Merry April!

Still at that A-Z Blog Challenge thing...

Day 15-O is for Ornaments 

I didn't overthink this one, but went with something obvious. I was inspired by the attic cleanout we started at the end of March and will finish sometime soon. I have several bins of photo albums left to tackle still and will need a full couple of days to go through them. I know myself and know I'll get majorly sidetracked looking at old pictures, so the job will take longer than it should. 

But that's a post for another day. Today we're talking Christmas, or more specifically Christmas ornaments. 

I think the trend now is to have fancy trees or themed trees, but in our house we always like something more homespun. Our tree is filled with ornaments that mean something to us, and I feel sentimental about almost every one. They are in a way, the story of us. 

There's one from our 'first married Christmas'-

Babies born-

Places we've lived-

Beloved pets-

Cities we've traveled to-

hobbies-

and my favorite...those made by little hands-

I love pulling the boxes out every year and taking a stroll down memory lane. 

Hello Monday, Hello New Year

I say every January the official start to the new year for me is this week, sometime five or six days into the month. Christmas is still up at my house, but today is the day. Hubs took down the outdoor lights yesterday, but inside I'm still fa-la-la-ing. 

We had a nice weekend beginning with a walk to a nearby waterfall Friday morning. Let's go ahead and call it day date episode 12. 

I was wearing a hat. I forgot there would be a picture. 

The little brown dog loves this particular hike, and in fact he'd made this same walk just last week when he spent Christmas with my daughter1 and her family while we traveled. 

The minute he gets out of the car he starts panting like crazy because he smells the water and wants to get to it pronto.

We came home and had lunch, then mid-afternoon hubs and I went to the movies (episode 13). We were trying to remember the last time we went to an actual movie theater and couldn't be sure. I think it was way back in May when Mission Impossible came out, and before that who knows? We don't go to the movies often, but happened to be there twice this weekend. 

We wanted to see Song Sung Blue and had to drive a couple of towns over to where it was still playing. We loved it. Neither of us had read anything about it, and turns out it wasn't at all what we thought it was going to be. Still we loved it. I thought Hugh Jackman was playing Neil Diamond, but he's actually playing Neil Diamond in a tribute act. So good! The camera absolutely loves Kate Hudson, and the story was unexpected. Bring your kleenex. Just sayin'. 

We're rarely in this town so I checked the always trustworthy internet for a dinner rec. We ended up at a place called The West End Dinner Club which we enjoyed. It has a speakeasy vibe and the food was good. I had salmon and hubs had mahi and both were tasty. 

Saturday we did a few things around the house and I picked up a few groceries we'd be needing for the grandkids overnight visit. These two were celebrating their wedding anniversary and we said the kids could spend the night so mom and dad could have a night out in the city. 

They arrived just in time for us to load them back into the car to go see the new film David. This was the first movie in a theatre for Little Miss and she had a grand time. I mean there was popcorn and a comfy recliner so what more do you need? We liked the movie a lot and the message is excellent. It's an especially good boy flick which is rare. Also very true to the Biblical account which was nice to see. 

We came home and had a fondue party. You haven't lived until you've made fondue with a three year old lol. Little Miss pours and mixes with great confidence.  

I thought ahead and covered the table with a disposable cloth, but it still felt like there was chocolate everywhere. 

We started with cheese fondue and hubs also grilled some small steaks because it seemed like we needed more than cheese and chocolate for dinner. And popcorn. 

Hi. We're the grandparents.  

There were vegetables for the cheese and fruit for the chocolate so calling that a win. 

After dinner it was showers for the boys and a bath for little miss, and then pjs and basketball on tv. Everyone slept and we had bacon and waffles and leftover fruit before church. Shout out here to parents getting three kids dressed and fed and in the car along with themselves for church every Sunday. I felt a little like I'd run a 5k. 

Our sermon yesterday was on 1 Samuel 17 aka David and Goliath. We'd just seen the movie the day before so my ears perked up when the pastor mentioned the chapter he would preach from. Coincidence? Not likely.  In short...we all have our giants. Be like David and think less about my giant and more about my giant God. 

Wishing you a wonderful start to this brand new year. 

Joining Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) today for their regular Monday morning hop. 

Christmas

Hello friends. We're back in the 864 (although my own number is not 864) and today I'm recapping our Christmas in the 215. We cover a lot of geography always. 

We spent Christmas in the city of Brotherly Love this year, aka Philadelphia. My younger sister and her family live there, and my momma lives with them. They have room for a big crowd in their beautiful home which makes large holiday gatherings really nice. 

My brother lives nearby so he and my sister-in-law come and go from their own house, but my older sister, my niece, and my niece's husband all flew in from SC too. 

Elf was on our flight. He paced a lot. Too much maple syrup perhaps? 

Travel was smooth and we arrived in Philly around noon. That evening we all went to dinner at a NJ steakhouse which is something of an institution. For those who've never been to this part of the country, Philly is just a short car ride across the bridge from south Jersey.  

I had lobster ravioli that was delicious, but very rich, and we all had the cesear salad made tableside with a whole lotta garlic. So good! 

My sweet momma with her girl gang. 

The day before Christmas was spent doing last minute wrapping, prepping for our turkey/ham dinner that evening, and catching up with family. My brother in-law made breakfast pizzas which were yummy and we had snacks and too many cookies in the afternoon. 

Also on Christmas Eve hubs went with my nephew and brother-in-law to pick up our Christmas morning breakfast from a local favorite-Marchianos. They prepare the most fabulous breakfast breads which are similar to calzones, and are filled with egg-pepper-cheese, ham and cheese, bacon-egg-cheese, and more.

You have to order them well in advance and they give you a time for pick up. Still a long long line, but the waiting is part of the fun, and the men enjoy the whole experience. 

We played a fun game my sister brought called Blank Slate , and there was a roaring fire which would not have happened had we stayed in South Carolina. It was 75 degrees at home.  

There's a wonderful bakery in my sister's neighborhood and she had purchased trays of cookies, a carrot cake, and a pecan pie so plenty of sweets. 

Christmas morning we opened stockings, then had the breads for our breakfast, then opened more gifts. Both girls Facetimed and we got to see the grands who were having a wonderful day in their own homes with their other grandparents. 

That afternoon my brother-in-law's brother stopped by to visit for a bit, then my brother and sister-in-law, and my sister-in-law's brother (did you get all that???) all came for Christmas dinner. Hubs played sous chef and helped with the port wine reduction. 

My sister and brother-in-law outdid themselves with all the fabulous meals, and Christmas Day was no different. 

We had steak and lobster, asparagus, and a vegetable tian that was both pretty and tasty. 

The day after Christmas is my older sister's birthday and we always make a big deal of it because she insists-lol. Not really, but it's become something we really celebrate since we're all very often together. 

The original fab four with our momma-

We had a delicious brunch at home and then that afternoon we all went over to the Garden State for a birthday dinner hosted by my brother and sister-in-law. A few more friends who are like family joined the party and a good time was had by all. 

An ice storm moved in while we were at my brother's house and the drive home was treacherous. We crawled along and saw lots of stopped and sliding vehicles, but thankfully made it home unscathed. 

Several of us played some cards after we got home, and I learned Texas Hold 'Em, which was a fun way to wrap up the celebrating. 

We flew home Saturday afternoon. Our flight was only slightly delayed and we'd have been in on time except! once we landed the airport seemed surprised to see us and we sat on the tarmac over 45 minutes waiting on someone to open the door. 

It was fun to get away, but there's truly no place like home. I've always loved the week between Christmas and the new year. No pressure, the tree's still up and lit, and there's lots of time to think about what was and what will be. 

Wishing you peace as this old year rolls into the new...

Linking today's post with Holly and Sarah for their regular Monday weekend recap hop. 

Full Hearts

Linking with Joanne at Slices of Life for Talking About It Tuesdays

Recapping our fun full weekend today, because Monday was spent getting the house back in order and preparing for Christmas round two. 

It's an in-law year here for my girls so we had an early celebration. I don't know that this will happen every in-law year, but it worked for this one. Now that daughter1 and her family live nearby logistics are far less complex, and for that we're so grateful. 

As per usual I'm looking right when I'm supposed to look left. I blame lack of sleep. 

Daughter2 and her family rolled in from Tennessee on Friday around noon. They brought their new addition with them and we all got to meet Banjo. He's a love and handled all the kid chaos really well. 

The little brown dog tolerated him. He isn't a fan of other dogs, and much prefers people, specifically his person, but he also knows where there are kids there's going to be food dropped so he rolls with it. 

Daughter1 and her hubs had a work party to attend Friday evening, so they brought their crew over here for dinner and shenanigans. I made a big pan of baked ziti, then after dinner we loaded everyone into the cars for a trip to town to see the phenomenal lights our tiny town displays. 

The party goers came back here after and we put kids to bed and watched some football. The adrenaline was off the charts but everyone went down pretty easily saying, 'the sooner we go to bed, the sooner it will be morning'. Truth! 

Saturday morning the two oldest grandsons, who normally sleep like teenagers,  were up at 6:30 AM. Little Miss had gone home with her parents the night before so we had to wait for them to arrive before we could have breakfast and presents. 

Finally! 

Sugar opened her vacuum and promptly cleaned every rug in the house. This little toy actually sucks up dirt, not a lot but still it's doing something. My daughter said as soon as they got back to their house on Sunday she got right to vacuuming there. 

Remember when running the vacuum was a good time???

We gave sweet baby J a bank that works kind of like an ATM and he spent the day opening and closing it, feeding it money, taking the money out, and just carrying it around under his arm. I love when a present is a hit! 

We bought the two older boys remote control planes which I thought might have been a scam, because they took forever to arrive, but they made it just in time and it's almost as complicated as flying an actual jet lol. Dad helped and once he got them working showed the boys and I think they'll have so much fun with them as they get better at the operating system. 

Little Miss got a purse from her auntie M that she wore on her arm all day, and lots of princess, pink, sparkly, girly girl things which are so much fun to buy. 

I love seeing my girls love their sister's babies. 

We had snacks mid-afternoon and the kids played so nicely together. 

You forget what your countertop looks like with littles in the house. 

Hubs grilled the most amazing ten pound prime rib roast on the big green egg which everyone enjoyed. 

Daughter2 and her bunch left to go home shortly after breakfast Sunday morning. Hubs and I put some of the kid stuff away before heading over to the grandson's piano recital around 2. They've been taking lessons for just over a month and they each went right to the piano and played without missing a beat. 

We were home for a couple of hours afterwards before heading out again, this time to church for the carols and candlelight service. So lovely! Plus, Little Miss, who can be a bit hesitant in big groups, sashayed right up to the front of the sanctuary when they asked the kids to come up and sing This Little Light of Mine. Truly one of my most favorite moments of the entire holiday season. 

Also, daughter2 got everyone together to snap a photo, which is a little bit like herding cats, but she gets my momma heart. 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good week! 

Christmas With The Vanderbilts

We had a fun and festive Thursday in spite of the gray skies and drizzle. Friends had some complimentary tickets to Biltmore House and invited us to use them. 

They actually had four complimentary tickets so another couple of friends came too, and since their car held us all we didn't even have to drive.  

Did  I spend an entire day out of the house doing something fun with family coming to town tomorrow and just a week to go before Christmas? 

Yes I did. Carpe diem!  

Also day date episode eleven if you're keeping count. 

I've been to Biltmore a number of times, but not since 2019 and never at Christmas. Biltmore is known as America's largest home, and was built by George Vanderbilt in the late 1800's.  I've always heard it's extra beautiful this time of year and it's true. Wow. 

Every room has a beautifully decorated tree-

Most light fixtures are adorned with some sort of gorgeous ribbon or embellishment-

Bannisters are wrapped-

And fireplace mantels are draped in garland-

I cannot imagine the amount of work that goes into getting the house ready for Christmas. 

It takes me weeks to get my own tree up and finished, and Biltmore is over the top in terms of decoration. This Noah's Ark tree was adorable-

Animals hanging two by two...

The trees fit the rooms they're in and the decor is appropriate for the period furnishings. 

Christmas dinner anyone? 

You need to reserve tickets this time of year and entry is timed. We went into the house at noon and spent almost two hours walking through. 

After we'd seen all there was to see (or all that's open to the public anyway...apparently the house has 250 rooms so we didn't come close to seeing it all) we drove about thirty minutes up the road to Sierra Nevada for a late lunch. Hubs and I shared a burger and their famous duck fat fries which were yummy. 

We got lucky with traffic and in spite of the dark, rainy, fog made it home about 6:30. It was a fun, full day and while I could have been at home ticking off those last to-dos, celebrating the season with friends is always on my list too.

Check.