1. Traveled to Asheville ~ Cody always has a family medicine conference in Asheville each year in December, and it just so happens that some of our friends live in/around the Asheville area. We are lucky enough to be able to stay at the Chateau de Lunsford (our friends house) while we are there, and we get together with all our friends for dinner and game night. I always look forward to this weekend each year!
Pam, Riley, and Mike
Playing "Aggravation" with Elliot and Amy
2. Watched our nephew star in a Christmas play ~ My old church back home always does a children's Christmas play. Connor, our oldest nephew, had a part in the play. He read a small paragraph about the Christmas season. (Yes, this child, who is now almost five years old, has been reading since he was about three....so smart....just like his Aunt Mel and Uncle Cody. ;) He also played the handbells with a group of kids. His face was hilarious each time it was his turn to ring the bells!
Connor reading his part
Handbell music (Unfortunately, I couldn't get the video to upload, so a pic will have to do. The video was so funny...)
3. Helped my sister and her husband move into their new house ~ We went home a few days early to help my sister and her husband move into their new house. They moved in the Tuesday before Christmas, and they were completely moved in after two days (for the most part). They even had their Christmas tree up!
4. Attended lots of family gatherings ~ Christmas Eve at my grandmothers, opened presents with my mom and dad on Christmas morning, Christmas breakfast at Cody's brother's house, opened presents with Cody's mom, Christmas lunch with my dad's side of the family, and Christmas dinner with my mom's side of the family.
Hershey playing with his squeaky tennis ball from Santa Paws
Opening presents with my mom and dad
Our nephews, Connor and Jackson, at Christmas morning breakfast
Aunt Mel and Jax
Opening presents with Cody's mom
Mel, Cody, and Sherri
5. Enjoyed a beautiful white Christmas ~ Snow started falling mid-day on Christmas and kept falling, leaving a 6-8 inch blanket of white all over NC. When we drove back to Greenville, it was beautiful! The entire state was covered with snow!
Hershey waiting to go outside in the snow--he LOVES snow!
The snowy view from my mom and dad's back deck
Our family
6. Had a quiet evening at home for New Years ~ We actually stayed awake this year until midnight to celebrate 2011! The past several years at least one, or both of us, have fallen asleep before midnight. (I know, such party-ers we are!) We enjoyed a nice steak dinner, and a midnight snack of port wine cheeseball, chicken-in-a-biscuit crackers, and sparkling grape juice. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
