The day after we got from back Charlottesville we headed to Yoders Tree Farm, where we’ve cut down our own tree for the last few years. They didn’t have any hay rides this year, but otherwise the operation ran pretty much the same. There was a little debate this year on the perfect tree, but we all finally decided on one, which ended up being the perfect height once we got it into the house.
the girls with THE tree
Dave doing the cutting
and it’s down!
We decorated the tree that night and now we’re all ready for Christmas!
We headed down to Charlottesville again this year for Thanksgiving. Because of COVID it was just our family this year who made the trip. We minimized our stops along the way to try and make exposures as few as possible.
This was the first long trip with Petunia. What we’ve found is that if you put her in the back of the car she’ll chew anything around her, BUT if she’s in the front seat she’ll travel happily anywhere. So… she did the whole trip from the seat of honor (oy).
Petunia enjoying the front seat.
Once we arrived we did little but hang around the house and enjoy the great weather. It was unseasonably warm all week, so we got to spend a lot of time outside.
Petunia got to meet Penny and they became best pals quickly. We arrived in the day, instead of the middle of the night, which is what we usually do, because we knew the dogs would be insane for the first few hours. We were right.
Penny & Petunia. Keep away was a favorite game. As was sitting on top of Petunia when she finally got the ball! After many (many) hours of nonstop playing they finally rested, if only for a few moments. Once recharged they were back at it!
Since we won’t see my family for Christmas, we decided to celebrate that as well. We all got into it and it really felt like Christmas. The kids decorated the tree on “Christmas Eve” and we had a big, festive dinner. On the morning of “Christmas” the girls were up early and ready to open presents.
Decorating the tree on “Christmas Eve” Waiting at the top of the steps on “Christmas” morning
Lauren painted a platter for Nana
Ari got a hoverboard
Sophie loving on Penny
Ari & Lauren figured out how to simultaneously use the hoverboard
And then the next day was actual Thanksgiving, so we quickly changed gears and got into the Thanksgiving spirit. In all there was enough eating and drinking in those three days to last the entire month!
Since Doug and his family didn’t come down this year, Dave was in charge of deep frying the turkey. Doug had sent along detailed instructions from the last six years, so he had some good guidance. It turned out deliciously!
lowering the turkey
the finished product
Lauren approved!
It was such a gorgeous day that we ate outside.
It’s the first year that I can remember that the kids got to sit at the “big table” and we didn’t have to serve the food buffet style.
On the day after Thanksgiving we took our usual hike. It was another gorgeous day and we had a special visitor – our friend Carl, who lives in North Carolina, came up for a quick visit. It was really great to see him!
