorating, shopping, and wrapping. I love 'making' Christmas for the family....but I'll be tired come January!
Bringing in the decorations....Rebecca couldn't believe this year we started before Thanksgiving!

 Glass birds seemed fitting for the kitchen light fixture, since our bird watching station is our that window.
 Greetings.....please come visit us this season!
 The den, and yeah I need to finish painting above the bookcases....ran out of paint.
 First time I've had a truly good space to display this part of Aaron's childhood Christmas memories. Oh, and that awesome House of Marley speaker was from Aaron so I can enjoy my Christmas music....like really enjoy it, the sound is amazing.
"ho, ho,ho"

Stringing cranberries and popcorn for the bird's tree.

Isaiah likes big sister reading to him.

Thankful for this beautiful family God has given me!

Thanksgiving afternoon at the movies. We give the new Peanuts movie a big thumbs up!

A tree Clark Griswald could be proud of...

Didn't fit in the den, but I think it looks great downstairs.


On our way to JOY- And Irish Christmas

Beautiful church in south Charlotte.

Rebecca and friend.

The Getty's music is so great! 

Photo booth fun after the concert.

I made these, very rustic, wood burned and watercolor ornaments for our Jesse Tree devotions this month. We'll trace Jesus' family tree from creation to incarnation.

Chippy arrived a day early...November 30th

He brough supplies from graham cracker gingerbread houses.

A little more decorating in the kitchen

Shoe-shoe train


The kids worked together to make our holly cookie treat.


My whole kitchen with Christmas bows everywhere.

Elf kisses....nice and simple after a busy week.