Thanksgiving 2013

 So I know this blog looks a little confusing.  Yes, it is about Thanksgiving but looks more like Christmas.  I used to hold fast that we couldn't start decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving but we have so many decorations and it takes such a long time to get them up we started early so we would have plenty of time to enjoy them.

Gaga loves to decorate sugar cookies just as much as the kiddos do.  I think everyone was finished and mom was still busy creating her masterpieces!

This tree has a funny story.  We decorated it not once, or twice but three separate times.  I really thought I was losing my mind. I also wanted to pitch the thing out the window.  It started with the first batch of lights going out.  Stands to reason the tree is close to four years old.  No problem, we took them off and all the decorations and replaced them with some spare white lights we had in the basement.  Done.  It was hilarious.  We re-decorated the tree in the daytime so we couldn't see that the white lights we were using were those fluorescent LED lights.  It looked like the smurf village lit up our room.  It was also distracting from the outside.  Every room and porch glowed with a soft white light, except our bedroom.  It was glowing like some blue fire ball.  I couldn't stand it.  We took it all down and finally got it fight the third time!!!!!

My sweet little buddies lounging together while the tree goes up.

Our little helper.  Lucas loves looking at all the ornaments, but he doesn't always want to leave them on the tree.

The Thanksgiving Spread!!  If I remember correctly , between Thanksgiving and Christmas I cooked 4 turkeys and 3 hams!  I have a new respect for chefs.  It takes a lot of time, energy and preparation for a meal this size for lots of folks to enjoy.  I don't care how long it takes, I really love hosting and look forward to doing it again next year!

The non meat side!

My thoughtful husband making sure to get a picture of the family giving thanks for a great year, yummy food and bountiful blessings!

Typical.

Chocolate pie, anyone?  I'm not sure if I baked more turkey and ham or pie!

Even the dogs were exhausted from eating too much food.

All Random

 I was standing outside and noticed the sky.  Isn't it beautiful?  The clouds and the colors were amazing at this particular moment.

 My little cutie pie happy on the slide.

Front tooth is outta here!!  It was so funny how this one came out.  Hunter and I were playing/wrestling in the floor when he yelled, "wait mom!"  When I stopped and looked over at him his tooth was lying on his cheek.  He was a little freaked out at first but then really happy the tooth was out and that he would be expecting a visit from the tooth fairy.

Halloween 2013

Oh, what fun is Halloween! This was our first year celebrating the scary holiday in our new home but we were pros at hitting up the GCC neighborhood and parading around at Sinking Springs trunk or treat.  Hunter was dressed up as a very handsome knight and Lucas was a very scary (or very cute) little black spider.  Our old neighbors the Mathesius's and now our new neighbors in GCC hosted a pre trick or treating Halloween party where we all hung out and had pizza and treats before waking the neighbors with a herd of screaming children all begging for candy.  Well, it wasn't exactly like that.  The kids were very well behaved and used some great manners when asking for candy.  I was very proud of them all.  Even the bigger kids were helping the smaller ones.  After all, it takes a village.

This post is specifically for Matt and Kelly.  These are two of the cutest and sweetest kiddos I know.  They are the best of friends.  Larkin looks great in her costume, but I will be very glad to see JoJo the clown costume on sale at wee-cycle this year!!

Friends and classmates hanging out at Sinking Springs trunk or treat.   If I had to peg a favorite holiday for Lucas it would have to be Halloween.  Tricks, treats and costume fun are exactly his idea of a good time.

My car for trunk or treat.  I think this is year number 6 for me.  I never win, but I put in a good effort for the kids.  There is always next year….it will be our last at Sinking Springs preschool. I am getting a little misty just thinking about that.  My how the time flies.

Our BFF's dressed as you know who for the holiday fun.  They score major parental points for donning such festive attire!!

And they are all ready to go!  Hunter looks like a giant!

The rest of the gang and our best attempts at a photo before the made release!

Our sweet little bat taking a break from all the walking.  I bet he stopped after every house to take inventory on his candy.

Cutest knight I've ever seen.

SCORE!!

And last, but certainly not least, was the Sullins Halloween party.  It was a family affair including games, arts and crafts, storytelling and sweets.  Hunter did start the day in part of his costume, but if you know Hunter he doesn't ever like to do things that are out of box…like wearing your Halloween costume to school.  I mean, who really likes doing that anyway?

As the boys continue to grow the holidays are getting increasingly more fun.  I hold on to each and every moment for I feel like in a blink of an eye they will be gone.  I love these two little boys more than I ever thought I could love anything in my entire life.  We are one blessed family.

Beach to Battleship 70.3

 It took me a minute to remember where in the world the boys would be swimming at night in the fall around here and then I recalled our trip to Wilmington, NC for our Beach to Battleship 70.3 Ironman.  This trip was both rewarding and a nightmare all at the same time.  The kids and my parents were able to join David and I for one of our crazy racing adventures, but with record low temps for the region and managing 3 kiddos for the grandparents for a race that last at least 5 hours was a little challenging.  It was great to have them all there to see us finish and fun to have them involved in the festivities surrounding the race for the weekend but we might have learned a lesson here.  All racing needs to be done sans kiddos until they can all fend for themselves!!!

 Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of David and I on race day.  So sad and i am not going to let that happen again!  I thought mom took a picture of us at the finish but I'm not sure where it is!  Oh well, like I said earlier Wilmington had record low temps for the day and when we jumped in the water that morning it was a chilly 36 degrees.  The water temperature was around 72 so when we jumped in it almost felt like a bath.  We swam in a channel off the Inter-Coastal Waterway and the swim course is known for being super fast as you swim with the incoming tide.  Not this year, it was a flat tide.  No swift current for us, but we did have a little and we will take any advantage we can get.  The bike course was flat, long, windy and cold.  Not much more to say about that.

We took a visit to the historic battleship anchored in the port city.  It was fabulous and there was so much to see and the read about.  The boys were only interested in these three things and in this order:  where did they use the bathroom, where are all the guns and where do they store extra bullets?  One day when they are older we will have to take them back.  I confess, I love American history, I want to go back and read up on all the interesting stuff we waltz right past while look for the loo.

Even record low temps couldn't keep my boys off the beach.

Getting ready for fall

Fall is a beautiful time in Abingdon, VA.  The leaves are beautiful, the Creeper trail looks amazing and is still bustling with people trying to enjoy the last few warm days of the year and of course the kids are crazy excited for the holiday season to begin.  I love this time of year but I feel like it is a buckle your seat belt and hold on kind of season that ages me at warp speed as I worry about all the hosting, shopping and school activities.  This year was now different and after it was all said and done I think I cooked 4 turkeys, 3 hams and about a 100 pies, cookies and cakes.  Fun times were had by all and the next several posts will showcase the Simmons Family holiday season!

 Fall birthday parties with Farmer Larry and Lynn on Fern Valley farm.  Can't seem to get enough of the fun and animals around this place.

 Corn Maze!!  Burr, one of our first really cold days but whose to stop us from corn mazing and pumpkin picking?  Kids loved the maze, and I have to admit, David and I thought it was pretty cool too.  The kids wanted to pick the corn (which is a no, no) and it was amazing to see how high and neatly organized the rows and rows and rows of corn were throughout the maze.

 My punkin pies!

 Everyone got a chance to pick their perfect pumpkin.  Lucas was found on the really little ones and Hunter liked the big, round and unusual looking ones.

 Trailer ride back to the car complete with fresh apples from the orchard.  Yum!!

 Hunter was so happy to see a piece of corn abandoned on the trail.  We wouldn't let him pick one but it was surely Okay to find one just lying around, Right?

These are really funny blow up pumpkins I found super marked down at Lowes' the day before Halloween!  I never thought we would be that family with the blow up things in the yard, but I couldn't resist.  We bought these pumpkins and a spooky tree.  They were a huge hit and even if they were only up for 2 days this year…..we have'm for next!