My Birthday

It was nice having my birthday on a long weekend this year. On Saturday Eric watched Bonnie all day so I could go do whatever I wanted without worrying about rushing around or being tied to anyone else's schedule. I got to go thrifting and just get a lot of random errands done that tend to pile up. 

While I was gone these two cleaned up the house and decorated. On my actual birthday I got to have a slow morning while Eric got up with Bonnie, we did breakfast and opened some presents.

After B woke up from her first nap we bundled up and went for a walk in Williamsburg.

We FaceTimed with Eric's family while we were out.

Then Katie, Eleanor and Jane met up with us on our walk!

We could have walked for much longer but we had to get back and put Bonnie down for another nap and get ready for dinner. After B woke up we brought her to Katie's who offered to babysit while we went out to dinner.

She had such a good time, as usual.

And so did we! We went to a place that is known for their steaks and seafood. I got shrimp and scallops and Eric got a ribeye. 

The food was delicious even though I didn't get a picture. It was the first time we've been out to eat together in a year.  

They also brought out some ice cream and a brownie, which was also delicious. 

By the time we picked up Bonnie and got back home it was pretty well past her bedtime. She was way too tired to stay up for cake, much like last year. At least this year she did get to enjoy some the next day with us. 

Eric made me a beautiful cake, even though we were still stuffed from dinner. I got to hear from lots of family and friends and felt so loved. It was such a great day, thank you especially to Eric for making it so special and to Katie and Christ for babysitting! 

Long Walks and Picnics

We are still taking a lot of long walks, as I'm sure many people are. Since Bonnie is still on 2 naps a day and we live a little further away from everything, we are sometimes limited on what we have time to get out and do. Therefore, we end up walking around the neighborhood a lot.

On one particular day B was up early from a nap and going stir crazy so we just needed to get out. I started driving without a real plan in mind and ended up at a park nearby. It was a nice change of scenery.

There are lots of trails and a big playground.

We went back the next day with Benny.

We had a little impromptu picnic. 

We've also walked colonial Williamsburg for another change of scenery. We had another impromptu picnic there (this was earlier in the season when it was still warmer outside). 

I thought when the weather got much colder we would be slowing down on the walks but there's only so much to do with a baby inside all day - so we continue walking!

A Happy New Year

We celebrated New Years at home together by ordering take out, and having an at-home date night.

A friend recommended a murder-mystery game that was supposed to be a little like the Escape rooms we did for mom's birthday and my bachelorette party, but the at-home version. It was really fun to do something different even though we were staying in.

The game was incredibly thorough and provided all kinds of clues, evidence, and codes to break. 

The game actually took us until about 11 PM. We did make it up to ring in 2021 but were in bed very shortly after. 

The next day Mom, Dave, and Eric were planning to come down so we could exchange gifts with Katie's family. We got to show Eric our house for the first time, and that afternoon we went to Katie's house to have pizza for dinner.

Now that Bonnie is walking she seems to be getting much more involved and loves hanging out with her cousins.

After we put all the kids to bed, it was time to break out some games. We played the trivia game Benny and I got the week before. Then Eric gave Katie and Chris an early gift - a Blockbuster movie game. It was a lot of fun, a little bit like charades.

The next morning we did our last little Christmas celebration at their house. Katie made some delicious cinnamon rolls, a casserole, and fruit salad.

Eleanor made Bonnie the sweetest hand-sewn heart filled with cotton balls. She was so excited to give it to her. I absolutely love her thoughtful, giving heart (the real one and the sewn one), and I know Bonnie does too.

As usual, the best gift is just getting time with all these people.

That afternoon we took a walk in their neighborhood. The weather was beautiful.

When we got home Katie made another delicious dinner for us before everyone had to go their separate ways. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A Very Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve I finished decorating the sugar cookies I was so unprepared to make. When I looked up the icing recipe, I realized I didn't have powdered sugar. So after a quick trip to the store, we finally got the cookies decorated. 

Bonnie "helped" with the sprinkles. 

That afternoon we went to the outdoor service where the rain held off just long enough.

After the service the skies opened up and it started pouring. We went over to Katie's house for dinner. She made a delicious beef bourguignon. 

We carried on the classic pyramid picture tradition. 

Once we got home, it was time to get ready for bed. Eric read Bonnie The Night Before Christmas. 

And we set out a few cookies for Santa.

Christmas morning we started off opening stockings and getting breakfast going.

Benny made breakfast tacos (a tradition in his family).

And although Bonnie wasn't really into unwrapping gifts yet, she was very interested in what we received.

By about 10 AM Bonnie was very tired and ready for a nap, which meant it was time for us to hit the road and head up to mom and Dave's house!

We actually got some snow flurries on the drive up! The first snow we'd seen this season.

The drive went smoothly and when we got to moms house these two were inseparable! 

For the third year we each brought a stocking stuffer and opened them together, which has been a fun new tradition.

Then we got right into our gift exchange.

This house is so festive and perfect for the holidays!

Benny and I were very excited to get some new much needed pots and pans.

Bonnie loved her blocks, toy remote, and stuffed dog. She went down for another nap while we finished opening presents.

Then mom got right to work on a delicious Christmas dinner - prime rib, yorkshire pudding, brussel sprouts, salad and potatoes.

I'm sure this girl can't wait to help grandma in the kitchen.

It was so delicious - thank you!!

After this little one went to bed, it was time to get into some games. Eric got us a new trivia game that we played a couple times, and he also got mom a card shuffler so we could more easily play Hand and Foot.

Bonnie was very into Maggie, as usual.

The next morning mom made cinnamon rolls and we got to have a slow morning. And a benefit to this one still napping twice a day is that we had extra game time together!

There's pretty much nothing better than playing games and going for a hike in my opinion. It was much too cold to be outside so this was perfect.

Mom found a tub of our old stuffed animals for B to play with.

And a rocking horse just her size.

On Sunday it was time to head home. We had such a great weekend with a lot of great quality time. Thank you for having us!