Cherry Blossoms and Sherry Blossoms

Sherry came to visit the clan for 48 hours. The highlight was our trip to the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC to celebrate the last few days of the Cherry Blossom Festival. Just walking and enjoying the beautiful day and listening to great Bubble- Gum Rock Music at the Jefferson Memorial.

Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee park (Leesburg, VA)

Luci and Malloy (long-time neighborhood friend) enjoyed the Easter Egg Hunt at Ida Lee park the Saturday before the Saturday before Easter Sunday . . .

Luci and Malloy also enjoyed some of the other "fun bounce" festivities. Mom, Dad, and baby Lola enjoyed just being outside on a nice sunny warm day after some nasty winter weather!

Christmas Nativity . . .

It has been wonderful to have all the kids here and be one big undivided family for the first time in the last seven years!! We've really tried to take advantage of this special Christmas, including this Nativity Program we created as part of our Christmas Eve festivities (Thanks Kenz for putting it all together, and thanks Stin for making it happen!)
Lola: Baby Jesus
Luci: Mary
Anders:Joseph
Tate: Angel
Kenz: Narrator
Stin: Shepherdess
Scott: Wise Man (although everyone really wanted him to be the "donkey")

Han's Advent Round Two

This was our last of the Four Sundays (we only we able to get together for the 2nd and 4th Sundays) and we celebrated the Theme of "Love" and, of course, continued with more Puppet Antics . . .

Christmas Caroling . . .

As part of our Christmas traditions, we will bake some treats, and then take them over to a few neighbors, presenting our snax as a family at each neighbor's doorstep while singing Christmas Carols. I'm not sure what's more fun - us actually baking and then caroling to our neighbors, or to see the look on their faces when they see all seven of us at the door and wondering . . . what the!!?? Here are a few photos of the baking of the treats (Stin even make Caramels!) and the look on Lola's face after we got back (it was a FRIGID night!!)

Santa Claus Wishing . . .

Luci, Kenz, Lola, and Patrick all had the opportunity to make their wishes known to Papa Noel . . .

Gingerbread Christmas Choo-choo train

Stin made sure we added many new wonderful Christmas traditions while Scott was away protecting the homeland . . . .this is one of them:

Han's Advent

Our most precious friends from the Belmont Ridge Ward -- the Han Family -- included us in one of their Christmas traditions -- The Advent. This included the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas Day. Each Sunday leading up to Christmas is focused on four themes: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Each included readings, hymns, stories, and lighting of a candle representing each of the four themes. Along with the previously mentioned activities, puppet shows were introduced which led to great amusement and mayhem! This new tradition added greatly to our present and hopefully future Christmas festivities . . . Love you Hans!