Dog

Norah got a stuffed dog for christmas one year from my grandma that you wind up and play music.  She loves this dog and takes it everywhere.  I accidentally sucked up the tail in the vacuum once but Norah doesn't care.  She loves this dog.  The music part has been broken for a long time but Norah still loves loves loves this dog.  She has a few other dogs that she takes places but nothing like this one.

So one day this week we took Dog to target with us (she doesn't name her stuffed animals yet.... although a baby doll has recently been named Baby Jesus and its really funny when she looks all over the house for Jesus)

Halfway through shopping Norah had to pee so of course we had to walk all the way to the other side of the store to use the bathroom.  I took Dog out of the cart and shoved it in my purse.  Then we went on shopping and got to the checkout and I reached into my purse to get my wallet and found baby doggie but not big Dog (she had a baby dog too)  At some point Dog must have fallen out.

So we pay and then retrace our steps.  For over an hour.  We asked every employee, every person we saw, back and forth and even searched the isles of stuffed animals.  Didn't find Dog.  Finally we had to leave and gave them our phone number in case they found dog.

No phone call.  Brent called the next day and nothing.  We were sure Dog was lost forever.

Norah was convinced Dog was playing hide and seek all over the store.

Then today after Colins christmas party at school he and I went to Target.  Just to see.  And customer service knew who I was before I finished explaining.  (We've been calling) No Dog.

So Colin and I walked all over the store and checked shelves and finally on our way out we find Dog. Part of me wonders at the person who put Dog on this shelf with all the other new stuffed animals.... then this ratty well loved dog next to it without a tag and part of a tail.

We called Brent and when he told Norah he said she was so happy she was teary eyed.

Dog hasnt left her side since.

Our own personal Christmas Miracle.

History

Colin loves history. He almost always picks a civil war or World War Two book out of the library each week. 

He saw a sign advertising the battle of great bridge months ago and since then has reminded me of the weekend and begged to go watch the reenactment. I grew up with my dad always going to reenactments so it was fun to go to one with Colin. Although this was was really small so I think grandpa needs to take Colin to a real civil war one soon. 

This was a revolutionary war reenactment and they had a narrator talking during the entire battle telling us what went on. Pretty fascinating and fun to learn a little more about this area. 

Colin thought the tents looked fun to sleep in. I told him grandpa has one in the shed he could use. 

Dandelion wishes

I wish for a 

Bird

A bunny 

And a dog named Lovie

Oh Christmas Tree

Remember how five years ago we got a real christmas tree and I've never been sicker?  Ever since then when we put up our little fake trees Brent always asks if I'm sure it was the tree that made me sick. Sooooo  this year I got talked into not 1 but 2 real christmas trees.  According to Brent "now we will really know if you are allergic"  And when we took out our fake trees they looked sad and needed new lights so we figured it was now or never. If the trees do make me really sick then Brents promised to buy the most real looking fake tree for next year and never suggest a real one again.   And I stocked up on allergy meds.

 Sunday was a beautiful day and we went driving to a few tree farms.  The first one had no trees to cut down.  We thought if we cut it down then the tree would be fresher and might not bother me as much.  So the first tree farm didnt have any.  Then the next one had one I really liked but then we noticed a huge spiders egg sack in the tree that had recently hatched and even Brent said he wouldn't bring that tree into the house.  Then they were either too short (we couldnt cut a certain size) or too big.  
 

 So we left and took the kids to pungo pizza and they weren't too sad we drove all over without a tree.

 So we ended up at a tree lot down the street from our house where both boys picked out trees and we have one in the family room and one in the sunroom.  Colin and I would smell each tree at the lot to determine which ones didn't smell.  We were the only ones at the lot smelling each tree! haha

But our real trees are beautiful. Colin keeps asking me how I'm feeling because he really doesn't want to have to take these trees down.  (Brent agreed that if I get really sick then he would take them down and we'd buy a big fake one) But so far I'm ok.  A little blocked up but the allergy meds seem to be working for now.

Its been fun decorating this new house for christmas.  And I'm really hoping that our pretty trees don't make me too sick.  I'm pretty sure since they wanted a real tree then they should let mommy sleep in on the weekends from now until Christmas.

College friends

On Black Friday we drove up to Richmond to meet Sarah and our friend Julia and her kids.  I haven't seen Julia in 10 years -  maybe even 11?  The last time we could remember was right after christmas one year with a bunch of college friends so its definitely been way too long.  She and Jase moved to Texas after they got married.  I actually missed their wedding since I was in Kazakhstan but I think that summer worked in my favor! But her parents live near Richmond so it worked out this year that we could all meet and I'm so glad we did.  

Julia has two boys - 6 and 3 and the kids all played so well together.  You never know with kids and their personalities but the kids all hit it off.  We walked around Maymont Park the entire day and then went to Panera for lunch and the kids sat and ate together and then Jake and Joel drew pictures and Colin entertained all of them by making paper airplanes so we spent maybe 2 more hours sitting and talking.  Being able to sit and talk for  close to 2 hours with 5 kids is pretty amazing. The kids loved their new friends.










Joel ended up stuck literally in the mud.  I had to pull him out.

It was a great day and so good to see Julia and catch up. The kids have been asking about their new friends ever since.

Thanksgiving turkey trot

This Thanksgiving we weren't at the farm so Colin and I ran a turkey trot with Jeff and Sarah.  Colin designed our shirts that we made the night before. Marlbank is such a pretty neighborhood to run around.

I'm pretty sure no one is surprised that Colin beat us all.

Then we went and spent some time with Grandma before heading over to Mom and Dads.  Sarah is showing Grandma pictures of her newest great grandson Gideon.




Colin loves his Ooo-Eee

After we ate we all walked down to the river.  Where the boys tried to out do each other with the tallest cat tail.

This picture of Norah and Joel makes me laugh.  They were very concerned at the lack of fish they were seeing in the water. This summer they would scoop up tiny minnows in their nets. 

A fun thanksgiving