I seem to average about one new post every few months these days!  Guess that means that life is keeping us quite busy! And with February right around the corner, here are the highlights from our Christmas break!

We tried to take full advantage of both Daddy and I being off from work for a few days and the girls not having school for two weeks!! Time is flying by and we are very well aware that in just a few short years - the kids will probably prefer to hang out with their friends rather than with their nerdy parents. And with that in mind, we really tried to make the most of our time together as a family!

In addition to the "usual" Christmas festivities, we crammed quite a few day trips into the couple of days that we all had "off". We enjoyed a nice Christmas program at Emily's preschool and Miss Emily sang her little heart out throughout the entire show. Anabelle was a proud big sister to see Emily perform. And we actually all got pretty spiffy for the event - something that happens once a year, at most!

We took a couple of day trips to local state parks where the kids enjoyed hiking down trails and visiting Cellon Oak, the largest known Live Oak tree! We went to Dudley Farm and "The Festival of Lights" at Stephen Foster State Park! The girls got to play in "snow" and we enjoyed the thousands of pretty Christmas lights, popcorn and a bonfire.

And we even took a trip to the beach and the kids ran through the somewhat mysterious looking sea fog. Brandon thoroughly enjoyed stomping in the wet sand and surf. And he loved being able to run and explore the empty and open stretches of beach!

In addition to our numerous day trips, the girls also enjoyed all of the usual Christmas festivities! We made cookies, decorated a gingerbread house and the kiddos got everything on their lists to Santa! Anabelle asked for a pogo stick and skateboard this year and Emily wanted numerous animal themed toys. Brandon got a ride-on John Deere 4wheeler and Santa even managed to bring the kids a "big, safe trampoline" (this is what the girls literally call it - every time they refer to it.)

Even Mommy received a very special surprise for her December birthday!! After a rough day at work, I came home to find a handsome, new family member waiting for me! (No, it wasn't Daddy dressed up in a suit or anything.) Saratoga (aka "Toga"), completes our little "herd" and is a wonderful new equine addition. Now instead of making our poor pony cart me around the pasture, I can ride a more appropriately sized mount :) And if Brandon has any say in the matter, he'll ride Daddy's tractor all day long!

Whew! It was a busy couple of weeks but it was fun to have no school and limited work obligations. We were bummed to have to get back to the weekly grind once the holidays were over. (Although Anabelle did mutter a couple of times over the break that she was bored and wanted to go back to school!) So far, 2017 has been good to us and so we look forward to seeing what is in store for this new year!