The Udvar Hazy Air and Space

An adventure for Winter Break (meaning: get us out of the house!), we headed to the Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum for the day. We were joined by my Grandfather, my father and the boys' cousin Mekayla.

We wandered the giant hanger and found a plane just like what my Grandfather flew in WWII, as part of the Army Air Corp. He flew a B-29. It was great to hear all about the plane he was in and the stories of the war.

We couldn't leave without a doing a flight simulator.

Christmas Day

After opening presents at home we headed to MD.

Luke was waiting "patiently" to open presents.

We spent most of the day in MD. Lots of opening gifts, food and chaos (Brayden blocked out most of it, while getting in some good cuddles).

Christmas Morning

Carter came into our room at 4:45 a.m. and asked if it was time for Christmas yet. He tried to go back to sleep in our bed but it was a lost cause. A little before 6:00 a.m. Luke woke up ready for Christmas.

By 7:00 we had breakfast, everyone was up and we were opening presents. They were so excited.

THE gift this year was ATVs for Carter and Luke.

Christmas Eve

We head to Jeremy's parents for Christmas Eve.

Some yummy food, singing and presents.

Then headed to a Christmas Eve service. It was one of the most enjoyable Christmas Eves we have had in a while.

Christmas fun

What to do when stuck because of all the snow?

Make a gingerbread house.

Take a walk in the snow to give presents to friends, making fun special deliveries.

And we watched lots of Christmas movies, made Christmas cards, played games, etc.

Snow, snow and more snow

Just like many others, we got snow. Lots of it. About 20ish inches. It started off as fun but lots of hard work to just walk in it. Jeremy worked on the driveway several times. Carter and Luke walk and walked, tried to sled but it was too deep. But it made for some good forts.

The dog had a wonderful time jumping through the snow.

At the end of the day everyone was completely wiped out. And we have days to enjoy it...everything is closed and canceled.

Luke making a joyful noise

Luke had his preschool Christmas show and party.

OH how he loves to sing...you can hear him over most of the children (not always on key but with some serious passion)...what can I say he is just a loud kid!

He really gets into some of the songs. Enjoy!

Luke making a joyful noise from Carrie Jenkins on Vimeo.

We just got the cool Flip video (with more memory since I cannot seem to pull things off our cameras) and love it!

Birthday Star

Luke finally had his 5th birthday party.

He choose to have it at Chuck E Cheese.

Luke had a blast. This year he decided the invite list, now that he had his friends. He was thrilled to have them there to play.

Chuck E Cheese gave him a medal and a blow up crown. He has being wearing them since we left the place.

Carter and Luke racked up some serious tickets and combined them for a big prize.

And Brayden was there taking it all in.

Christmas in Waterford

You cannot get much more quaint than a snowy day in the little village of Waterford. The local people host a small sale in the Old Mill with a visit from Santa Claus.

Carter, Luke and I went down to the Old Mill for a bit. Carter and Luke whispered to Santa (who Luke declared was not the real Santa, "He is just a guy in there.") their Christmas wishes. Then we wandered around the floors of the Old Mill looking at all of the local things and chatting with people.

I love the little village of Waterford.

Find a Tree

Snow was in the forcast for our area. It started about 7:00 a.m. and it was coming down...that did not stop us from heading out to a local farm to cut down a Christmas tree. And was probably the best time we have ever had cutting down a tree and what an adventure!













We played in the snow...lots of good snow.


















Some where during it all we found a tree, drug it back and had some hot cider and popcorn.

We headed home to play in the snow. The dog was in on the action. We have some good hills at our house. Carter and Luke went flying down the hills, stop at the bottom to eat snow and then back to the top to build a snowman.
By the end of the day, we had a Christmas tree, 5 cold & wet people, two snowmen, a wet dog, about 6 inches of snow and countless memories.

Luke is 5

Oh my, Luke Riley is five!

He has been so excited to turn five.

Luke is a boy who loves life, he is always having fun...always, unless he is sleeping or really tired. He is a thrill seeker, always up for an adventure. He wakes up talking and does not stop until his head hits the pillow. He little voice, wonderful stories and random information always has us laughing. Carter tells him he sound like Theodore from Alvin and the Chipmunks.

For his birthday, Jeremy took him out to eat while Carter and I did up his room with lots of new things...superhero things, new bedding, tin superhero signs, new superhero toys, etc. He was so excited when he saw it that he squealed with delight!

Thanksgiving weekend fun

We headed to Grandpa and Grandma Jenkins (Jeremy's grandparents) for Thanksgiving dinner. Carter and Luke had a blast playing in the basement...they came up with red faces and sweaty heads...they had fun. We all had a wonderful dinner.















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A couple of days later we celebrated Grandma Sommerfeld's (Jeremy's other grandmother) 91st birthday.