NYE Projects & Fun

Recovering our breakfast table chairs has been on my "to do" list for a LONG time . . . and today Savannah was ready to tackle the project.  I started with the first one and just had Savannah help me, but honestly, it didn't turn out great.  So for the next chair, I just let Savannah take over and it turned out awesome.  She was like "I'll unscrew the bottom and gather the corners; I'd do the nail gun too if you'll let me."  Well she went to town and I became her assistant. :) 

 After tackling half of the chairs we went out for some fun at Chuck E Cheese!

Both kids had a BLAST!!  It's a rare treat that we get to go just spend some time playing games AND for mom to pay, but the kids really have been awesome over break so I thought they deserved some fun!  Plus, it is New Year's Eve. :)  Chuck E Cheese himself helped Savannah play Wheel of Fortune before being mobbed by little kids.  Just for the record, Preston was also in attendance, but he was running around so fast (not wanting to waste our 45 minutes of free play) I couldn't even get his picture! 

So we came home, finished the chairs, knocked a few more things off my never-ending list, had dinner, enjoyed bundt cake for dessert and are all ready to bring in 2019. 

2018 has been quite the year.  We are finally all feeling at home in our new house and are thankful to be happy and healthy too.  At dinner, the kids and I talked about a few goals for the New Year.  Here are a few of them:

Me - continue with exercise every day of the week, continue not leaving any gym class early, continue only eating between 10am - 7pm, add in one new recipe a week for the family and limited dessert treats ( to encourage Savannah on her goal)

Preston - to practice soccer 5 days a week, only have one serving of gum a day

Savannah - to only have dessert 3 days a week, reading through the Bible in its entirety this year

Dave - two thumbs down . . he's never made resolutions and never will

Here's to a wonderful, happy, healthy, fun-filled, memory-making, Christ-filled 2019!!!

Snow Tubing in Jonas Ridge, NC

It was unseasonably warm today! We were all prepared for our first ever tubing experience with layers of clothes, snow bibs, hats, gloves, headbands, sunglasses, sunscreen, etc and after about an hour we were taking layers off! It was quite crowded at first, but as time went on the lines decreased drastically. 

We had a blast and will definitely keep this on our list of fun winter activities to do again!

Merry Merry Christmas

Santa came!!  Whoo hoo!  The kids were super excited to wake up (and patiently waited until Dave and I were up) and open their Santa gifts and stockings.

The most precious gifts are the ones that they made and second to that were the ones they bought with their own money.  Both kids have such generous hearts and love giving presents.  Preston made a poster for me with 20 free gumballs anytime I want them.  He made Dave a coupon book for different options like "not having to put me to bed", "20 hugs", "free gum", etc.  Precious!

After opening Santa gifts downstairs, we had a yummy french toast breakfast and rested before opening the rest of our gifts upstairs.

The kids got snow bibs, with a pass that told them we were going snow tubing tomorrow.  They were so excited!!

What a wonderful, relaxing morning it was for us all!  So, so nice not to have to rush off anywhere and just to enjoy the beautiful day at home!

Unfortunately, with loads of packages and gifts, there was tons of recycling.  Preston and Dave worked for quite a while trying to get it all in the bin, before finally giving up!  I think Dave almost lost it when we kept saying "here's one more thing for recycle." :)

We also enjoyed seeing Dr. Seuss' The Grinch at the movies.  What a fun way to relax and spend the afternoon together.  We truly are blessed and thankful!  So although it was different not having family around, it was wonderful to not be on a schedule and to celebrate Christmas in Charlotte!

A Relaxing Christmas Eve

It is SUPER rare that we get to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at home without any traveling. . . but with all of the crazy schedules to work around, this was our year to relax and enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Charlotte.  We attended the 3:30pm Christmas Eve service and then went home for a bit before getting our traditional Chili's takeout dinner.

After dinner, we went for a walk in the neighborhood to enjoy all of the luminaries.  Once we were home Savannah made our french toast dish for Christmas morning breakfast.  It's so nice that she is learning to do so much in the kitchen!

We took a picture just for Aunt Cherry, who gave us all these cute matching PJs. Then it was off to bed, excited to wake up and see what Santa brought!

Christmas with the Pages 2018

After church today, we headed to Elon for Christmas with the Pages.  Thankfully there was no early service, so we were able to get lots of our cooking done and packed before church.  The food was delicious and of course, with this crew, there was no shortage of laughter!

After lunch, the kids couldn't wait to open gifts!  Even grandma was super excited about her bag of dollar bills!  Preston's bills were much fewer in quantity but larger in quality.  HA!

The kids made quick work of gifts and then immediately went outside to play in the unseasonably warm weather.

The "dating sofa" enjoyed watching the football game!

What a super fun afternoon just being with our precious family!  It was time to head back to Charlotte all too soon . . . 

Happy Birthday Jesus Party

Julie & Charlie Neal invited us to a big Happy Birthday Jesus party this morning.  It was super fun . . . filled with crafts, tons of delicious food, a magician, special singers, the Christmas story, and of course a Happy Birthday Jesus cake!  Preston loved being chosen to help the magician "Magic Barry".

Gingerbread Gallery Walk

School has been out two days and the kids have thankfully been entering themselves!  They love a good game of Monopoly while mom is at the gym.  After school was out (for our friends in Union Co) we were finally able to head to the Ballantyne Resort to do our annual Gingerbread Gallery walk with the Marions.

We all enjoyed seeing the gingerbread creations!