Family Friendly

300!

Michael wasn't feeling well so we decided to leave him at home yesterday for some quiet get well time while we took the rambunctious out to burn off some steam! We had a goal; to reach our 300th cache! Walking out the door, that meant we had to do 6 more caches. And meet that goal we did!!

3 caches were done at Lake Anna State Park. Despite living here for just over 4 years, we have never made it up (over) there. Nikolas decided that that was to be our destination. Granny had chopped up some veggies for us and sandwiches were picked up from Tropical Smoothie. We ate our picnic lakeside in quite the gusty wind. Then we set off along the lake's edge to our first cache! Three caches later and it was time to head home, the sun was sinking further and further down towards the horizon and those windy twisty country roads at break neck speed were not alluring in the dark.

Three more caches on our way home, the last of which got us to 300!! At the "Grubby kitty" of all places! A local grocery store chain known as Food Lion. Yipppeee!! Kids were happy. Nikolas in particular. I think Mia was rather indifferent to the whole affair. A big milestone for us!

We have had a lovely visit with the WrinkLee's!! Sad to have to say goodbye to them as they head back home... Back to school and our usual routine for us!

Christmas Is Coming...

... Thanksgiving behind us, time to get on with Christmas!... I love Thanksgiving, it's one of my absolute favorite holidays. I feel as though it is increasingly becoming nothing more than the kick off to Christmas however.

Yesterday Michael went to Costco and bought our tree. We had pondered the merits of a real tree with a still rather rambunctious kitten and decided otherwise. Much safer to have a real pretend tree. The thought of needles through out the house is more than I can bear! The tree was erected and left to hang for a while.

Today we traipsed up and down stairs with the Christmas boxes. Definitely our favorite holiday judging from the number of boxes! And by boxes, I ought to say tubs. Plastic tubs full of decorations for the tree, wreaths, Christmas countdowns, adornments for the mantel, more for the banister, outside decorations, and so on and so forth!! And then in went Josh Groban, followed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and to Christmas land we went. Hanging decie upon decie on the Christmas. The balsam candle burnnig on the kitchen counter to create the appropriate aroma. Belle, all the while, sitting in HER spot on the skirt under the tree.

I'm posting this a day later... For some reason, I couldn't insert the pictures yesterday... Got another one coming later!!

Post Turkey Day

One of the things we Lee's always did growing up on the day after Thanksgiving was go to the cinema to see a film (known then, in our Lee-lingo as a fill-um). We did just that today. Nikolas has been busting to see Hugo so we trotted off to a 10am 3D showing. Good flick! Long, but good.

Another annual tradition is to visit Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to see the lights at GardenFest. We usually pass over the first night and the flipping of the switch and just wait for member nights when it is free for us. With the WrinkLee's in town visiting and the weather being relatively warm, we decided it would be something fun to do. The laser light show was pretty entertaining. Can't say I've ever seen the garden so busy. Definitely the warmest it's ever been on a GardenFest visit too!

 

As always, the lights are fantastic!! LOVE being at Lewis Ginter no matter the season. We will return for the free member nights, I need my Christmas picture!! There were just was too many people there tonight for a picture.

Happy Turkey Day!

Just popping by to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!! The masses have descended and we are happily browning and basting! The pies are made, the fixings are fixin' and the drinks are being slogged down!! We're aiming for a 5:00pm dinner and are right on target!

A few pics to share;

Mizzy Moo and Granny sharing a cuddle while the boys play BeyBlades.

Sebastien and Mia, they are only 3 months apart in age.

The merry gang, all 10 of us!! How come my sister's hair doesn't have as much grey as mine?!!

I have some great pictures of the boys playing BeyBlades but they are on the other card. Will have to post some after pictures later!

Wishing you all gobble gobble on this wonderful Thanksgiving Day! I am thankful that almost all of my family could be here with us as we celebrate and that things (knock on wood) have gone smoothly.

Test

Alright family... Soooo... I think this is going to be your place to come visit our cozy little family of four. It's the same primary address but with a couple of words tacked on to the end. Remember to delete your old bookmark and re-bookmark so that you come directly here. Though, I will find a way to put a link on the "home" blog to connect you here.

I will TRY really hard to remember to post here. I have decided to separate my scrappy business from my family goings on. You are welcome to keep visiting the scrappy blog, I would love for you to! This little place in the cyber-sphere is for you to read about us and our daily trivialities, as my blog originally began. Until scrapbooking took precedence!