What an amazing day we had yesterday, when Lindee, Mallory, Clara, Emma, & I all headed to Asheville, to The Grove Park Inn, to check out the amazing gingerbread creations.  I have really never seen anything like it.  We visited the Charlotte show a few weeks ago, but seeing these national award winners was amazing.  Everything on the display had to be edible, and 75% of it had to be homemade.  Just incredible.  This was one of my favorites, and understandably was in the top ten. t

This was in the top ten in the teen division – there were birds all the way around it. Amazing.

This wasn’t one of the big winners, but since Lindee & I had just visited Macy’s last month, it was definitely one of our favorites. It was absolutely awesome!

Just got home from Lindee’s house, where she took over hosting the West Coast Girls supper, since we are just getting over a bout with the flu.  Andrew and Boo modeled their new F3 shirts.  Very cool.

Lesley and Liz with the little cousins – in their silly face pose. What a special evening…

I had good helpers last week with the very last of my shopping and wrapping 🙂

Wednesday the kids got out of school at 10:30, so we had plenty of time for playing, lunchtime, movie watching, crafting, snacking – you name it.

We also took a visit downstairs when Papa got home from work to check out the Christmas village…

Last Tuesday was so nice.  The girls only had half a day of school the next day before winter break, so no one had any homework, and everyone could just hang out and be lazy.  We took full advantage of the day 🙂

Saturday morning Jeff got the final touches put on our Christmas village.  It is so big now, and takes an entire day to put up, so he only does that every other year.  Mason, especially, had been wanting it to go up this year, so I know he’ll be excited to get here to see it.

Then that afternoon Jeff, Meg, Little Hope, & I were in the audience for the matinee performance of The Nutcracker, presented by the York County Ballet. Here we are afterwards, with the best Arabian Corps member ever :-). Such a good day.

This was Spirit Week at Clover Middle School, and Thursday was kids dress like teachers, teachers dress like kids day.  I saw several teachers in pigtails when I picked Mal up.  She dressed like her teacher, Ms. Morris.  Dress pants and all.  So cute.

What a fun morning we had yesterday, when Lindee, Mallory, Clara, Emma & I went to Ballantyne Hotel to see the gingerbread houses that were on display from the competition they’d held earlier.  They had categories, and awards, for children, amateurs, and professionals – plus the girls got to vote on the People’s Choice Award.  This was one of my favorites – a family made this Nativity Scene Gingerbread House.  I just loved all the details.  So, so clever.

We also really enjoyed just the beautiful decorations in the hotel. What a great time celebrating Christmas with some of my girls!