Holiday Lights

The last of the leaves are long gone in beautiful Blacksburg, but there is no lack of color in the scenery around town:

2014 makes our fifth observance of the Blacksburg Holiday Lights Festival. I look forward to it for weeks, now. It begins with Santa's calling hours at the Lyric, followed by the lighting of the town Tree, followed by Tuba Christmas and carolers at the craft market, followed by the Holiday Parade, which I think might be bigger than the 4th of July parade around here. I enjoy a different event most each year.

Waiting in line to see Santa at the Lyric, we caught sight of Blacksburg's travelling folk prophet, Dr. Moon. 

Inside the theater, the kids were charmed, once again, by the sweet grandmotherly kindness of Mrs. Claus:

But for the first time ever, neither kid was lost to tears of fear over Santa!

You notice that Adele would not sit on Santa, but was happy to sit next to him, with Miles as a buffer. She's been talking herself up to this for weeks ("I'm going to be brave. I will tell Santa I want an Elsa doll. He will say Ho Ho Ho.") 

She did get the words out, and Miles got more than a few words out. Check him and me out in this news video from our local station! We start showing up in the video about minute 1:00.

WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va

Then it was scamper up Henderson Hill to see the dramatic countdown and the lighting of the Tree.

It's no Rockafeller Center, but it makes us happy. The Mayor shakes hands with Santa Claus for the press, like it was a political deal they made together. It's adorable. 

Parade Time!

This year, much of our energy and time was given to the parade, because for once, the kids were going to appear in it. Because of his participation this year, Miles was invited to sit on the Blacksburg Chinese School's float, and they gave his jealous younger sibling permission to ride with him. 

We basically put them on the float and, after about a block, Jon and I booked it. We hauled ourselves at a tidy pace so we could make it the 1.5 miles to South Main Street, and then to the public library's parking lot to disembark from the floats. Jon and I are still sore. It was a delightful walk on a lit up, festive winter's night, though.

Doesn't the float look awesome?!

They had a terrific time on their fame ride. The girls are princesses and the boys, monkey kings (this is in some folk story; don't ask me!), and they all hold lanterns in the shape of horses, for the Chinese zodiac year we're in now.

Adele, er, stands out a bit. 

Thank heaven there was one other non-heritage kid there, so we felt less intrusive. BCS has shown us such hospitality!

Saturday was the first full rehearsal for the Christmas Pageant. I am so grateful for this experience, even as I'm worn out by it. I've received so much grace from church members, though. Parents, teens, and unconnected other adults have offered help, from props to snacks to help with the technology and set. My prop wish list, which had sixteen items on it just three weeks ago, now has just four items which we do not have. I stayed after rehearsal talking to one family about how nice it would be to have some cardboard cutout Christmas trees to contrast with our little green tree, and the teen in the family went right home, made them herself, and brought them to the props closet. Another woman, whose husband and daughter attend but who always has to work Sundays, herself, and so can never make church, finally has a door into church involvement: Saturday rehearsals. She's helping build the set! Graces abound. This is a year of seeing the payoff for stepping out on a limb, for me. How alive it makes one feel.

Sunset at Virginia Tech

We are counting down! This is our Advent calendar thus far, though I have the makings for another to make this evening with the kids.
One last relic of Thanksgiving: somehow I missed this in Adele's cubby until recently.

Obviously, her teacher wrote the words, but she came up with them. I should probably conjure a list of such simple, good things in my life every day. It would do me good.

Resting in Gratitude

Sure it was a restful Thanksgiving we had. Sure that I needed it badly.

We arrived at the Grunerts' Annapolis home a little after midnight on Wednesday. Adele was *ahem* disinclined to sleep in her guest bed for kind of a while, so it was a late rising I had later that morning. Jon took the kids on the necessary grocery trip so that I (miraculously) was able to spend two straight days resting and relaxing in the house. It was Friday morning before I left that house. Do you know how long its been since I've spent even one day entirely at home? Even half a day? My gratitude for just that aspect of the holiday reaches the clouds.

Spent Thursday morning happily brooding over my pie. I don't enjoy cooking much, but I really love baking.

The whole thing was eaten within 12 hours of completion. 

There was even time for a little porch and yard play in the chilly late November.

Adele was unwilling to pose for Aunt Corey

Miles got to help in the kitchen, a rare privilege for him

Marshall brought his crossbow, so obviously there had to be some playtime for the adults, too. 

Tim is increasingly desperate in his bids for attention. 

The guys: Jon, his brother, & brother-in-law

In blurry panorama: relaxing together. 

Adele got to be adored by some of her favorite adore-ers.

While at Grandma & Grandpa's, the dinosaurs continued their nightly antics. One night, they cot into the duplos:

It's become a tradition to visit Homestead Gardens to see the Christmas decorations; we made our yearly visit last Friday. Santa wasn't in the house yet, but the kids have only to wait until this Friday, after all!

We love the little villages:

Adele especially loved this Peanuts display. She's got a thing for Snoopy.

Once she realized the animals weren't real, she befriended several. 

Of course, much time was spent gazing at the train. 

They had a great frolic on the mechanical transport rides, too. 

Miles took our picture. We have been a highly effective team lately, if I do say so myself. This guy is all in. I'm grateful.

Rather a lot of time was spent communing with the chickens, and we got some good belly laughs out of their pecking war. 

Saturday was another pilgrimage: this time to IKEA.

Like a beacon of joy and material discontent.

Adele is potty trained! And still not tall enough for Småland. Oh well- the eatery play area was still awesome.

The ride home on Saturday was dreamy and smooth. We sure got blessed by the travel saints this time! Thank you, Saint Christopher et al.

Sunday I returned to my high octane, frantic weekend usual. I had to honor to read Isaiah at church, help with Children's Chapel, attend a meeting for Guatemala and skype with our Guatemala contact, then host the very first meeting/casting call for the Christmas Pageant! I'm directing! Start praying for me?

Yesterday, cyber Monday, we did more than half of our Christmas shopping, to our great exhaustion and relief, today. This morning I got to the daycare late, got a text that I had left my backpack at home, recovered the backpack and found myself staggering late into the office holding Adele's coat. I know not why. So, I'm going to try to take care of myself.

I'm still refreshed by that Thanksgiving. I needed that rest. Now, to work, to wakefulness, and to Advent. Keep awake! We were enjoined at church, in the Gospel reading. And I am. I pray to be awakened and re awakened as often as necessary this #StayWokeAdvent, which, this year, with the unrest in our nation and the cries for justice from Ferguson, echoing all over the country, seems more holy and more serious even than usual.

There has to be time for fun, however. Behold, the Dinos' last night of #DiNovember frolics:

Dino Nativity! Notice the cow & sheep, kings & angels. 

The Dinos bid us a fond farewell. The kids are coping okay, but we really need to get us an advent wreath!

Adele, The Celebrated

Our household now contains a three year old! Every year in this child's life is golden. We enjoy her so much. 

Last year on her birthday, and this year. Notice Spot, still in the picture.

On November 20, the actual 3 year anniversary are her birth, we had dinner at her favorite restaurant, Macado's, which has a huge advantage in being pretty much across the street from where we live. 

Wearing her brand new Frozen headband. Plastic, and fuchsia. But hey, she loves it. 

The restaurant staff sang to her! She hid her face the whole time, in a fit of uncharacteristic bashfulness. 

She unwrapped all her presents at the restaurant with glee. 

The tongue! Whenever she does anything complicated! Love.

Miles has (mostly) kept his dignity despite not being the spotlit child. And you know how hard that is for this guy. 

Looking fashionable in Papa's scarf. 

By the way, the Dinos have kept up their nightly shenanigans! Here, they play Zelda:

Here, Rex reviews the rules: 

On Saturday, we had dance lessons as usual. Our good friends also bring their daughter to the same studio, and while Miles had his lesson, her mom painted faces. 

Adele's favorite animal remains a sheep. 

And, at 3pm, the party at Price House began! I think we could have had a party anywhere and if Adele knew it was her party, she'd have been happy. She felt so important, talking casually to her friends about "my party." 

She got to feed the fish & turtles...

Everyone got to pet the snakes...

Miles held two of them! Maybe he was attention hungry, but he had a great time doing it. 

Oh, notice the poorly-drawn sheep on his check. He was um, a bit jealous of Adele's.  I did my best on short notice. 

Good old taxidermied animals. 

I love the coyote's expression. 

Beaver looks so earnest. 

She wanted pink sheep. We were going to make that happen. (Thanks, Kroger!)

Adele when the whole room was singing to her. Every time. 

We enjoyed some unusually sunny and warm November weather and let the kids run around in Price House's yard for a color hunt. I think everyone got the cake out of their system naturally and happily. 

Blacksburg is so good to us. 

On Sunday, Adele got to reciprocate and attend her daycare friend's party. They had a craft based party at Michael's- brilliant, yes? 

Three year old Adele is delightful. She speaks in grammatical full sentences, loves sheep, Elsa, and Snoopy, can hold her own with her dynamic big brother, and still sucks her thumb. She loves pizza and peanut butter and "regular milk" (still suspicious that someone will give her almond); she gives her dance lessons her all every week and just this past Sunday, attended children's chapel for the first time. And I can't wait to see her tonight. 

And we leave for Thanksgiving in Maryland on Tuesday afternoon! How are we already here? 

Pray that I stay healthy. From the December festivities, to pageant practice, to shopping, to travel to New York, all the way to my upcoming Guatemala trip... we are absolutely brim-full.