Sunday, December 25, 2016

Family Pictures 2016

My awesome sister in law (Larissa, since I have a bunch of them) gave us a family photo shoot for Christmas, if you're in Utah I'm going to highly recommend her because we got through an entire family photo shoot with no tears and minimal bribes (that's a big deal people).  Here is her website and facebook page.

We took all of these at the cabin and dock at Phil's parents house, they've got this rustic/primitive cabin down on their pond that the guys (and Sarah) fixed up this year. Now hopefully shutterfly will have lots of good deals for me since these are amazing!  Oh and sorry (not really) about the overload, I couldn't just post a couple.













Um doesn't this almost capture how rotten he is? almost?








Nora adorable shoes.  I'm glad Larissa enjoyed them too and took a picture of them

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Christmas in Virginia!

Christmas here has been interesting.  Its more fall like conditions, to the point where here I can actually believe that winter begins on December 21st, not in November.  I won't lie, I like the warmer temps especially compared to what is going on in Northern Indiana that was home, not a fan of below zero days, yesterday it was almost 80 and I wore shorts.


Phil is coaching winter track this year so he has been swamped with meets and practices for that so I've been on my own with the kids quite a bit for the last month and a half. I've been trying to be sure we hit up all the super fun Christmas themed activities going on around town.  We went to the mall and saw Santa one day, no pictures because I'm too cheap to buy them-just imagine Nora screaming and Pete looking awkward and you get the gist-not worth $30 to own. We also checked out the aquarium to see the scuba diving Santa it was really cool, but poorly set up.  We waited to see him come in the aquirum and then were quickly pushed out of the way for people to come take pictures because they had been setting up a line without informing anyone who actually stood there and waited in the tunnel-hopefully next year they can learn to communicate and set it up better.  Fun and we have a membership, but I'd not buy a ticket just for it.

See? Not a fan of the man in the red suit

Nora has really enjoyed putting money in the Salvation Army buckets the bell ringers always get the biggest hoot out of her getting so excited.  I just think it is cute to see.

My favorite thing to do though for our Virginia Christmas fun has been the light display down on the boardwalk in Virginia Beach.  They have BIG lights set up all over in the sand and by the hotels and you drive on the boardwalk (its actually cement and really wide)

Only in Virginia Beach do you get christmas lights with planes and beach scenes




Friday, November 11, 2016

SkyPopo and Grandma Visit!

Phil's parents came out for a visit over the weekend.  We had them surprise Pete at school pick up on Thursday.  He had a blast spending time with them as did the rest of the family, but Pete especially loves his SkyPopo.  I somehow managed not to get a single picture of Ray though, so I'll have to wait until Joann posts some on facebook.  Friday we went to a local model train store and then headed to the zoo with Heather and Quinn while the boys were at school. 

Saturday we went to Fort Monroe to the Casemate Museum which is free and really cool.  Pete got to get his feet wet which still blows my mind that we aren't freezing to death in November near the water. We walked around and saw the sights.  Pete really enjoyed checking out the big guns that are there and open for people to see.  

he managed not to get soaked which was quite the accomplishment

Nora and Quinn playing in the sand

Have to take a selfie

family picture

My loves



Nora kept trying to sit underneath it.

Nora and Grandma got a little nap in the car after getting worn out that the fort.

Pete helped Aunt Heather make a cake.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Pete's School Pictures: Kindergarten Edition

That's the school picture I paid $15 for the disk for, yep.  I don't even know what that face is really.  I do like the fact I didn't have to waste my money on a bunch of prints of it though and they finally have the option to order the disk without prints.  I tried to ask him about why he didn't smile and he about broke into tears and said his teacher told him he looked handsome.  Yes you are dear, but smile next year for me, or you'll be regretting it come your senior year!

Halloween 2016: Princess and Pirate edition

Halloween was as always a blast.  It was the first time we have handed out candy and went trick or treating from our own house.  Normally we went to my parents for both activities.  Pete decided awhile ago that he wanted to be a pirate, Nora had no intentions of being anything other than a Frozen princess so we just said the pirates stole the princess because Pete wasn't happy about not having a full family theme.

the teal pumpkin and our jack o lantern carved by dad

I ended up with a halloween pair of lularoe leggings.  I love them.