Santa Pictures

A Tree Hunting We Will Go

Recently, we traveled to a small town right outside of Boone, NC to meet up with some friends and cut down our Christmas tree. Our friends, the Walfords, had rented a cabin in the mountains for Thanksgiving, and they were generous enough to share their cabin and their feast with us.

Since we met them on the Friday after Thanksgiving (after I had shopped my heart out) we were able to take advantage of all of Ginger's wonderful holiday creations. We had more food than we knew what to do with and for four adults and eleven, yes eleven children, that is an unusual problem!

But after a lovely trip up, football on the front lawn and clear, crisp, picturesque surroundings, it was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas. After a wonderful dinner and dessert we all watched movies and played games until the little ones fell asleep. Sam, Ginger and their youngest Peter shared a bedroom and Jeff, myself and Nehemiah shared the other room leaving the remaining nine kids in the great room on a couch, futon and air mattress. Surprisingly, they all fell asleep (eventually) and stayed asleep until at least 6:30am.

Watching the guys play football, from the warm cabin of course! Setting the table for 15!Playing games and watching movies.Gorgeous morning sunrise.Ginger does everything with flair, including breakfast at 7:00am. After an incredible breakfast, we packed up the car and drove down the driveway (the cabin was nestled in the Christmas tree lot) to go pick out our tree. Jeff and the kids had fun looking for just the right one, but it was mom's approval that really sealed the deal! We found a beautiful, straight Frasier Fur standing at a perfect 7 1/2 feet. After cutting, shaking and loading it up, we were all ready for lunch. This time we gave Ginger a break and we all stopped for subs right across the street from App State Stadium. Jeff was in heaven, subs, ESPN playing in the restaurant and the stadium across the street. The perfect tree! App State Our lovely hosts.

Finally our Norman Rockwell weekend came to an end. After a very quite drive home, we put up our tree and trimmed it with lights. Now it's Christmas!

Giving Thanks

So Thanksgiving was like two weeks ago right? I seem to be a bit late (story of my life!). Thanksgiving is doubly special in our home because we also celebrate Micah's birthday and this year he turned three.

Every Thanksgiving our family has a tradition of making a turkey and a few pies for our church outreach on Thanksgiving Day. This year was no different with Jeff setting the alarm at 4am to get our bird in the oven. Once we all got up later that morning, we simply took the first turkey out and got him ready for transport and put our dinner bird in, so the oven was already nice and toasty. That afternoon our extended family began to arrive for dinner. This year it was a special treat to have my Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill in from Ohio as well as our local family.

After a lovely dinner, we celebrated Micah's birthday with an amazing cookie from Harris Teeter. Everyone loved the cookie cake, especially Nehemiah! And, after many full bellies and hours of football, we said goodbye to our family and began to prepare for the greatest shopping day of the year!

My mom spent the night on Thanksgiving night so that we could get an early, er late start. We actually left first at 11:30pm that night, shopped until 2am then came home to rest until we headed back out at 6am. Thank goodness for Target's price match, we were able to finish up our shopping for Christmas that Friday.

We are so thankful for all of God's blessings on our lives, family, friends and the newest little Davis due in June!