Just To Recap

As the sun set on 2014 we headed to our traditional spot- Hocking Hills- to unplug, unwind, and spend a little quality time doing some of our favorite things- basking by the fire, crafting, hot tubbing, discovering the wonders of nature, and eating like kings (no pics of that as I was busy at the time, eating like a king).

As the sun rose on 2015 a hike to Ash Cave seemed the perfect way to spend the first day of a new year and balance out some of that eating like kings we did.

Seamus seemed to enjoy the trip out to the country.  He got to spend plenty of time doing his favorite thing- 

herding children.

Christmas Festivities

Grandma and Grandpa arrived

and the mad gingerbread house decorating commenced.

Blogger Catch Up- Pigeon Roost

We made our annual trip to Pigeon Roost Farm 
to play among the pumpkin patch.

It's a good thing Rick is so strong. 

We love picking pumpkins!

Blogger Catch Up- Soren is 5!

While we were distracted, Soren managed to somehow get another year older.  How could he possibly be 5 already?  He'll tell you himself it's true.

We celebrated the day by living it up at Zoombeezi Bay.  

They just happened to be showing Soren's all time favorite movie that night at the 'Dive-In Theater', so we stayed to watch the Lego Movie.

Then it was home for presents 

(many of them Lego oriented)

and (what else) Lego cake!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Soren Bird! 

Please don't grow up so fast!

New Year at The Little Cabin in the Woods

As the sun was setting on 2013, we headed to Hocking Hills to ring in the New Year by enjoying the peace and tranquility of the National Forest… and the hot tub.

We took advantage of the lovely New Year's Day weather to spend the first day of 2014 hiking through the parks in the area.  We hit them all- Ash Cave, Old Man's Cave, Cedar Falls.  

I have to hand it to Seamus, for a dog with short legs, he can hike with the best of them.  But he was sooooooo tired when we got back to the cabin.

The next day we awoke to a winter wonderland and got to spend a little time sledding before heading back to the big city.  It wasn't great sledding, but it was sledding and we loved it!

  

Oh, Christmas Tree

We took advantage of the unseasonably balmy weather in early December to sneak out to Timbuk Tree Farm on a Wednesday afternoon and hunt the perfect tree.  

Will lobbied heavily for a White Pine this year and, after our experience with the beautiful but prickly Blue Spruce last year, we were all wooed by the soft, fluffy needles of the White Pine.

The guys thought they had found the perfect tree right off, but were disappointed to learn they had selected a wild 40 foot tree on the property (a la Griswold Family Christmas) and not a rationally sized farm tree.  

Together we found a lovely fluffy tree and transported it home strapped to the top of the Wagon Queen Family Truckster (a la Griswold Family Christmas).

Santa Train

After the parade we were off to ride the Santa Train.  This must be the fourth or fifth year we've made the trip.

We're getting a lot of face time with Santa this year.   So far no one has asked why Santa looks slightly different every time we see him.  I'm hoping it doesn't matter- Santa is Santa, right? As long as he's packing candy canes.

This was my attempt at artsy chistmas-decoration-on-the-train photo

Are We in Bedford Falls?

Nothing like a small town Christmas parade to get you in the spirit.  We bundled up and ventured out early to get a good spot along the parade route.  My grandma had possibly the best spot- she can watch the parade out her kitchen window.  Since my cousin was performing with her dance troupe, we wanted to make sure she could hear us cheering her on.  

One veterans' group, one high school marching band, several church-sponsored nativity scenes, possibly every emergency vehicle in the county, and- oh- a jolly Santa waving from his sleigh later, we were ready to start our Christmas season.

Return to Pigeon Roost

We kicked off the Season of All Things Pumpkin with a trip to Pigeon Roost Farm.  That place is great.

After playing and exploring and adventuring

We picked out almost exactly 100 pounds of wonderful pumpkins.

I think it's really fall, ya'll!

The Tree

End of 2012/Beginning of 2013 Catch Up

We headed back to Timbuk Tree Farm for the traditional hunt for the perfect tree.  Will felt very strongly that a Blue Spruce would be just the thing.  So we trooped out into the field and found a lovely tree: 

great shape, beautiful color, dreamy fragrance,

but dang those needles are sharp. 

So touching the tree was a little unpleasant, but other than that, it was perfect.

Back at the lodge, Will had a lengthy discussion with Santa and Mrs. Claus about his Christmas list.  

This year he wanted a Smart Board like the one in his classroom at school (if you don't know what that is, ask a teacher and then ask yourself why on earth a child would want one for Christmas), a tractor driven ice cream maker like the one at Dr. Weaver's house (again, a difficult thing for Santa to deliver), or a sewing machine.  

Luckily Mrs. Claus strongly encouraged the sewing machine idea.

Soren didn't make any of the pictures this trip because he was having a 'No Pictures Please' kind of day.  

Oh well.

 We brought our prickly but perfect tree home, set it up and put the Christmas Train around it.  

Love love love this time of year.

Trick or Treat!

End of 2012/Beginning of 2013 Catch Up:

The dads and kids spent about 20 minutes trick or treating on a cold, wet Halloween Night.  The moms stayed inside for a head start on the traditional chili and good cheer at the Robinson House.

Pumpkin Patch

End of 2012/Beginning of 2013 Catch Up:

We made a trip to the cold, wet pumpkin patch with Will's friend, Jake.

 It was still really fun!

First Day of First Grade

Yay! The first day of First Grade!

At St. Mary School in German Village, we celebrate the first day of First Grade with a Schultute Ceremony.  

It actually started last year when, as Kindergarteners, the students hung little paper cones on a special tree.  All year, as the children learn and grow, the paper cones grow and become more colorful.  Then when the children are ready to start first grade, the cones are harvested and filled with school supplies and small toys and sweet treats to help "sweeten" the beginning of formal education.  

It's a pretty big deal.

The ceremony was very nice. Each upper grade gave a gift to the First Graders, such as a prayer to their Guardian Angels or a promise to help them along their way, and guest speakers included the Bishop of the Diocese of Columbus and Channel 10 News Anchor Kristyn Hartman.

Will received his Schultute

The Kindergarteners hung their paper cones on the tree

Congratulations to our Big, Grown-Up First Grader! 

Timbuk!

I figured out that this is the 10th year that I have gone to Timbuk Tree Farm for a Christmas Tree.
The first year I lived in Columbus, I went with my program director, Dr. Joel Weaver, and his family because Timbuk is their traditional source of Christmas trees. In years after that, I dragged other resident friends along. When Rick moved to Columbus, we went together to get our tree. Over the years, we introduced other good friends to Timbuk: Jen & Adam and Rod & Anna. Now we hunt the family tree with Will and Soren...

So it was back to Timbuk this year where

with the help of Ernie, the friendly driver

we once again found the perfect Christmas Tree!

Soren was so excited he had to lay down in the mud.

Santa Train

Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa's kicked of the Christmas season with a good ol' small town Holiday Parade featuring my cousins Andrew (playing the clarinet in the marching band) and Rachel (dancing with the dance team) and, inexplicably, a horse dressed as an igloo.

Then we were off to Roaring Spring for the traditional ride on the Santa Train.

Here come the holidays!