My birthday

I had a great birthday this year. The kids helped Benny make strawberry shortcake. 

The kids wanted to help me open presents first thing in the morning. 

We went to Bonnie's first soccer game of the season, where I also got to see mom and Eric! Unfortunately didn't get a picture with them.

After the game Benny watched the kids so I could get out and go thrifting. When I got home we got sushi for dinner and cake of course. 

And to top it off, the Commanders won their playoff game against the Lions which was so exciting! 

The next day Katie hosted everyone at her house since it was also Mom and Dave's first weekend officially in their Williamsburg house. She made a spaghetti dinner that everyone thoroughly enjoyed!

And a homemade funfetti cake! It was delicious, and also so nice to be able to have everyone together!

It was a wonderful birthday weekend and I felt very loved!

Snow days

This month we finally got some long-awaited snow! And more than once! The kids (particularly Bonnie) was thrilled. She could not get outside fast enough. Riser is much less excited about having to bundle up and being out in the cold, but he was interested. 

The first snow we got happened in the early hours of the morning and quickly turned to rain by about 9 AM so we were outside right after the kids rolled out of bed to take advantage. It got pretty slushy and wet, but did make for the perfect packing snow for building a snowman. 

Once it got too rainy, we came in for hot chocolate and a hot bath in the jacuzzi tub. 

It snowed again one week later and this time is was so fluffy and way more fun to play in! Since we have no big hills in our neighborhood, Eric took us sledding on the back of the golf cart. 

It's so beautiful seeing everything covered in white!

Riser's favorite snow activity by far is a snowball fight. We had a pretty lengthy family snowball fight at the park, then again before bed one night. 

After 3-4 years of no snow, it was very welcome around here!

Father daughter dance

Bonnie's school recently hosted a father-daughter dance. Both Bonnie and Eric were very excited to go.

The rest of the pictures are courtesy of Eric. It sounds like they had a fabulous time. There was a nail painting station, a craft station where the girls got to decorate tiaras and princess wands. There were games like musical chairs and a silly relay game where the dads had to dress up in funny clothes. There was lots of treats and of course, dancing. They had a blast!

Bonnie and her best little school bud, Eden.

Love these two cuties!

Bonnie's Christmas pageant

Bonnie was very excited for her preschool Christmas pageant this year. She worked hard on her songs and I would hear her sing them all around the house for weeks leading up to it. 

Katie came to see it, which was so special. I had recently watched the video of Jane at this very same pageant years ago, where she stole the show. 

Away in a manger:

Star of Bethlehem:

Happy birthday Jesus:

She did such a great job - it is so fun to watch her thriving so much this year!