Oh Christmas tree

We finally decided to update our "second tree" from the freebie I'd gotten on black Friday several years ago and we went big (literally) with a nine footer.  We seem to be missing a box of ornaments that we haven't yet uncovered after the flood last year, so the decorations are much more sparse than usual.  

During the tree decorating, the reindeer made their annual appearance and brought PJs for the boys.  You probably can't read it, but the shirts say "Merry Rex-mas."  Bwa-ha-ha...

Tribe Pride

William and Mary football made the FCS playoffs, with a game the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  We were able to stop in Williamsburg on our way home to catch the game.  It's probably one of the most exciting games I've ever seen - lead changes, major play reviews (and recalls), and huge passes and runs.  The Tribe pulled it out in the end, and we all left the game hoarse from all of the cheering! 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving at the beach

 The weather was FANTASTIC this year for Thanksgiving.  We were able to spend some time on the beach while the turkey was cooking on Thanksgiving and then we did a bike ride at False Cape on Friday.  We were planning to do a long bike ride, but most of the trail was closed off to protect the nesting birds.  We took a different direction and spent some time on the beach and we had a picnic lunch.  Mid-70s on Thanksgiving is hard to beat!

 

 

Our favorite photobomber

Yum - Brady's sour cherry pie

Talent show

We were all surprised when Rudy announced that he wanted to do the talent show at school.  We had just gotten our piano back and he'd rediscovered how much he liked playing "Little Indian Lance."  He practiced and practiced, to the point where the day of talent show he practiced and then shouted, "Nailed it!"  He nailed it again the night of the show and was quite proud of himself:

40!

My birthday celebration was really last weekend, because my birthday was on a Monday with all of the associated craziness of school, homework, and sports.  We did squeeze in some time for cake after basketball practice, and we had a celebratory dump cake the day before Thanksgiving at the beach.

 

Kelly's 40th birthday weekend

We went to Williamsburg for an overnight to celebrate my big 40th birthday.  It ended up being chilly and a kind of drizzly weekend, which wasn't the best for sightseeing but we made it work.   

We had our first ever dinner at The Trellis, stayed at the Williamsburg Lodge (super convenient!), and visited much of the Colonial Williamsburg attractions.  

Opening presents.  The boys got me purple earrings and a bracelet, and I got a running watch and new shirt that I'd wanted from James.  

After dinner stroll through CW.  Love this place!

Back at the Lodge. 

We made the Governor's Palace our first stop in the morning.  It's been many years since James and I played tourist in Williamsburg, and it was the kids first visit to the paid sites, so we found it all pretty fascinating.  

In the gardens behind the palace.  The maze is much easier during daylight hours :) 

Note the heron in the water in the picture on the right...

 I think we visited most of the trade shops:  wig maker, cobbler, gunsmith, apothecary, basket weaver, milliner, printer/binder, blacksmith, silversmith, and joiner.  A few of the interpreters were pretty boring, but the wigmaker and the shoemaker were great!

We were starting to get a little fatigued (and cold) by the time we made it to the Capitol.  We decided to make it and the jail our last stop for the day. 

On the way back up DOG Street, we ran into a reenactment.  Two Americans were rallying support for the revolution, including assembling a militia.  The "militia" (tourists) drilled and then marched down the street to be inspected by none other than the Marquis de Lafayette (uniform, French accent, and all!). 

From there, James and Brady went to get the car while Rudy and I headed to the restaurant to snag a table.  On the way we ran into a meetup of a breed of dog we'd never seen before:  leonbergers.  Adorable!

After dinner, the kids made their requisite visit to Wythe before we wrapped it up and headed home.  Overall, a great family weekend!

Pumpkin roll helpers

Baking is even more fun with some goofy kitchen helpers :)

Little People

I picked up this Little People nativity set on sale last month.  (Apparently I have a thing for nativity scenes; I realized when we were putting out Christmas decorations that this is my fifth set.) I asked Mary Emma and Rudy to set it up, and found them actively playing with the set.  Little People are one of those timeless toys that appeal to kids for so many years!

Lego r/c construction

We took a stab at building a remote control lego vehicle.  We definitely need more practice...

 

Brady's first dance

Brady attended his first school dance.  We could tell he was nervous, and he insisted that he didn't want to go.  We gave him no choice, though.  We rode in with Ellen, and Kate and Brady were pretty quiet in the car.   

After resigning himself to attending, Brady next swore that he WASN'T going to dance.  We encouraged him to relax and have fun.  He had told us about being "snowballed," where someone could pay $1 to make you dance with a particular person.  For $5 you could pay to get out of dancing.  He was thrilled that 6th graders were exempt from snowballing. 

In the end, he had a great time and even thanked us for making him go.  He chose to add his name to the list of 6th graders who were willing to be snowballed.  He got snowballed three times, but the first two girls chickened out.  He even asked a few girls to dance!  We are so thrilled with his new school, the friends he's made there, and his confidence level.