Christmas at Home

Between trips out of town we managed to find time to do lots of fun local stuff too! Somehow in all the craziness I'm still wishing it wasn't already Christmas, its just been such a great season! I think having our school work being so focused on old Christmas traditions and stories, the masterful paintings and worshipful music.....its just not felt all that hectic? Anyway, here's what we've been up to...

Happy Camper.

Pretty little girls all ready for the Nutcracker Ballet.

The local youth ballet did a great job, the traveling performer's not so much. The music wasn't live either, but all in all a fun afternoon and a great way for the girls to enjoy the ballet.

More elf antics

New winter hat....monkey for my monkey.

No fighting lines and crowds for us, we bought everything on Amazon.

Seriously, Chippy?!

For my birthday I got to add these candlesticks to my tea set and replace a pitcher that was broken a few years ago.

Local park had a HUGE model train set up for the public.

Isaiah loves all things trains.

Riding the train through the lights in the park....

......with snacks.

Frosty the Snowman night.

Kids Christmas Party....we had more friends join us that afternoon, but I didn't have time to grab the camera.

Visiting Birkdale Village and Barnes and Noble.

Birkdale Green

Southern Snow Fight. How often is it warm enough Christmas week to play in the rain?

Levi woke to his door wrapped shut and thought he was dreaming. 

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.

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