A NEW TRADITION IS BORN

Thanksgiving 2011. I wanted this year to be different. We were spending it by ourselves, just as a family, so I wanted to start a New Tradition. I didn't want to spend the entire day sitting around the house, stuffing ourselves on appetizers and sweets. So I suggested to Marc that maybe we go for a little hike - somewhere not too far away, and something easy for the boys. I asked some friends for suggestions, but did a little research of my own, and decided that the nearby Lake Anna State Park would be Perfect. It's only 20 minutes away. They had Easy trails. We could get up and go in the morning, and be back before lunch so we could shower, and finish getting the Thanksgiving meal ready.

And so that's what we did...

I picked a trail called Fisherman's Trail. It was just short of a mile, and wound through the woods as well as running along the water's edge.

It was The Perfect Morning for the boy's First Hike, and our First Annual, Family Thanksgiving Day Hike!!

As soon as we reached the top of the first hill, which was at the very beginning of the trailhead, we set about finding each of the boys the perfect Walking Stick.

Grey stuck with it, but Luke's stick got lost somewhere along the way.

My Little Hikers.

Saw this breathtaking little, crimson leaved tree just off the trail, and had to take a pic of it.

Grey followed me off the beaten path to the little tree, but used his Walking Stick to help himself maneuver around a fallen tree.

At about the mid-point of the .8 mile obviously Very Strenuous hike, there was a bench. Luke proceeded to lay down and proclaim he was tired.

Little Bird House along the trail

This park Map was at the beginning of the second trailhead.

Once the boys saw water, our Hike turned into Rock Throwing. It was hard to get them to keep going.

Trail along the water's edge.

Loved this tree that leaned out over the water, sooo....

of course I had to get a pic of Luke leaning up against it. He was just positive he was going to fall in.

Grey's not looking down to watch where he's going, he's looking for his next rock to throw in the water.

Towards the end of the trail, there was a tree with a huge gap in it's trunk. I told Luke to look through it. Also told Grey, but he was still on his rock finding mission.

Before we got to the end of the trail, I told Marc I REALLY wanted to get a picture of the four of us. I just had to find the perfect spot to prop up the camera. There was a very unstable tree brach that was lying on the ground that we tried first, then Marc suggested I hang the camera from a tree branch. So I hung it by it's strap, and then to help stabilize it, Marc stuck his Buck Knife into the tree just below the camera, so it had something to rest against... hence the acute angle.

But anyway... TAH DAH!!

The Three Things I'm most Thankful for... My Wonderful Loving Husband, Marc, and my two Amazing, Beautiful Little Boys, Luke & Grey.

The end of the trailhead as located at a playground, so of course we let the boys play for a little while. This picture I think illustrates the Pure Joy of Play. Marc was making this little bouncy ride buck like a Bucking Rodeo Bronco, and Luke was having a hard time staying on, but was laughing uncontrollably at the same time.

*after note* the boys and I had to go back to the park the following morning to look for Marc's backpack. He had inadvertently left it on a nearby bench when we left. Luckily it was still there. YAY!!

When we got back home, Marc went about finishing the preparation for our Thanksgiving meal. Our Menu this year was not your typical Turkey Day fare. When we discussed what we wanted, I said we had to have his Snap Beans - they're one of my favorites. But then I said that we couldn't just have one Entree, there had to be something else. So Marc suggested a Deer Tenderloin - I said sure. The day before, he marinated the Venison in Brown Sugar and Soy Sauce. Then before putting it in the oven he wrapped both tenderloins in Bacon - "Everything's Better with Bacon!". This is what it looked like right out of the oven....

and this is what it looked like right before serving - thinly sliced and garnished with the crumbled bacon, green onion and blue cheese. Can you say De-Lish?

I have to tell you, believe it or not, I didn't even miss the traditional Turkey.

We had some appetizers during the afternoon - the Edwards family Cheeseball and Chips and Salsa, and we also had a little something for the sweet tooth. Again, we wanted something other than Pumpkin Pie, so knowing my husband's love of Red Velvet Cake, I made Red Velvet/White Chocolate Chip cookies.

They were a big hit and will definitely be added to my Cookie Recipe Repertoire. Go here if you want to try the recipe for yourself.

And finally, I got a decent picture of Grey with his new Haircut.

A Perfect end to a Perfect Day. We started a New Tradition by Enjoying a Wonderful Morning Hike, we visited with some dear friends before our meal, and then, we Ate a Very Yummy, Non-Traditional, Thanksgiving Meal.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! We Love You!

HARVEST LUNCH THANKSGIVING PROGRAM

This past Tuesday, Luke's Pre-school held their annual Harvest Lunch Thanksgiving Program. Last year, Marc wasn't able to go, so he was excited to be able to attend this year. Luke woke up that morning REALLY grumpy, so I didn't bother worrying about video taping this year, because I figured he wouldn't be much of a participant.

The three year olds were first, so the four year olds came in with their teachers to sit and wait in the front row. Luke was lucky enough to get to sit on his teacher, Miss Sarah's, lap.

Then it was their turn. They all got lined up, and right away, Luke's pulling up his shirt. I'm thinking, "Oh Great, just like last year's Christmas program."

Luckily the shirt went down, and he got busy waving to the crowd. He's supposed to be waving at us... not sure who he's waving at.

He didn't really do the hand movements, but he sang most of the time.

Bored with singing... checking out what's going on over there.

They had all four classes divided up into different elements of the "First" Thanksgiving. There were Indians, Pilgrims and Turkeys. Luke was an Indian, but the Turkeys were the cutest.

Just chilling with his hands in his pockets.

I guess he's checking to see if he's sweating.

Still looking bored.

Finally... a little participation.

So tired... must be exhausting performing.

The only song he would ever sing for me at home was something about "Albequerque Turkey", but could never get all the way through it before cracking up laughing. I was anxious to hear the entire song. Luke's "at home" version, was nothing like the "actual" version. It was sung to the tune of "Clementine". I heard the words "Albequerque Turkey", but nothing else like what Luke would sing. LOL :)

BIKING WITH FRIENDS

Last weekend, I had a photo shoot, photographing the family of Luke's BFF, Lucas. We had been trying to set this up for the past month, but could never get everyone's schedule to work. So last Friday, Andrea and I decided to wing it and do the session at their house. She thought her boys would be more comfortable, and I could bring my boys along, rather than needing Marc to watch them. After the session was over, Lucas wanted to get out all his bikes so all the boys could ride.

This was the first time Luke has ever been on a Bicycle, so at first he wasn't sure what to do...

so he pushed the bike.

Grey couldn't reach the pedals on the Tri-cycle, so he "walked" it the whole time.

After Andrea showed Luke how to pedal, he started to ride rather than push.

I so wish I had a video camera to capture Grey and his "walking".

Sportin' the new Do!

Even though he kept trying to pedal backwards (like he does on his trike), which engages the brakes, Luke eventually got the hang of it, and was doing Really Well before we left. Definitely know what Santa is bringing him this year.

Grey and his BFF, Matt. Matt will be 2 in a couple of weeks, and he can ride that Scooter like he's 5.

The Boys and their Friends... Riding Bikes. :)

THE SECOND "FIRST" HAIRCUT

Well... we Finally did it. We cut off all of Grey's Baby Curls :(

After all the compliments on how cute our little "Girl" Smurf was, I knew it was time. It just had to be done, like ripping off a band-aid.

He did really good this time. The first time, which in my mind didn't really count as the "First" because we only trimmed a little off the back so it wouldn't look like he had a Mullet, he cried and was very wiggly. This time, he sat really well for Miss Becky, and took it like a Man.

As soon as I saw the first Golden Locks hit the floor, I started to cry. I knew he was no longer my "Baby".

While Grey was in the chair, Luke hopped up in the other one for his cut.

This picture doesn't really show Grey all that well, but it shows me in capturing the moment.

Now he's a Big Boy :)

I didn't save any of the curls, but I made sure to take a picture of them.

Luke was getting tickled by the trimmer.

Luke's cut was based on the fact that he came home from school and told me that he wanted "Little" hair like Michael (little boy in his class). He said... "my hair is big, and Michael's hair is little. I want little hair." And so, he got little hair.

Now I have two Big Boys... no more babies... sigh.