It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Since Thanksgiving I have been busy decorating the house, wrapping presents, and finishing up projects in anticipation of the Christmas Gathering I hosted for the Church. I just love this time of year! I love making the house festive, baking cookies, the music, the anticipation. I could go on and on. Here are a few pics of what we have been up to.

Mountain Lake?

Many of you may have heard of Mountain Lake(in Virginia), after all it is where the film Dirty Dancing was made. Not that I was allowed to watch it when it came out it but all of my friends were in it! I did watch it when I was older and understand why my parents wouldn't let me see it. Anyway all that to say that we went hiking up there IN the lake. Yes, you read that right, IN the lake. Mountain Lake is on the top of the mountain with an underground spring below it. So every hundred years or so it drains out. Now is one of those times, there is only a small pool of water at the deepest part. So here are some photos of our hike.

This boat house used to sit at the waters edge and the pier was in the water. Where we are walking used to be the shore.

This is the deepest part of the lake.

The stream at bottom of the lake.

The family at the bottom of the lake.
What the mud looks like. If it wasn't so cold it would have been like quicksand in places. As it was it was really muddy.
What's left of the lake.
We saw all sorts of intresting things that were at the bottom, an anchor, old beer cans, lures, and an old boat.
Looking toward the lodge.

We went here for our honeymoon so I had my parents take a picture in the same spot for memories.

Mountian Lake Lodge.

The view from the lodge.

The gazebo that you used to be able walk right down to the water. My mom told me its starting to fill up again so I'm glad we went when at my parents for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving

We went ot my parents house in Blacksburg for Thanksgiving this year so the whole family could be together. Both of my brothers also came. Carson with his wife, Jen and children, and Corey and his girlfriend, Caroline. We had such a GREAT time together. Here are lots of pictures to highlight our time together. I did not take all of these as my camera was getting fixed, so I was using my Mom's camera and Jen had hers.

On Wedensday it was warm so we played outside in the yard, a little tree climbing, frisbee, and football.

Hanging out with Aunt Jen. My youngest little brother Corey.

Fiona and Elizabeth with pigtails.

Playing hopsital.

Watching football from under the coffee table. Who knew it could be such a comfortable spot.

We went out to our favorite resturant Macados. We all have great memories here. I just loved Elizabeth's eye in this photo.My Dad with Fiona. Caroline and her massive Taco salad! Yes she did eat the whole thing minus the shell.

Carson kneading the bread dough. this is his favorite part of Thanksgiving making, I mean eating the rolls!

Dessert of apple pie.

The men did the dishes after the meal.

Then they rested while we put a puzzle together and watched the children.
These are some pictures from the hand in hand playground that we always go to. Its just down the street and the children love playing there.

All the cousins together. Owen(6), Elizabeth(6), Miles(7), Fiona(4), Andrew(3), and Gwen(2). So much fun to have them all close in age!

So thankful that we could all be together this Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Kitty

It has been almost a month since my last post! I can't believe how time flies and how much we have done. I think I will update in a series of posts starting with this one about our new kitty. Fiona was so excited to go pick her up! Once we got home everyone wanted to see her. We were trying not to overwhelm her, but with four children it was nearly impossible.

Here she is coming out of her carrier. She is so cute!

And Poppa teaching Fiona how to hold her kitty.

This is Pumpkin, that is the name Fiona decided on. She was 10 weeks old when we got her.