The first days of Christmas

We arrived in Durham for a week of Christmastime, and got to overlap for two nights & a day with the Freys! Timo, Asher and Adah Joy were nearly inseparable and full of energy (though not without occasional tears or "stop it"), and Abram and Mattias got along really well, too. I think talkative Abram inspired Mattias with quite a few new words.

No time in Durham is complete without being at Oval Park! We even had a thermos of tea on this afternoon.

I was able to see my old childhood friend Alyssa for the first time in over a decade! She and her husband and 4 year old daughter moved from California to Virginia this year, so we might be able to see each other once in a while now when we are both in town visiting our families. (though on this visit we only had an hour at the park, because they were leaving town the next day) So many memories and stories to get caught up on... and we made a tiny but happy start.

Stories before bedtime -

Lunchtime

Asher learned how to play skip-bo this visit, and got Jim and Craig to play a game with him

On our second afternoon together, Sam Poole invited anyone who was interested to come out to the farm where he is boarding his horse. The two younger boys stayed home to nap but the others went and had an amazing time learning about the horse and walking around the Quail Roost grounds.

That is a 17 hands high horse!

Sam (very patiently and graciously) taught the kids how to approach a horse and then how to brush her down on the sides (where they could reach!). No, Timo, it's not a good idea to run straight under the horse's belly.

Christmas Eve morning we had a special celebration together since the Freys were leaving at lunchtime. We had cinnamon rolls and even - a first in the Hawkins family - hot chocolate for the kids!!! After breakfast the Freys opened stockings and then together we opened a couple of gifts.

Uncle Pete's lap was Abram's seat of choice while he opened his stocking and pulled out some new cars.

Skyping with the Welty cousins! We miss them today!

Short but oh so, so sweet visit with the Brashers

The first weekend in December we drove down to Lexington, South Carolina (3 hour trip) to visit with Ryan and Melanie Brasher and their three boys and new little baby girl. They were back in the US from south Asia just for the semester - for the baby's birth - and were able to stay during that time in Ryan's parents' house (while they were overseas). Ryan also taught several classes at a nearby college.

In some ways it felt like no time had passed since we said good-bye to them and moved from Bloomington (in January 2013), and yet there has been a lot of life that has happened in the meantime. Neither of us is still engrossed in the grad student life and lifestyle anymore, thankfully!! It was wonderful to hear about their life and community at the Christian college where Ryan is now teaching. And it was really, really good to talk about Gemma with them, since we had shared so much life together during those years of her young life.

Also, I cannot neglect to mention that Melanie made a huge, delicious Indian meal for us on Friday night! Highlight of the month! Now we get a glimpse of how much boys can eat as they get older... Their boys are Thomas (age 8), Elijah (age 6, and born a few weeks within Gemma), and Jesse (age 4, a few weeks within Timo).

Breakfast - and Ryan with a goofy face and coolest IU shirt

Baby Lucy (4 weeks old) was quiet and sleepy during most of our visit, but I did squeeze in time to hold her! Oh, this is what a newborn feels like...

The boys all had a great time playing together, especially Timo as he followed around the three Brasher boys and got to play swords and Legos and Playmobil pirates.

Jesse and Elijah took turns pushing Mattias around in the various trucks/cars

One more tackle before we say good-bye

We love you, Brashers! Have a safe journey back home in January!

Thanksgiving time with trip to Durham

We were not all together this year for Thanksgiving break, since Jim had the incredible opportunity to travel on a work trip to Germany for 10 days (more on that in his next post), so I was very happy to be able to travel to Durham for a week and see the Hawkins cousins for two days, and then stay on with Grandpa and Jaja for the rest of the week. [Sadly I didn't take any photos this year of our Thanksgiving meals!!] Instead of being on our own, we were surrounded by family and had a very relaxing, calm week. Although, of course, the boys still wake up at 6 am most mornings.

Look at this wonderful pair - coming up on 46 YEARS of marriage next week!

Family outing to Duke Gardens. Absolutely beautiful, even on a chilly day in November. Do you see that brilliant yellow ginkgo tree??

Dawn redwood

Phillip (oldest boy cousin), Grandpa, and Mattias (youngest boy cousin)

Since I just had my phone, I only took a few snaps this week (I know, I know, I keep saying this with every post).

Walking down to Oval Park with Grandpa

Adella (age 4) was fearless riding down the hill/ramp at the park on this big wheel!

Daniel, Samuel, Phillip and Adella with Matt and Hannah (sorry for the sunshine glare) 

 
On Sunday afternoon Blacknall church was offering an Advent wreath workshop, so Timo and I went. Timo was very enthusiastic and helpful, and ended up doing most of the 'poking' into the wreath while I was collecting greenery and cutting it. At the end he stuck in a huge piece of rosemary and declared it was "the baobab tree".

The finished product, arrived home and rearranged in Sylva

One chilly morning the boys and I walked/biked around Duke's west campus and stopped to watch some construction. I love taking them to campus and enjoying the open space and the buildings.

Another morning we met Lisa and spent several hours at the Museum. Naturally the first exhibit on our trip was the Dinosaur Trail - the boys were SO excited and running so fast I couldn't get more than blurry pics!

Timo helped Jaja make bread this week, and chocolate chip cookies on another day. And, there was park time with Grandpa and riding on his bicycle, cars and legos in the basement, and biscuit breakfast with Uncle Pete and Auntie Rita. We could get used to these frequent visits!

Late fall life and friends in Sylva

Phew, time for a catch-up!!

First, here we go, off on the Polar Express! In nearby Bryson City is the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad train, and in the winter they offer a special Christmastime ride themed after the book, The Polar Express. One weeknight they offered free tickets to locals for their "dress rehearsal" so I took the boys with a big group of friends/connections for the 90 minute ride. There was music, dancing by the crew, chocolate chip cookies, a reading of the book, and a stop from Santa to hand out a bell to each child along the way of the 6 mile journey. The boys enjoyed it and had fun wearing their pajamas (but we were all hungry for supper by the end!). I didn't get any photos of the train because the light was too sharp in the afternoon, and pitch black by the end of the ride.

With Isaac and Luke, about ready to disembark

Just a morning drumming session

More of Timo's creations/villages... I'm always amazed at how he continues to enjoy the same cars and Legos, day after day, coming up with new scenarios and - even more so now - stories and dialogue.

"Mattias, here, I can read you this book", said Timo

Beautiful fall colors here this season! Even just walking down the driveway! At least, when we could enjoy them through the smoke of all the nearby forest fires. It was SO dry for 6+ months and we were in drought conditions, until finally rain returned at the end of November. Some days we didn't go outside because the smoke was so heavy. We feel very fortunate not to have been closer to the fires and needing to evacuate, though we could see the billowing smoke.

Timo and his buddy, Amos, on a Saturday walk through the woods

Look, downtown Sylva goes crazy with Christmas decorations!! Something new we have learned and now love about this little down. The hill in front of the courthouse/library (seen below) and the four blocks of Main St are all decorated with lights and greenery and ribbon.

It's chilly, but we bundle up anyway! Timo, I think you're getting a bit tall for the stroller...

Look at this great kitchen helper, who volunteered to clear the table and rinse all the dishes after dinner one night. I think he gets it from his Dad!!