Busch Gardens with Riley

Usually every two years we went to the WinterWonderland at Busch Gardens.  This year I ended up taking Sophia, Lilly and our neighbor, Riley.  It was a frigid day and we ended up leaving early because Riley was freezing.  Here's a few of the photos I took that day.  

Merry Christmas 2014

Christmas Morning

This was the year the girls got a trampoline.  I believe that later that day Nana and Poppy surprised them with a Christmas visit because I know my dad and Will put the trampoline up in the back yard.  That thing really got a lot of use.  The entire neighborhood wanted to play on it.  

Let's go to the mall and see Santa

Love stones

Sophia and Haley were having a play date.  Somehow they always ended up asking me to come up with a scavenger hunt or an egg hunt or even be the subject of their beauty school/spa day adventures.  

On this particular day they asked me if I had anything they could open for Christmas.  I happened to have two love stones that I was going to put into Sophia and Lilly's stocking so I wrapped them up and gave them to Haley and Sophia.  These two savored every moment of opening such a miniature gift.  

Early Christmas with Grancy

Grancy came for a visit and brought presents.  

Sophia was surprised with a "write your own story" kit and an artist case with colored pencils, oil paints and more.  As I write this in December 2018, she still has both.  She never finished the story, but I know she still has it.  And that artist case has made it all around the house and been extremely useful on a number of occasions.  

Lilly was super surprised with a giant gumball machine!!!  This was a gift that was out for enjoyment for a while and then hidden away for a while. Then out again, etc.  

Silly Girls

This was right around the time when Lilly basically didn't have any teeth. 

Thanksgiving, 2014

November, 2014

Thanksgiving in NOVA with the Alexanders

Cousin Caroline

Gingerbread Houses

Jonas, Aunt Claire, Lilly

Hard at work

At play

Sophia's final creation

Sophia doing the Sadie

Can you see Jonas hiding in the background?

Father/Daughter Dance

Our troop hosted a father/daughter dance in November.  It was so much fun for all.  43 couples attended.  Lilly and Will killed it on the dance floor!

Check out Will in the back right corner.