Massanutten Resort

For a few days between Christmas and New Years we went to Massanutten Resort. We had so much fun and it was great to hang out with the Benner's who were also there for the week.

We spent a day at the indoor water park. The girls amazed me with their bravery - going down all the big slide and even doing the pipeline.

Leland

Lucy

Chuck

The girls couldn't catch their breath,
so Chuck gave them puffs of his asthma inhaler.

Chuck and the two big girls went snow tubing.

The snow tubing group

It's always fun just being in the hotel room together.

Family pictures.

Massanutten ski slopes
in the background

Christmas Service

Last year, Chuck's family decided not to exchange gifts for Christmas, and instead, we exchanged names to do service in the name of that one person (read the details about it here). Last year, was such a wonderful experience, we did it again this Christmas. We all post about our experiences on a blog that we wait to read on Christmas morning. Once again it was amazing.

I think one of the best things about doing this type of "gift" exchange is that I have felt so much closer to those members of the family that I am performing my service for and who is serving me. Many of us do not live close to one another and some I haven't ever really gotten to spend a vast amount of time with, so I love feeling connected to those family members.

Serving others is also a great way to feel closer to your Heavenly Father and your Savior, Jesus Christ. It allows us to feel the true spirit of Christmas and celebrating the birth of Jesus, instead of getting caught up in the commercialization of it all.

Please feel free to read about all of our gifts of service.

Ashley's gift to Hock

Char's gift to Ashley - woohoo!
Chuck's gift to Mitzi - be sure to comment on that blog if you want to be a recipient of his service
Ryan's gift to Chuck - totally worth the long read and if you know Chuck you will know how much this meant to him.

Some friends and family members have told us that after reading about our family's experience last year, they decided to do it with their own families this year. If so, we would love to hear about it. If you have a blog that you would like us to link please let me know.

As a twist for next year (Christmas 2011), we decided to draw names now, so that we can have all year to think about and do a service for our recipient family member. I'm excited!

Also read about Chuck's parent's 18 months of service on a mission in Congo, Africa. Check out their blog here. They just posted about an amazing experience of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Christmas Morning

We spent Christmas morning at my Dad's house in North Carolina. It was fun to have one more kid around for the excitement.

Leland - the year of princess and barbies

Lucy - KA POW! this girl loves Spider Man

Charly - the impatient eater

Check out the chunks of skin missing from the orange she just couldn't wait for me to peel. I finally captured real smile not the usual crazy picture face.

Dad and Layni

It was fun to talk to Grammy and Papa on Skype.

My southern boy's t-shirt and opening his NASCAR gift

Cutting down the tree

Cutting down our own Christmas tree is a tradition that both Chuck and I want to do with our family. This year, we found a great tree farm not too far from home called LaRon Tree Farm. Unfortunately, the owner said he is retiring and will not be open the next few years to let let the rest of his trees grow.

The picture on the top left was just moments before the tree fell, and notice the proximity of Charly there... I had to grab Charly and yank her quickly out of the way before the tree crashed on top of her. 

It was an awesome place to get our tree. They even had these great tree sleds invented by the owner to transport our tree and children.While our tree was being wrapped and tied to the van, we roasted marshmallows, made s'mores, and drank hot chocolate. 

The girls loved decorating the Christmas tree and made me sing my favorite Christmas song, The Happiest Christmas Tree by Nat King Cole, while we decorated.

Chuck also put some Christmas lights up on our house after Lucy's sweet, yet persistent, request. It started raining when he was about half-way done, but he kept going and finally finished in the dark and soaking wet. We had a remote to turn the lights on and off and I was able to convince the girls that the Christmas lights turned on only by them yelling "Merry Christmas!" as loud as they could.

Richmond Christmas Festivities (Part 2 of 2)

The Miracle Of Christmas is a free, live Nativity presented by the Richmond Metro Zoo. It is a wonderful way to feel the true meaning of Christmas by watching a reenactment of the events leading up to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love to take our girls every year. This year, my mother joined us again along with her friend who presents Back to Bethlehem in Bath, NC.

After the show, picture op with some of the cast and animals.

We took a long way home in order to drive past a few of the homes on the Tacky lights Tour. Here are a few of our favorites.