December 31, 2014

We went to the Cape Fear Museum today...I just found out about it recently, and saw it for the first time just a couple of days ago when I was riding Mom and Dad around the downtown area.  I wasn't expecting much, but it was awesome! 

 They had a huge diorama of the colonial-era Wilmington riverfront set up.

Mom, Dad and Jed were pretending to be way better students than they really were/are.  :)

This area was a 50s memorabilia extravaganza, complete with a working jukebox.

Jed's never been in a phone booth before...what is this next generation coming to?  :)

December 29, 2014

My Mom's dad and grandfather both worked for the railroad, and my Dad is a model train aficionado, so I took them to the Railroad Museum downtown this afternoon, the same one we went to with Brad and Jenn Friday night.

December 28, 2014

It was 75 degrees today, so we headed to the beach.  

Of course.  

Doesn't everyone do that on December 28??

Jed's way tougher than these yokels wearing jackets.

Mom and Dad didn't have jackets but thankfully I was prepared with foul weather ponchos.  :)

December 27, 2014

Dyce and I were the first ones up this morning and he entertained and impressed me by pulling himself onto the arm of the chair.  :)

Decker was pretty entertaining just by smiling.  :)

And vacuuming the whole house!

Trying to get three children to smile at the same time is a talent I obviously don't have! 

She's all smiles after busting free.  :)

Brad, Jenn, Dyce and Decker.

Brad, Jenn, Dyce, Decker, Mom, Dad, Tracy and Jed.

It's way too sunny to be the end of December!  :)

December 26, 2014

Brad and Jenn joined us the day after Christmas, and

we took them to the train museum that evening. 

This little scene melted my heart.

Jed is a good uncle.  :)

December 25, 2014 - Part 2

We love handmade gifts!

This nativity set is made of wood thread spools, sent by our artist friend Debbie,
made by her friend Kathy.

Debbie also sent this snowman ornament, which she made from a clothespin.

The design in this wood disc was burned by Jed's friend from Maine, Elijah.

Elijah also carved this stump and ax ornament.

Elijah's brothers cut ornaments out of green duct tape.

Another family of Maine friends, the Chicks, sent this ornament.

Jed's friend Ethan made this one.

And this is the ornament Jed made this year - a Charleston gate.

Our trip to Charleston was a highlight of this year and it was fun to relive it a bit in these ornaments.

December 25, 2014 - Part 1

Christmas dinner - my favorite meal of the year!!

December 23, 2014

Ready for Christmas!

A few years ago we started picking out a lighted Christmas village building each year that reflects something special we've done that year.  It's one of my favorite decorations.

Some dear friends sent us live lobsters from Maine!!  I didn't have the heart to cook them, though, so Tracy took over.  He's not exactly at home in the kitchen but apparently he's quite comfortable killing animals for food.  haha

He did good!

December 17, 2014

This birdhouse was a wedding gift from a co-worker friend.  

I love adding the wreath to it every Christmas.  :)