New van, old van

When after 20 hours of researching, shopping, and test-driving, HF was today purchasing the van that we now own, the dealership guy nodded knowingly when he learned that he was a New Englander. It explained his reasoned and well-researched approach, his willingness to overlook minor flaws, and perhaps most -- his expert haggling. He did an awesome job. And thus I now present our 2008 Toyota Sienna 8-passenger van (purchased at a great price, and in nice condition). Isn't she a gem? 

Six and a half years ago we bought our first minivan, 6 days into our new life in California. In tow we had a nearly 3-year-old boy and a 10-month old girl; our youngest two were not even yet a twinkle in our eye. I describe the whole episode here, in my first month working at this very blog… I admit that it makes me feel a little nostalgic to ponder that time and all that's happened in our lives between now and then. Nostalgic and also thankful. Faithful God.

Advent adventures

We made salted caramels at some new friends' house this week. The mom, Amy, is in my Bible study. Six of us moms baked and chatted while our combined 21 kids played. Super fun afternoon with an outstanding end result.

Next up: Nutrcracker performance this morning in Richmond. I took Roo and Goose while Monkey had a playdate and a babysitter watched the kids. Amazing performance, perfect for kids. Abridged, but the whole story (which I'd never gotten before); 50 minutes long. We rode down with two friends and their daughters and met two other families we know there; afterwards we went out for pizza lunch and went window-shopping. Fun and special girls'  Advent day.

Christmas is coming!

We're counting it down...

Roo and I went to a phenomenal rendering of The Messiah by a F'burg community chorus

Look whose ax-handling skills are coming along!

Homeschool co-op Christmas party

Potluck lunch including hot chocolate, live group caroling, marshmallow roasting, s'mores, caroling, Night Before Christmas reading, and make-your-own gingerbread treats (in our case, Christmas "tree" comprised of sugar cones covered with green frosting and candy decorations). Now that's what I call a good party. Lucky us!

Giving thanks for Thanksgiving

My aunt Susan lives in Birmingham, AL but has a house in Oxford, MD where she spends a lot of her time when she can. It's a gathering point where she, Uncle Bob, and their five children (my first cousins) - who lives all over the globe - come together at times. One such time is Thanksgiving. And this year we got to join them (three of the five anyway, along with 6 of the 9 second cousins), along with my Uncle Rob and his family of four- and several other guests. It's a little over 2 hrs away from us and an easy drive. We had such fun with them all. These shots can give a bit of flavor to our day there:

On Saturday HF and I left the kids at 7 AM in the hands of a brave babysitter and drove two hours east to the Shenandoahs to hike the well-known Old Rag mountain. It's nearly 4,000 feet and a 9-mile roundtrip hike. We expected it to be substantial in nature (which it was). We didn't expect it to be snow- and ice-covered (which it also was). Turned out to be quite an undertaking!

Fun adventure overall (though as we slipped and slid, HF noted nearly a dozen times how sad he was not to have crampons with us), and dinner afterwards in F'burg was also a real treat.

Some fun stuff in November

Nana popped in for a fun 48-hr visit!

Some good old fashioned arts & crafts...

"Working together, we get the job done" (trim work around the fireplace)

This kid learned to start a fire with a flint and steel with his cub scout crew this fall:

Fall "learning events"

Last month we took a field trip to Jamestown Settlement with the homeschool hybrid class of the eldest two (plus parents and siblings). Gorgeous day - fun time… Despite the fact that Goose had sprained her ankle the evening before and was in a stroller and otherwise hobbling the entire time. (Never a dull moment).

Ten days ago HF got his first deer in a decade in our back field. Our friend Ricky from church is a professional butcher and came over within two hours of the kill to butcher it for us in our backyard. Homeschool biology class for Monkey and Roo!

Monday we went to Luray Caverns, again with the homeschool crew from Monkey and Roo's "school." Amazing sights there! Well enjoyed.

(Though I must say… I'm glad to now have 8 total hours of solo field-trip-driving with 4 kids in the car behind me! All in a 3-week time period, to boot. Whew.)