Homestead Christmas

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.

Arehart “Christmas Morning”

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

Handbell Concert

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

Flash helping out for his first Christmas

Flash has done quite well adapting to Christmas decorating for his first Christmas. He even helps us with the lights!

Christmas Decorating (Still a work in progress)

 

Christmas decorations are still going up around here, but things are coming together.

The boys working hard. 

House Updates

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.

HALLOWEEN!!!!!

We love Halloween in our neighborhood. We had about 250 Trick or Treaters again this year. Flash was a hit. All the kids wanted to pet him and he was so good. Jason and I had fun sitting outside with our pizza handing out candy. I even broke out my snuggie from Wes since it was 30 degrees! 

I think we’re about pumpkined out! In the morning we did pumpkin pancakes, we carved our pumpkins, roasted the seeds and made a pumpkin pie.

Our Boxer pumpkin!

     

BATMAN!!!!!!

   

Outside before the candy grab started.

Flash waiting for the kiddies.

   

This is the cutest picture. A kid, dressed like a dog absolutely loved Flash. He put his whole candy bag down and started unloading it giving his candy to Flash. He was SO cute. He didn’t even care about getting more candy, he was trying to give Flash a Rice Krispie Treat.