We had a small family Christmas this year. We knew we were going to be going up to a mountain home that my parents had rented for our Christmas present over New Years Eve, so we just had the 4 of us on actual Christmas Day morning. It was peaceful... VERY quiet, and actually really nice! We had our traditional ham and cheese english muffin sandwich (started by John's family when he was a kid) while we read the Christmas story and explained to Madilyn what Christmas was about and why we were celebrating. After breakfast and the story, we opened presents. It was really fun! The night before, Christmas Eve, we went to my parents house for our tradition of FONDUE!!! :) LOVED it! We also had a birthday party/cake for Jesus, to help Madilyn know the true reason we were celebrating. We wanted to keep the focus on Him.
Christmas afternoon we started a new tradition: Chili! We went to my mom's house, had chili with them and a friend from church who joined us. It was wonderfully relaxing. Perfect for Christmas.
Then... on Thursday after Christmas we packed up and headed to Old Fort, NC... about 30 minutes outside of Asheville. My parents rented a house that was big enough for our family of 4, my sister's family of 4, my parents, my brother, and my cousin from MN to come along! It was a perfect and memorable time!!
Levi getting ready for the trip! He actually slept the whole ride! PRAISE GOD!
Madi is ready to go!
The view out the back of the house
My sweet cousin Shari holding Levi
Peek-a-boo!
Madilyn holding her favorite present of Christmas: "Sally" from Cars 2 from her Uncle Mark
Sally and Lightening McQueen
John helping Preston (my nephew) open the gift from us...
Buzz Lightyear Walkie-Talkies!!! :)
Madi opening a gift from Uncle Mark
Shari and I (and Julie and Brooks) at the falls in Old Fort, NC
The girls (and Dad...ha)
The whole group (minus Shari taking the picture)
Levi on the hike
My sweet boy :)
The falls... in the summer, I guess kids come down and play in the shallow water beneath the falls... looks so fun!
Lake George, so peaceful!
John and my brother Mark took advantage of the closeness to a local brewery and stopped by
they said it was awesome!
Me, Madi and Levi stayed in the car... Levi took up some driving lessons
the living room and the view... I got to sit here and relax! :)
Sparklers on New Years Eve!
Madi, Preston and Brooks
Brooks with Julie
Papa, Ryan and Preston
Gingerbread house time!
Grama, Madi and Preston
Shari, Preston, Grama and Madilyn
Finished product... notice the one tree w/a bite out of it... that is results of Madilyns need to learn self control... ;)
Grama giving Levi a little bath. :)
John and I on a walk together
in front of the falls
falls
the house we stayed in, it was beautiful!
smores at Lake George
Levi stayed in the car, it was a bit too windy
YUM!
Madi eating smores
share with me daddy! :)
Papa and baby Levi
Madi's cute pose
:)
Seriously, she's so cute isn't she?
Madilyn and her buddy Preston
The 4 cousins... and Brooksie kept moving... we tried to get them all looking!
a little better! Preston, Levi, Madi and Brooks
Levi moved... oh well!
Grama and the Cain grandchildren
:)
So, that about sums it up! We had an amazing time! I loved using my new camera too! I got a new tiny little point and shoot camera with 16 mega-pixels, so I got some really good pictures! I was ecstatic! I have had the same little camera since about 2004, so it was fun fun!
God bless!
That looks like so much fun! Thanks for posting all the pics, your babies are too precious!
ReplyDeleteI love that you still wear your thatgroup hoodie :)
Thank you! I agree, they are precious! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes... that sweatshirt is still my favorite! HA! I think I've had it for over 10 years now! I guess that means it's a durable hoodie!
I still wear mine on occasion... its hanging in my closet
ReplyDelete