Erica

Decorating the Christmas Tree

11 - November

If you know me, you might say that I am a bit “particular” about my Christmas tree. It generally takes hours – 750 lights are wrapped around each branch, bows are placed in a particular way, gold bead garland is hung just so, and then there are the ornaments. Some ornaments have particular places on our tree like the plastic canvas ornaments that my Mom made. They still go along the bottom of the tree even though we no longer have cats to steal them. So, it took a lot for me to share this with others.

I am so very glad that I did as we spent the evening with family enjoying Christmas music, good drinks, and decorating the tree. Everyone got involved. While I took ornaments out of boxes (and hung a few myself), Andy manned the camera.

It was a great time, and everyone got in on the action. Addy kept talking about how cool some of our ornaments are.

Avry does not get to go home from college for Winter Break for at least two more weeks, so she was happy to have a tree to decorate with her family. While John was crabby and tired, he still hung a few of his ornaments.

Laura hung all of her ornaments and told the story behind some of them to Avry and Addy.

Of all of us, I think Dave was the most excited to decorate our tree.

Dave joked that I would spend tomorrow after they leave moving all the ornaments to their “right” places, but I actually decided against that. After watching everyone and those smiles, I decided that where the ornaments were placed would be where they would stay. There is simply no reason to change perfection.

Erica

Outdoors

11 - November

We spent our last afternoon with the South Carolina Blumes enjoying the beautiful weather in our backyard. Some of us hung by the fire…

…while others played yard games.

We finished the day with Shakespeare’s Pizza and a furious game of Heads Up. The boys beat the girls, but we will get them next year!

Erica

Thanksgiving

11 - November

Happy Thanksgiving! It was a relaxing, yet busy, day spent with family.

We did the typical things like take pictures. This is my favorite of all the kids.

And, this is my favorite of our family.

Like every year, we ate our way through the day. Our Thanksgiving meal was fantastic and everything was so tasty.

We finished the day hanging out and watching football. We are all thankful for this opportunity every year.