This year Flashy got a “cousin Eddy hat” (Christmas Vacation) …He is definitely NOT a fan of the hat. However, Jason and I find it hilarious. Yes…we torture our dog. Anyway…happy holidays…for your amusement
This year Jason and I hosted our Arehart Perry Christmas with my extended family. We had my mom’s sister Connie and her family over for the holidays.
Sofie the photographer.
Suzy and baby Will.
Family picture.
Sofie and Will…such cuties!!!!!!
Suzy and Will.
I had my first Christmas concert and I was so proud of my students. I had 77 students. 65 4th and 5th grade chorus members and 12 handbell students. The kids did such a great job.
I attached this video because the kids did a Christmas version of a song called Thank You Soldiers. All of the parents in my school who had family members in the military gave me photos and I put together a slideshow to play while the kids were singing. It is difficult to see, but my uncle Ron, a fighter pilot, my dad’s parents (army) and my mom’s father, and also Jim, Danny, and Grandpa Trueblood are in our slideshow.
Just another fun song I posted so my mom could hear my kiddos
Since Christmas was going to be a little different with my family this year, we decided to do something completely different and go to the Homestead in VA after opening gifts. We have always wanted to see the huge spectacle of Christmas at the Homestead anyway, so we decided to go. We had an awesome time, and it was definitely a holiday to remember. Also, I had to get a little cold weather and snow in before I go to sunny FL.
In front of the MASSIVE Christmas tree in the foyer. The tree was 25 feet tall, 18 feet wide, and they said is a 25 year old tree from North Carolina that cost $3,000.00. I mean seriously… three thousand dollars for a tree!!!!
Holiday hay ride.
Since there are so many lights up at the Homestead, they offer a holiday lights hay ride where you ride to the top of the mountain and make s’mores at the ski lodge. We all had to laugh because there was a very very wealthy couple on our hay ride. The lady was a bit of a princess. So, she decided to go on a HAY RIDE with winter white pants, a long wool white coat, a white scarf, and heels. Well the princess also decided that she wanted the “best seat in the house” and needed to get on the wagon first. She seemed to think that the best seat was right up in the front of the wagon where the tractor pulling you blows exhaust all over you pretty expensive outfit. Jason and I got such a kick out of that. She had her scarf over her face and was whining the entire trip, to her husband. Apparently money can’t buy brains…
The Homestead done as a gingerbread village.
More awesome Christmas trees.
Having afternoon tea.
Jason getting a new golf club and a drill set.
Mom opening gifts and dad in his new CAPS sweatshirt. We’re making a fan out of him!!!!!
Professor Crazy Pants with his new toys….he got “big boy” toys
Today my elementary handbell choir had a concert that they were invited to perform as guest musicians. They did an awesome job! I think I was more nervous than they were, since I've never directed handbells before. We still have 3 concerts to go, and this was their debut, which was a good warm-up for our concert in a week with the choir. Jason was so helpful, because I had tables, foam blocks, bins of folders and 5 cases (70lbs each) of bells to unload. I couldn't have done it by myself. Jason also took a video of a few songs for me as well.
We Three Kings
English Christmas
Sing We Now of Christmas
Christmas decorations are still going up around here, but things are coming together.
Last weekend my mom and her friend came up to visit. Her friend, Kim, is an interior designer and as our wedding gift she told us she would come and look at our home when we get it somewhat established and show us some ways to move things around to give us more space. Jason and I hated the couch that was in the living room and the way we set up the living room. and we wanted an inexpensive way to change it up and make it look nicer. We made a few small changes that we thought made a big difference. We added some large pictures on the walls,covered the grandma old lady sofa, moved some furniture that was downstairs, upstairs, and added more family pictures. Although we are still working on it, it is much better and we were very happy with some of the changes we made.
Before pictures of the living room.
After pictures. It is still a work in progress, we still need rugs and a few other things.
Before
After…just a few small changes.
