Christmas 2014

December has been a buzz of activity.  Due to scheduling we started celebrating the first weekend of the month.  We started our holiday season by celebrating with the grandchildren on the 7th.  What a fun day.  They all came over after church that day and we opened presents and had a nice lunch/dinner.  The kids were so excited and pictures can not capture the buzz that occurred in and outside the home.

The 13th was the annual family party in Charlotte.  We spent the day at Mike and Jen's with all the extended family.  Carrie and Sean had some further shopping to complete so they stayed longer in Charlotte and we took the kids home with us and they stayed until Sunday afternoon. 

On Tuesday the 16th, work had an evening activity at the horse barn. Families were allowed to come ride the horses, write a letter to Santa, take a stroll around the barn pulled by a mini horse and then culminate with a hay ride around the center to look at the decorations and lights.  Wyatt had no fear and jumped on the horses instantly.  Bayleigh was more reluctant but after some petting and encouragement she was all in and we had a difficult time getting her off.  We ended the evening with soup at Meme and Papa's as we were all frozen after the hay ride.

We started our quiet celebration on the 20th.  We enjoyed Saturday doing a bit of shopping in downtown Morganton and visiting a few people.  We each got to work in our own shops----Pat in the wood shop and Lisa in the sewing room. We watched a few Christmas movies and just enjoyed the slow pace.  Work called on Monday and Tuesday but then we had/have a slow quiet holiday until the New Year. 

A new cranberry pie I tried for Christmas.  This one came from Smitten Kitchen and has a crumble top instead of a pie crust top.  Delicious.

A wonderful breakfast casserole I made Christmas morning.  Fresh eggs from the girls,  sausage from a local farm and some bread chunks.

We don't go back to work until the 5th of January.  Play time until then.

a Musical Thanksgiving

On Thanksgiving day we joined the Tranthams at their home for a celebration.  The kids came along with their mom and Sean and really enjoyed time with cousins.  Of particular interest to the kids was all the musical instruments that live at the Trantham home.  Wyatt particularly had a hard time not touching them. Uncle Doug took time to not only play for them but also let them help play as well. 

undivided attention

 That smile says it all, pure enjoyment.

 Both kids enjoyed their time strumming the strings as well as listening to Doug, Adam and Sara play together.  Wyatt's comment that, " man you sure are good!" summed up the entire experience for everyone.

 Bayleigh gets her turn strumming

 Doug teaching the claw hammer techniques of strumming a banjo

Wyatt particularly enjoyed "sitting in" with the band as they practiced.  His favorite instrument was the fiddle

Of course, the highlight of the evening along with music and fellowship was really good food. Bayleigh certainly knew how to take advantage of all of that as well. It snowed pretty hard on the drive home but we all managed to get home safely.