CHRISTMAS!!!

Its almost 5 o'clock Christmas night, presents are open, bellies are full, and the cooking is done for a few days. (yay for leftovers!) The children all had fairly specific wants this year, so I'm not sure how surprising the gifts were, but they were certainly delighted. Before packages comes Christmas Eve. Levi stayed home with me while Isaiah napped and Aaron took Rebecca to service at church. Levi got the important job of picking the tea for dinner and helping set the table.

Our Shepherd's dinner - Lamb stew, rolls, herb butter, and hot tea....by candlelight!

Grandma sent new Christmas jammies so there was one package they could open before morning.

The silly level was going through the roof before bedtime.

This year all the packages were safe in the attic until they went to bed....which made this morning a bigger surprise! 

Woodland critter ornaments for next year in her stocking.

A 'real' pirate's spyglass.

Levi showing his appreciation for a legos Rebecca bought him with her own money.

Isaiah pilfered the candy bar from my stocking. Who needs presents when you can eat chocolate, right?

They like giving daddy gifts, even if we can never figure out exactly what to get him. 

Grandma and Papa sent a light up robot.....I'm going to remember this one! ;)

Her smiles were so cute this morning.

New purse and wallet.....suits any girl, any age!

When Levi found this jacket in a catalog last month he told us he needed it and if he wore it in town people would say "there is a handsome boy". I think this ensemble will definitely turn heads. 

She really, really wanted a Calico Critters doll house with chocolate lab family and chocolate lab triplets....this was the triplets!

K'nex, a classic from Grandma Maryann.

Isaiah's big wish was a Brio train. He saw a video on youtube of this set and decided that was the one thing he needed in life. 

He wanted it set up immediately.

Reading the instructions first, whose son is this? ( The answer is Aaron's, I'm way less patient about the rules and instructions)

more exclaiming over the cute details of Calico world.

CAT dozer....fun times.

Presents from my sweetie. The most fun part of this gift was out shooting hubby in the backyard. I think Aaron was surprised....I'm not a sharpshooter, but I certainly not a bad shot either! On to concealed carry next year!

The aftermath!

Oops, one last gift. The Litte Train by Lois Lenski. We checked out this book from the library and he was crying when it had to be returned. He needed his very own copy.

Trains on his pjs, trains in his books, trains on the tracks, HAPPY boy!

Levi wore his jacket until it just got too darn hot for it. 74 degree Christmas is nuts!

Rebecca trying out mama's new toys.

Big brother's marble run.....fun for Isaiah too.

Daddy's Job

I've been known to grips a bit about Aaron's job, sometimes more than a bit, but this week we got a fun opportunity courtesy of Daddy's job. Aaron had two jobs back to back in Asheville so his boss suggested he get a hotel and take us along. Yes, thank you! So Monday morning he headed to work and we followed a couple hours later. We toured part of the Biltmore and met up at the hotel and grabbed dinner downtown. Tuesday Aaron headed to the second job whilst we visited WNC Nature Center before coming home. I was a bit apprehensive about how the kids would like Biltmore, the boys particularly. I couldn't help myself though so 3 kids in tow, I went with the attitude 'we don't have to do it all'. The weather was cold, windy and rainy so some activities weren't going to work out anyway. We did visit the shops in the carriage house and the first floor and basement of the home. I think it was the perfect amount for our age range. We left still wanting to see more....in fact the next morning Levi asked to go back! We have plans to try for at least 3 more visits while we have an annual pass and that should allow us to see everything! WNC was also a shortened stop, an hour and half and we'd maybe seen half? We'll be back in Asheville again soon!

My favorite lunch buddies.

waiting for mama to get her pass made

book shop, not sure what it was that caught his eye

The toy store was obviously a bit draw.

Wouldn't this be fun on the wall for Christmas?

A quick snack and cocoa.

After this my phone was about dead and with the dismal weather no more pictures..

WNC is quite a cool place!

Its part playgroud, part nature center, part zoo.

All the animals are ones you might find in the local woods. These otters were cute enough to want to bring home!

Lots of fun play things.

Next time we'll plan to stay for lunch at Captain Dave's, today if was fun just to play on the pirate deck.

Helen Georgia

On our return trip we stopped in Helen, GA. I'd always heard of this Bavarian styled village, but never visited. We found some really cool things to do during our afternoon here, but the town itself was a bit disappointing. Too much touristy stuff, not enough Bavaria. I told Aaron it didn't pass for a trip to the Alps.....far in the future, of course.

Super quaint coffee shop, named the Jumping Goat on the outskirts of town.

A working gristmill, still using the orginal stones that are now 139 years old!

Levi was fascinated by the workings of the mill and the owner was more than happy to explain each step to him.

The river that powers the mill.

Grits, four pounds of grits! This trip made true southerners out of my kids.

The IGA store is adorable in Helen! Certainly worth stopping in for a 'pop' or a 'coke' if you are a real southerner.

Inside the IGA

I was over the moon seeing all these working, vintage appliances and products....I love retro stuff!

Old still picture opp at Anna Ruby Falls

Its just a half mile hike they said, its easy they said! It was like walking straight up a wall! ;)

I kept taking pictures thinking it was so pretty, little did I know we hadn't reached the actual falls which were amazing!

There we go!

 I want a house on a hill with views of this place!