Field Trip Day with Pop

Now that Nathanael's a toddler, and we don't currently have a "baby-baby", we've decided to branch out into the wonderful world of home school field trips!  There's a huge home school community in our area and tons of opportunities for fun outings.  In theory, I'm very excited about these adventures!  In practice, I'm not quite sure how to juggle my toddler and the preschooler who "be's the onlyest one in charge around here."  And so, we were beyond thankful that Pop decided to meet us on our first field trip to the Virginia Aviation Museum.  

He sat perfectly still for about 90 seconds.

Pop with Bubby, Boo Boo, Bethy & Bunky

So maybe the guided museum tour was a little premature for my kids' ages...

They all loved the hands-on exhibits!  Bubby was just happy that he got a tiny piece of gum to chew on, drop on the floor, and chew on again, and drop on the floor... well, you get the picture.

Flying the little model plane

Figgy's gingerbread cookies were a yummy afternoon snack.

 They topped off the day with some Maris and Vannah stories, their favorite part.

Where Have All My Babies Gone??

I've stared at this picture this afternoon wondering how these four precious babies grew this big this quickly! 

Bethany said today, "I am the onlyest one that be's in charge."

Christmas Tour

We had such a sweet Christmas visiting both sets of grandparents. I wish I had taken more pics. We're blessed that the kids have the four best grandparents ever.

Now that the new year is here, we're getting back into the daily school routine. We have some fun field trips coming up in the next few weeks to shake things up a little! 

We also bought a house, so if all goes as planned, there will be a lot of packing and painting in February and [another] big move by mid March! We're so excited to settle down and make it our home after renting for almost 4 years. We'll be heading back out to the country to a cute old neighborhood, and we already have some good friends out there. It'll be good to be in the country again! Mmmmm, clean fresh air and plenty of room to run. (Don't tell the girls about the big hairy spiders and copperheads. I'm sure Uncle Petey the wildlife biologist will relocate them all to a new county before we move).

Now for some pictures!

Opening stockings at Figgy and Pop's house on Christmas morning.  It was like old times.

No time to wipe one's own nose when there are presents to be opened.  This is pure Figgy-love.

Elsa had too much Christmas.

Revived and ready for Christmas dinner at Granna and Grandaddy's house.

Hannie Lou

More fun!

Granna, Grandaddy, Hannah, Charis, & Aurora

That smile.

Some of us were happy to be outside, and some of us were not.

Pop Day cured our post-Christmas blues!

A beach-y December for sure!  It's just too precious when they hold hands on walks. As a side note, these little lovelies are growing out their bangs and they don't quite like to keep clips in their hair for very long, so we shall see how long this phase lasts. :)

Charis' first quilt project! In her words, "I'm the best sew-er around this house."