santa

We made it to visit the Snow Palace with Snoopy this year! Both the boys told Santa they want "anything," which makes me laugh because I think they are holding out because "Santa already knows what we want, Mom, he knows everythiiiing!" Um, well, tell me too, because I might want to get you some things that he doesn't get you?!  I guess it's good we keep pretty good wish lists online.

The photographer had what she called the "fool-proof" method to get these guys to give a full blown real smile - She spit at them...from a distance. She said it works with all the little boys and she's only been yelled at by one parent who didn't like her showing her kids it was ok to spit - ha lighten up Northern Virginia parents ha!

peanuts

The winter palace really goes the distance and they can transform it into nearly any theme. The Peanuts theme was adorable and they even had a Snoopy photo as part of the package.

doodle

So, so many doodles every day... I'm glad he has some extra time to be creative at school...

new mary wash

The campus is very familiar, yet so much has changed in the nearly 20 years since I set foot on it for the first time.  That first time we walked along that long campus walk around Easter time, the sky suddenly opened up with giant hail balls that chased us back to our van - the big Astro mother ship. I received Mary Wash's acceptance letter first and far before it was expected, and that initial excitement of a real college acceptance was awesome.  I found my very first lifelong college friend in the line waiting to get our keys, and I sent him a photo of the swanky new campus center that is hardly recognizable from the cinder block palace we spent so much time in back in the day. The three story glass staircase leads to some really awesome looking dining options and student activity offices with a view. Looking forward to our 15th college reunion this upcoming June!

even more

We spent three days wandering around so naturally I should have at least that many days worth of photos, right?!  I keep finding more I didn't include so I just have to add.  We redid the same Revquest mission from last time and this time Aiden and PopPop were especially on the mission while the rest of us mostly goofed around with bull horns and drums ;). 

Keaton ended up wanting to get a shirt to be a "Britishes" guy up against Aiden's  "US" guy.  They were playing on Keaton's Simon shoe game instead of running after each other with their foam ax and dagger - much more relaxing... Ha!

wreaths

My mom meticulously photographed nearly every beautiful wreath we saw in Williamsburg. I really love them all together in these montages.

more memories

So many more photos from Williamsburg to keep in the memory bank that is this blog... Punchinello at the puppet show was a favorite.

more thanks

These guys were told by the interpreter that they needed to "earn" their thanksgiving feast by helping just like kids in the 18th century. So they scrubbed those windows to earn some delicious lemon salmon (Aiden) and a giant piece of prime rib (Keaton).

We ate right in the heart of the Revolutionary City at King's Arms Tavern.  I was the only one to choose the traditional turkey feast from the other options on the three course menu. Starting with peanut soup was an extra treat and I was glad the menu was topped off with a chocolate cake option for J.  The super smooth pumpkin pie with caramel sauce was amazing too.   The musicians bouncing in and out of the room was a treat, especially the tiny pochette.  A tiny kit violin used by tavern travelers that charmed Keaton especially.  So grateful!

With very full bellies, we greeted a tiny puppy on our way over to enjoy some of the art gallery.  The dollhouses are a favorite spot.

more wburg

Visiting the edge of William&Mary's campus which was one of the first places that recruited J, and as the boys ran around the sunken quad I imagined what it would be like to call Williamsburg home - Would the boys want to wear those tricorn hats on the regular? Ha!

My mom found a cute shop that sold smokey boys (are they really called smokers? The wooden figures that hold incense and it smokes out of their mouth). They had some beautiful wintery displays.

One of the fun things about Williamsburg is stumbling upon unadvertised activities, like these members of the Fife and Drum Corp giving a special 'show and tell' of their tricks.

happy turkeys

Happy Thanksgiving from right down the road from the first turkey day - Williamsburg!  Someone pretending to be from the 18th century will prepare all the thanksgiving fixings this year and we are all grateful for that! So thankful for good health, family and friends!

That maze continues to be a favorite with our crazy cats.

Osage oranges on those wreaths, one of many beautiful ones scattered around the Revolutionary City.

coop feast

The Thanksgiving feast at Keaton's school and it was my turn to coop - yay!  The kids prepared special turkey art and decorated the table, and even prepared the food.  They had fun putting candies in the turkey apples, arranging flowers, mixing up corn muffins, and even decorating the table cloth. When it was time for guests the kids were so excited to share the feast, and some story and playground time.  Keaton and I were so grateful that even G&P could be there! 

one sun

In one busy Sunday afternoon, we bounced over to see a quick preview of Aiden's upcoming Suess Adventures and then straight to his fall piano recital.  The theme was animals.  He played a fun quartet (two duets on two pianos) that he was hyped about because it had surprises like cat masks, clapping, meowing, and high fives!  Then he continued his Beatles theme and played Blackbird. He also played the Duck from Peter and the Wolf, where he was especially happy with his timing. 

The A F Y P folks made another fun scavenger hunt to search all around the B&N store.  At the end of their little mini song I loved how they motioned to thank their friend, the ukulele player.

good list

This turkey with hundreds of feather with thankful messages greeted everyone at the Thanksgiving Luncheon at Aiden's school.  Keaton was thrilled to come with me and is even more excited when anyone mentions that he will have his own time next year as a kindergartener!

Freddy Fiddle is a fun book that goes with Keaton's violin lessons and he is super jazzed to do his "homework" right along with his big brother... getting him to do it without Aiden by his side, now that's a different story.

Topple - with big stacking action!

A new wreath with these cool broad leaves that are a nice way to brea up the ever green - and don't look fake ;)

Bed time stories with the grandparents are a special treat!

Shake Shack is such a smile inducer!

These turkey and stuffing flavored kettle chips from TJ's are surprisingly good and I usually don't even like chips.

bow action

suess preview

more lights

More cool lights all over the botanical garden!  The coolest new addition were these glasses that reflect different images on every light - You can see the santas on the image in the middle image below that I took through the glasses.

lights

Lights at Meadowlark + a nice mild evening + the grandparents in town = perfect combo!

The letters to Santa include some surprises for mom (either that or they can't really remember what they want so they made up new stuff) Keaton's says Space Imaginext, and Ice Ronk (which is some Star Wars thing?) Aidan's says Castle Imaginext, books, Lego Batman and Minecraft.

school is cool

More class pics with all sorts of glimpses into Keaton's mornings at school... No wonder he never hesitates to get ready for school and asks hopefully on the weekends - "Is it a school day?!"

For our quick morning visit during Family Friday, Keaton and I got to paint each other's hands to create those fun googly eyed turkeys.

sketchy

This guy brings home some sketches from school nearly everyday, in addition to adding to his sketch book.

tidbits

This turkey did a bunch of fun Thanksgiving rotations to different classrooms this past week.  One class hosted this fun turkey hat activity.

Check out that static in Keaton's hair on his buddies' trampoline - a favorite spot on these mild afternoons!

Some Tutti Fruitti to top off some fresh hair cuts!

Tom Turkey is a tradition at Aiden's school - each kid makes a different "disguise" for the turkey and they all get hung up at the luncheon.  Aiden has a fun idea to have his turkey wear a "brick suit" so that he blends in to the wall ;)

This guy rocked some hair gel and a whale spout on crazy hair day!  Another parent said he was "nearly unrecognizable" with that funny hair... Ha! There were other kids with purple hair and funny clips all over - so fun!

They are repaving nearly all the streets in our neighborhood.  When they were out in front of our house Keaton was mesmerized for the whole afternoon.

We are getting our lego collection under control - woot! Sorting the pieces gives them all a new life and makes it so much easier to play with them.  We still always play with them on a sheet or towel so they are easy to shake into the container.