Caleb and Eliza began Tae Kwan do in the fall, and they are both enjoying this new sport. Caleb mis fast and strong and Eliza is intense. It’s fun to watch them grow in this new area. Here are some videos and pictures from their first promotion ceremony to high white belt in November.
One day we visited the State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce, VA, which is about 45 mins away from our house. The arboretum is operated by the University of Virginia, and was started in 1955. Its purpose is for environmental research and education for K-12, university, and the general population. It has more than 8,000 trees and shrub, representing over 1,000 species, and is most known for its boxwoods, pine trees a large Ginko biloba grove, and the Cedars of Lebanon. We spent a few hours wandering the grounds, walked through the Cedars of Lebanon and the stinky Ginko biloba grove. We were wondering what smelled so bad while we were laying in the leaves, and afterwards learned that is how they smell. So we smelled ourselves the whole way home! It was a fun way to a pretty fall day.
Mark and Betty came for a quick weekend to see some soccer games and spend time with us. It was also the weekend of our local car show at the high school.
Each year, Battlefield High School hosts a Pink Out night to raise money for breast cancer awareness. For the event, they invite kids from preschool to 8th grade to dance with the high school dance team and perform at the football game half-time show. The kids attended 3 dance rehearsals before the big show. Eliza had lots of friends from school participating and had a great time and danced for a great cause!
Happy 12th birthday Benji! This boy loves soccer, spending time with family and friends, fishing, art, and creating new things. We love you and are excited for what is in store for you this coming year.
Nathan and I celebrated 15 years of marriage this year. No pictures of us because I had sinus surgery two days earlier. I am thankful for our strong marriage, and for the faithful and selfless husband, father, and friend that I have in Nathan. One of our favorite things to do is to drink coffee and watch the sunrise from our sunroom, and we had a beautiful sunrise on our anniversary morning. I love you with all my heart, Nathan.
Today we celebrate Nathan. He never wants to be celebrated, but we are so thankful for the man he is and all he does for our family. Celebrations are always low key, the way he likes them. We love you Nathan, Happy birthday to you!
The kids fished a lot over the summer. Between fishing in the pond behind our house and other ponds in the neighborhood, we are surprised there are still fish remaining! Bass was the most popular catch of the summer, and the kids would bring their big ones back to the house for us to see them. Good times.
