Circadian Rhythms, December 2014

A sleeping angel

Christmas wish list

Cinnamon-craisin granola for teacher gifts

Trying on costumes for the Christmas candlelight tour

Matching Christmas ties

Showing off her quidditch creation

Another season of gymnastics complete

Sophie's decided to take up piano lessons instead

Sleeping angel with all her guardians

Our Christmas tree

Our Christmas tree up close

Waiting for the Christmas candlelight tour to begin at Crossroads

Who knew they had selfies in the 1860s?

Children's Christmas program at church -- Hannah had a speaking part

Charles had fun with the stuffed animals this Christmas

The girls enjoy decorating my homework board for Christmas each year, this is Sophie's side

Here is Hannah's

Gingerbread house from school

Bird's eye view of Hannah's

Cleaning Grandma's bathroom while wearing a covering

Hooville

She really likes the vest Grandma got her, even wears it to bed!

Snuggling with his blankie

Trip to the movies to see the new Annie -- a long-awaited reward for being good at the dentist

Her new bunny for magic tricks

Christmas in Roanoke 2014

Last Wednesday we said goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa (for the winter) and to the Keanes (until who knows when) and headed northwest to Roanoke for Christmas celebration #3. We arrived by late afternoon with plans to assist Granny and Papa around the house since Granny had her hip replacement surgery on Christmas Eve and needs to take it easy for awhile. Charles cleaned the bathroom and helped Papa pick out and purchase a new reclining loveseat for the living room. I did laundry and helped with general straightening up and organizing.

That night was New Year's Eve, but Charles and I were both tuckered out and in bed by about 9:30. The next day Chris and the boys arrived just before noon, and we began the gift opening. Part of the gifts we gave were these two canvases that Charles and the girls painted for Granny and Chris. Can you tell whose is whose?

We stayed until dinnertime, when Papa took us out for a yummy meal at Lew's. The best part, as always, was having the chance to spend time with family. Here are other photos from our stay:

Back home, enjoying the Lego Friends gifts from Uncle Chris

Christmas in Raleigh 2014

On the Sunday following Christmas we went to church to enjoy the traditional breakfast of sweet breads and fruit followed by a service of song and story. It was quite lovely. Before leaving, we packed the car for five days of travel: first to Raleigh and then to Roanoke.

We grabbed lunch on the road and were to Raleigh by late afternoon. Grandma and Grandpa were already there, as they left Saturday. The NC stop is on their way down to Florida for the winter. Kelly and Jon prepared a delicious meal for us, and the kids enjoyed playing together. I enjoyed playing with this guy:

Henry was not feeling too well when we first got there, but by the last couple of days of our visit he was getting back to normal. The adults also enjoyed playing together, but our addictive game was Trivia Crack.

Photo courtesy R. Moyers

Monday morning Carter was eager to open gifts. This was his first Christmas to really understand and enjoy the gift process. The girls received outfits for their American Girl dolls. My favorite gift is a fitbit that Kelly and Jon got me. I quickly discovered that Jon is very competitive!

For other entertainment throughout the trip, there was a visit to a science museum and a trip to the train station. Carter earned the trip to the train station through earning stars on his behavior chart. Previously they had taken him to the airport to see planes landing and taking off. Here are photos of some of these other events, plus other shots from the visit:

"Hmm, I'm not sure about this bow on my head"

Photo courtesy J. Keane