December

We had a crazy but fun December.  The house was decorated and most of the shopping was done before the month even started.

 

We lit the Advent Candle at church for the first Sunday in Advent.  We also attended a practice for the Christmas program.  I was nervous about Sam's performance as a sheep, especially since he wanted all of the musical instruments in the play.  We ended up not being able to do the Christmas program though.

 

 

The first weekend in December we went out to eat in Richmond with five other couples and had a really fun night.  We will plan ahead much earlier for future holiday seasons since several places kind of laughed at my request for a table for 12 when I called.

The next morning we went back to Richmond to see the Legendary Santa.  I was relieved to find the line inside, since we started outside last year.  We waited about an hour or so, but everyone was happy.  Sam lost his excitement when he had to sit on Santa's knee, but after Avery talked to Santa, Sam put his mouth on the microphone and said "Choo choos."  We were done in time to have lunch at Mosaic.

 

The following Tuesday, Ned had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck.  While he had been dealing with this since the end of the summer, the surgery was planned 6 days before it occurred.  That day Mimi stayed home to keep Sam and we put Avery on the school bus.  His surgery was scheduled for 11 am and the doctor started around 12 pm.  He was done around 1:30 and I saw Ned about 3:30.  Because he was sick from the anesthesia, he ended up spending the night in the hospital.  The next few days were challenging with Ned being out of commission.  Things got much better when the responsibility of the dog was no longer mine.

We had our Night of Carols program on December 10th.  PreK-6th grade performed and it was great.

That weekend we attended Mason's fifth birthday and the kids had fun jumping.  That night Ned felt like getting out, so we went to my Christmas party at my headmaster's house.

 

 

We were dressed and ready for church breakfast the morning of the 14th, but Avery started acting strange.  The stomach bug had gotten half of the class during the week and weekend, so we stayed home to be safe.  I watched and worried all day but we decided we would go have dinner with my parents.  Avery got sick as soon as we got home.  She spent two days out of school, but the 2nd day was mainly to get her strength back.  

We did our gingerbread house that Tuesday night to cheer her up.

 Luckily Avery was ready for school Wednesday, because the Kindergartens were going to Swift Creek Mill Theatre to see Drifty's Snow Dance.  It was a such a cute show, and we got to meet all the characters during lunch.  I had worried all week that the stomach bug would strike me during the trip, so I was relieved when I got back off the bus.

That Thursday was Polar Express and pajama day at school, but I have no pictures.  Avery had been so worried she would be too sick to go.  Pajama day was a big deal.  That night, all the ladies from school and the wives of the men did a paint party.  We had lots of options and had fun even with the stress of trying to be an artist.

 School dismissed Friday the 19th at 12 o'clock.  Avery and I hurried to pick up Sam to get home for a nap.  Sam sang Christmas songs all the way home.

 

That Saturday morning I hosted our Bible Study study group to do one of our sessions, and that night we had 5 families over for oysters, pizza, and appetizers.  I'm not sure that I'll do so much next year just as my break starts, but it was fun.

Sam was not feeling pictures before church Sunday morning.  He ended up getting sick in his bed late that night, but was perfectly fine the next day with a good appetite.

 

We spent the few days of break cooking and baking, having lunch with friends, and enjoying our time together.

Finishing Fall

I've had this post in my drafts since October, but because of technology issues, busyness, and laziness, I'm squeaking it in before the end of the year.  I want to blog about Christmas and can't let all of these memories be lost. 

During the last week of October, which was possibly one of the craziest weeks of our lives, we brought home our puppy Raider.  Sam is pantsless because I had to stop and let him potty in a parking lot and he still ended up with wet pants, underwear, socks, AND shoes.

 

 

During that crazy week, Avery finished her soccer season with 3 games in one week.  She had a great time and even stuck her foot out to kick the ball some.  In the last few minutes of the last game, she took a shot to the head, but the trophy and cupcake perked her right up.  I learned I was not made to be an extra-curricular mom.

 

We had a costume photo shoot before Halloween in case that night was too rushed.  We then carved pumpkins and had s'mores.  The last two pictures are from Halloween night.  We trick-or-treated at Ned's parents' and granddad's then trick-or-treated with friends in the busiest neighborhood in town.  Sam had a scary encounter with a Ninja Turtle at our first house, resulting in me carrying him the rest of the night.

 

 

We met Anna and Elsa at Austyn's birthday party.  Sam could not step away from the train table for a picture.

 

We puppy-proofed the house.

 

Ned and I attended the gala for school and had a fun night.

We celebrated a long-overdue Saturday at home in mid-November with pajamas and a Christmas movie.

Yaya and Poppa saved the toy flyers.

 

 

Mondays are our late days to get home, and we were surprised with our trees up the Monday before Thanksgiving. 

 

We said goodbye to our Sammy dog the week of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving break started Tuesday at noon for us, so we celebrated by redeeming a Book It! coupon and shopping for Christmas decor.

We watched the parade Thanksgiving morning before having lunch at Mimi's.

 

Toes came after naps since Ned would be hunting the next morning.

 

We had Thanksgiving dinner at my dad's sister's house with my uncle's side of the family also.  We are a big, loud, hungry group.

Next up will be December happenings and Christmas festivities, and my goal is to get them in before 2015 arrives.

Homecoming 2014

Avery participated {and thoroughly enjoyed} her first spirit week and homecoming at school.  The themes were superhero day, red, white, and blue day, Disney day, color clash day, and blue Friday.

 

 

Friday night before the game there was an alumni dinner and homecoming parade.  The lower school walked around the football field in front of the homecoming court.  It started pouring rain as the parade ended.  We hung out for awhile under the dinner tent but left really early since I had been sick.

The next morning there was a fall festival at school, so we took the kids to play and have lunch.  I sent Ned and the kids home and worked the game for Avery's class for awhile.  Avery and Sam both surprised us by climbing and coming down the big slide.

It was a busy and fun week, so fun that it almost made the sinus infection and pink eye that I started with that weekend more bearable.  Almost...but not quite!