Christmas 2015 in VA

We went up north for Christmas.  We took an entire two weeks and made the most of it.  Our first stop was Virginia to visit Mimi and Papaw.

Mimi attempted to make a Gingerbread house with the kids

They failed miserably.  This was the final product.

The boys helped Mimi in the garden

Mimi and Papaw were prepared for our visit

So was I

Papaw took the boys to shoot guns and ride the ATV.  They were in heaven.

Mimi's garden

The smoking men

In DC at the Botanical Gardens.  Grady's hair was stuck in the thorns.....

A garden Gnome

We went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens

These guys are huge fans

Uncle Will taught the boys how to play the didgeridoo

Josh took the boys to NASA.  His friend from high school works there and gave them a grand tour.

They picked up some space ice cream

The boys made us a "fruit salad" (with dried kiwi and carrots)

It was pretty grey outside but we played in the garden

Emma gave her cat some "love"

Em helped Mimi in the garden

We went to the National Zoo in DC

And of course....there was Christmas morning.  The traditional giant stockings were filled

This was my favorite present.  Myles designed earrings for me, sent a drawing to Aunt Duffy, she made them and I received them for Christmas.  What an amazing gift.

This man loves a three piece suit and weapons

Mimi made an apple pie and then promptly poured eggs all over it.  Par for the course.....

Merry Christmas!!!

Emma and one of her favorite people, Papaw

Winter Fun at School

Evergreen is a pretty great school.  Their winter program covers traditions from around the world as well as good ole American Christmas tunes.  They also incorporated their lessons from the classroom and beautiful creations from art class into the winter program.  I love the idea of holistic learning.

Myles had a small speaking part

Grady sung about the moon phases in Japanese

Lilyanne

Evergreen also focuses on community service.  Myles' class went to a retirement community and sung Christmas carols to the residents

Anika

Climbing Club

Instead of play soccer this fall the boys joined the climbing club at their school.  They really enjoyed it and always complained when I came to pick them up.  They would have stayed all night.  Both boys were able to make it to the top of some pretty difficult climbs.  It was such a nice change from "regular" sports.

Myles giving some instruction to a friend

Grady getting ready to climb

Coming down

Myles getting set up

Making it to the top

Santa on the Rock

The kids love to watch "skinny" Santa climb down Chimney Rock.  We had unseasonably warm weather, in the 70s.  It didn't really feel like Christmas but we soaked in the sun.  

Emma was excited to sit with Santa

This year Grady refused to sit on Santa's lap.  It was pretty funny.

There goes "skinny" Santa.  The kids thought it was hilarious that the rock climbing santa was in really good shape and then there was the old Santa that you could sit with.  It was pretty obvious there were two different Santas.

Rock climbing

On top of the Rock

'

499 stairs get you to the top

Montreal Morning School Christmas Show

Every year Montreat Morning School joins with Montreat Presbyterian Church and puts on a children's performance.  Emma, and the rest of the 2 year old class were donkeys and camels.  It was pretty adorable even though they had no clue what was going on.

Our little donkey

She was pretty excited about the costume.

The big show

Emma is the second from the left

It was hard to get photos as the church was packed

The poor two year old class seemed a little confused.  When we picked Em up after the show she said, "I NOT like that singing".  Apparently she wasn't very happy.