I realize Christmas is done. Even the Octave of Christmas has passed. So, a Christmas post is a little belated. But.....our Church is still celebrating the Christmas/Epiphany season so I'm not totally late with this post! ;)
We had a beautiful Advent/ Christmas season this year. It seems every year gets better and better as the boys get bigger and more aware of the celebrations and festivities. We had a simply stunning Christmas tree this year. Not too big (like last year's gorgeous behemoth) and perfectly proportioned. You may disagree with me but there is NOTHING that can compare to a real tree. :)
My parents came out prior to Christmas this year as we had decided to go on a vacation after Christmas as a family. The boys started counting down the number of days till Oma and Papa arrived at the start of December. We had a marvelous time and had beautiful weather, for the most part.
The most beautiful day of the week they were here with us was spent walking around Mid-Lothian Mines. Jeffery acted as our tour guide...and a very adept one at that...and it was a lovely time outside......
....followed by an outdoor lunch back at home because of how nice the weather was.
Some highlights of their trip:
Oma and Papa had already communicated to me their desire to have a special "date" with each boy, separately, while they were here. For Jeffery....that meant that they took him to his very first movie at a movie theater. He still talks excitedly about the adventure and the funny movie they saw. For Jakob....that meant that they took him to the Nature Center at Maymont Park where they got to see a very ugly and huge snapping turtle and play with a "lock" system display and get all wet. :) It was a really special time for each boy to have such singular time with Oma and Papa.
We celebrated Christmas early with them and opened the presents from them and to them. It was a great night and lots of fun.
Jeffery and Jakob helped Oma make Sugar Cookies. And, of course, they got to lick the beaters....because Sugar Cookie dough is the BEST!!!!! And Papa made up his cookie frosting the boys helped frost the cookies with both Oma and Papa. Jakob tried to eat all of the sprinkles....more so than actually putting them on the cookies...but he's 3 so what can you do?! :)
LOTS of trains were run. LOTS!!!!!!!! Both boys were in heaven with Papa/the Sr. Train Master helping them with the track and the trains and making train sounds, etc.
We spent a beautiful evening at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to see their annual Festival of Lights. It was simply gorgeous and the boys had a blast.
We had Bottom's Up Pizza, Buzz & Ned's BBQ, and mom and dad took Dave and I to the amazing Boathouse for dinner as part of our present. If you haven't been to the Boathouse at Rocket's Landing, you need to go. Amazing food! Delicious cocktails! And it sits on the banks of the James River....overlooking the Richmond City Skyline....which at this time of year was all lit up for Christmas. It is a yearly favorite of all of ours!!!!! :)
Oma and Papa left and we got to the task of actually celebrating Christmas....and packing for our vacation. Dave has been wanting, for a long time, to spend the week after Christmas on a family vacation. So...the very day after Christmas, we left for Cumberland County....an hour to the west of us. No, it wasn't very far but it felt like we were 3 or more hours away. It was PERFECT!!!!!!!! We went to Bear Creek Lake State Park where we had reserved a cabin for 3 night and 4 days. No cell phone service. No wi-fi. Pure heaven with a view of the lake!!!!!!!
During our time there, we visited the historic town of Farmville (home to Longwood University...where the VP debates were this past fall.....and Hampdon-Sydney College). We took a walk around the lake and played on the beach playground......
....and we took a 3 mile walk down the High Bridge State Park Trail. The trail is over 31 miles long and used to be a Norfolk & Western, then turned Norfolk & Southern rail line. Norfolk & Southern abandoned the line about a decade ago and turned it over to the VA State Park system....which made it into a 31 mile multi-use trail. The highlight of the trail is the High Bridge which crosses over the Appomattox River Valley. The Bridge is 125 feet high and 1/2 a mile long. It was amazing!!!!! And the boys were thrilled!!!!!!
Our vacation was just what we were hoping for and we can't wait to return to "our" cabin. Jakob was very determined to move the cabin to our house and Jeffery cried when we left. I'd say that those are marks of everyone having had a great time!!!! :)
And now, we're into the New Year with so much to look forward to in 2017. We are so thankful for the blessings we were given in 2016. We are so thankful for the trials and crosses we were made to bear as well. And we hope and pray that your 2017 brings peace and joy, love and laughter to you and your family.
The Pedersens
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