It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..... thanks to the first snowfall of the year last night! While it didn't stick around all night, we did have a dusting over the lawn and cars. It made for a pretty magical exit from our trip to see Santa (yes, again!) at Outdoor World, which last year was the most festive (and free picture!) place to see the jolly ol' guy.
I have to admit, I had high expectations for our local Ohio Outdoor World, after experiencing Christmas at the Florida store last year, with its lobby's huge beautiful fireplace and super tall Christmas tree, a sleigh and reindeer that we used for family pictures, and a real Santa Claus. I was bummed that this store, while larger and 2-stories, didn't have a similar lobby and the Santa, well, wasn't quite up to expectation. Adam sat on his knee fine but the whole time had this look like, Mom, who's he kidding with the fake beard?
Nonetheless, Adam had his picture taken with Santa, enjoyed the Bass Pro Shop aquarium, and the absolute highlight of the evening for him, the escalators!!
And while the snow was gone within a couple hours, it was exciting while it lasted, and Mindy had a quick reminder of what cold wet snow feel like. Brrrrrr!
I hope everyone has a joyous Thanksgiving, surrounded by family and those you love. This year we were in Georgetown with Mindy's sister's family and then in Northern Kentucky with Michael's sister's family, where we....
Ate and ate and ate and ate and ate... I asked Adam if he wanted some turkey, and he said, "Gobble, Gobble!"
Enjoyed a Thanksgiving Pinata, courtesy of Uncle Daniel. New Thanksgiving tradition?
Survived Black Friday shopping (a first-time experience!)
Watched UK BEAT TENNESSEE!!! (It may be another 26 years before we beat them again, but, hey, we'll take it!)
Had fun riding bikes, reading books and playing with the Williams cousins!
and saw SANTA!!!
Santa showed up while we were shopping, so we thought we'd see what Adam's reaction to him would be. He walked right up to him, no hesitation at all!
We have so much to be thankful this year -- new job and new life here in Ohio, living close to family and old friends, and still remaining close with our now long-distance friends, too.
I have an amazing husband and the most awesome child ever created. Seriously, if you haven't seen him lately, you're missing out. He is our Everything, and we are blessed beyond measure to have the privilege of being his parents.
What a joy!
Aarrrrggg!
Our little pilgrim...
And my favorite...
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone...
especially to our family near and far and our favorite Fort Lauderdale Thanksgiving family!
Our warm, sunny days of Autumn are getting fewer, and before much longer we'll be fully into winter, and you all will need to remind me that, yes, we chose to move here from Florida! But, hey, at least it feels like what November is supposed to feel like, and that we are loving.
I was told that November is absolutely the best time of year to go camping. Now, looking at the weather forecast with lows in the mid 40s, I wasn't so sure, but heck if Michael wasn't right (of course). The days were warm, around 60-degrees, and the night-time 40s are warmer than you'd think, especially with a cozy fire. We even chose to bring Adam, and with plenty of layers, shared sleeping bags, extra eyes and hands to help, and a handy hiking pack for him, he had a blast!
Red River Gorge in Daniel Boone National Forest was Michael's stomping ground during his college days, and I could see the glee in his eyes as we packed the car and he checked his rappelling equipment. There is nothing even remotely comparable to the sights and hikes like these in Florida!
We drove down with my sister Angie and her family Saturday morning for one night in the woods. We took three hikes:
1) An easy trail out to Chimney Rock
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Notice Adam in his hiking pack, a never-used hand-me-down from Aunt Megan. I'm so glad we stored it in our attic all this time. Came in so handy! He was not a fan of it at first, but by the end of the weekend he loved getting in his pack and going on the hikes. In fact, he would squeal with delight at the most dangerous parts of the trail/climb. Uh-oh, just like his Daddy...
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2) A treacherous I-can't-watch-as-my-husband-scales-the-cliff-with-our-son-strapped-to-his-back hike to Half Moon Rock for rappelling
View of Chimney Rock (center) from Half Moon. Click to enlarge.
This is where the aforementioned dangerous trail came in. To get to the top of Half Moon we had to scoot, crawl, climb and help each other up to the top, and once up there, there were certainly no railings, just long drops off the cliff-sides. Fortunately we also had Michael's brother Daniel and cousin Matthew to help out. Once on top we kept Adam strapped safely in his pack, until he was too far past nap time and he just wanted to lay his head down. Aunt Angie was more than willing.
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3) a Sunday morning long hike out to Gray's Arch.
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This was the highlight of the trip for me. The trail is 3 miles round-trip, and we first hiked down on to the top of Gray's Arch, and then we followed the trail down and around to be beneath it. Fortunately most of the trees had lost their leaves so we could appreciate it better. The arch, combined with the cliff overhang and rugged terrain, is spectacular. Angie, Josh and the boys hiked up to stand underneath the arch, and as I watched them from below I couldn't help but think they looked like tiny actors on a gigantic movie set.
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And of course, there was camping. We found the perfect camping spot right off the trail, where you find your own firewood, pack your own water, and the bathroom is anywhere and everywhere you look. (Joy!) Of course, with the time change and earlier darkness, I think we were all in bed by 9pm!
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But the big event of the weekend was the rappelling. Michael has all the equipment and taught me to rappel back in our college days. With my nephews now 11 and 9 years old, this was a great opportunity to teach them, too.
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Both boys hardly hesitated before scaling down the 40-foot face. So proud of them! I think it even impressed a similarly-aged youth group watching from above. Funny moment, too -- the youth group leader (the bald guy in the blue shirt in the video) is a guy I knew in college. I hadn't seen him or his wife in 12 years... I was at their wedding in 1999! Small world!
And while the rappelling was thrilling and fun, the climb back up.... not so much!
Congratulations to my beautiful parents who quietly celebrated 40 years of marriage last month.
Yes, FORTY!
Mom and Dad, I admire your sustaining love through all these years, and we are so blessed to have parents whose commitment to each other and family is stronger than anything else. Thank you for building our home and always being a haven for unconditional love and support. You've set the bar high!
First I got to celebrate it at the zoo, then we had a costume parade and party at school, and then I got to go trick-or-treating!
By the time Mommy and I arrived home from work on Halloween most of our neighbors had already prepared for trick-or-treating by moving their cars along the street and setting up chairs and fire pits in the driveways. All the houses we went to had neighbors outside greeting everyone with their candy -- we didn't have to ring any doorbells. Everyone was outside waiting for us! Daddy and Mommy set up a table and chairs in our driveway, too. Mommy says there was a great sense of community in the neighborhood.
Here I am in my froggy costume. Ribb-et!
With Cowboy Daddy
and Cowgirl Mommy
Hmm, where to start?
Lots of fun other costumes!
We had a really busy neighborhood! And a firetruck even came to hand out candy!
It didn't take long for me to get the hang of this trick-or-treating thing! I loved carrying around Mommy's my pumpkin bucket, saying Trick or Treat and Thank You and putting my candy inside.
And when the night was over, I started inventorying all my candy!
