Christmas 2014

The first Christmas in our new house, and it was a GREAT one!  

Christmas Eve mom and dad came over, we had a nice dinner, then opened gifts
 

Minnesota necklaces from family back home!

Anja's gift for Dutch.

World Series champs!

Aprons made by Darcie's co-worker, they are beautiful!

The sleeping bags were a surprise

The girls thought the sleeping bags were pretty cool,
 they've been sleeping in them ever since they got them.

A surprise for grandma!

A very happy Christmas Eve

Christmas morning started early with Elise getting up, then she and I waited a while before Anja and Jason woke up.

Dragons were a big hit with both girls this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Gingerbread Houses, 2014

I don't remember exactly when we started making gingerbread houses at Christmas, but it was a few years ago, and I remember those first few years thinking "this is WAY more work than I thought it would be,"  because the girls were little and needed to have much of the work done for them, and their attention span was short so at some point they would just walk away and I would finish.  But as they get older, they become more and more independent and I get to spend more and more time just sitting back and watching their creativity!  This year they did most of the gingerbread house making themselves, just needed a little help at times squeezing the icing out of the bag.  I love to see their creations!

I wanted to get a picture with Dutch in there :)

The finished products!

Breakfast with Santa, 2014

One of our new Fredericksburg Christmas traditions has been Breakfast with Santa at Eileen's, one of my favorite Fredericksburg restaurants (really, it is a cafe and bakery).  Normally at Eileen's there are pastries, sandwiches and salads behind big glass cases, and you walk through and tell them what you want.  But for Breakfast with Santa, they have a breakfast buffet with all kinds of yummy food, and Santa is there for the kids to talk to.  This year he even told them a story after we ate!  It is really fun, and a great Christmas tradition (wonder if we will still be able to go when the kids are grown?).

Shortly after we got there, a waitress came around and my mom asked for something, to which the waitress replied, "yes, ma'am, I will be right back!"  Anja leaned over and said "She is trying to get on the nice list."  Ha!

Anja brought her list to read to Santa so she wouldn't forget anything.

Dad and Mom enjoy it as much as we do!

Basketball Girls

Several weeks ago Elise came home with a note from school saying basketball sign-ups were coming up, and she said she wanted to play.  This program is through the county and is open to kids ages 6 and up, so I asked Anja if she wanted to sign-up also.  She said, "I'm too short to play."  Then added, "well, I guess I could run under their legs.  Ok, I'll play."  So this winter, both girls are playing basketball for the first time.  Anja's age group is a "skills" class where they practice shooting, dribbling, defense, etc., but don't play games.  Elise's age group will practice through December, then start games in January.  It has been a hoot to watch them, and see how quickly they are progressing. 

The only basketball experience Elise has had is in gym class at school, but she's doing pretty well.  See a short video of her at practice here.

Elise taking a shot

Practicing defense, Elise in yellow

Anja has great energy and enthusiasm, and adds some flair and personality to what she does (especially her wait time).  See a short video of her at basketball practice here.

Lots of concentration here

Taking a shot...

(this one did not go in, but she does make some!)

Horse Girls

I have loved horses and riding my whole life.  When I was young, my dad was a cowboy and until I was 6 we lived on cattle ranches, so horses were around quite a lot, and I was up on them from an early age.    

Me, 2 years old

After we moved into town I wasn't around them as much, only when we visited friends or family who had horses, then I would beg to ride and hope they would let me.

When I was about 10, mom and dad bought me my own horse and I was in heaven!!  I think I rode almost every day (especially in the summer).  When I went to college my riding days ended for the most part, with just a few times in the saddle here and there over the next several years. 

 A couple years ago, a friend of mine in Thief River who had horses offered to give Elise riding lessons, so for a few weeks that year we all rode; Elise with our friend, getting some direct instruction, and me riding double with Anja, just having fun.

Elise in Minnesota, 2012

Me and Anja in Minnesota, 2012

Here in Virginia last year, the girls rode one day with Girl Scouts, and did a week of horse camp at a local stable where they got to ride every day.  They were really interested in taking lessons, and at the end of October they started with an instructor.  Elise has been going great guns;  Anja has been on a few times, but at this point is more interested in just petting and feeding the horses than riding.  She goes out every week, but we always tell her she doesn't have to ride unless she wants to.  She's been on about three times at this point.  

Elise was NOT excited about riding English at first (I haven't met a person here yet who rides Western), but as she does it more and learns more, she has become more comfortable and is progressing nicely!  One great benefit of the climate here is that the girls have been riding every week, even into December!  The coldest it has been on riding days is in the 40s, and we just bundle up.

Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving time this year was fantastic!  Jason, the girls and I all had five days off, Jason's mom was in from California, and the time was great!

Wednesday we cooked and prepped for dinner Thursday.

We tried a new recipe this year:  Thomas Jefferson's
sweet potato biscuits.  Elise had a good time
helping with this recipe! 

Cutting out the biscuits.  We didn't have a
biscuit, so used a Smurf glass.

Thursday we had a very laid-back and enjoyable day hanging out and eating.

The moms/grandmas

Carving the turkey!

The first major holiday in our new house.  Say cheese!

Spending time together, it doesn't get much better than this!

Friday we decorated for Christmas.  This was the first time in many years we had all our Christmas decorations in one place and plenty of room to put them all out.  The girls did pretty much all the decorating, I just supervised.  They did a GREAT job!