Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving and Lets Go Get a Tree

On Thanksgiving morning we went to an old Presbyterian Church where they do a program called the Blessing of the Hounds. It has been a tradition dating back to mideval french times where they would bless their hounds before going out on their fox hunt. They have been celebrating it every year since the 1920's here in Charlottesville. We heard it was the place to go on Thanksgiving day, hence, we went! It was very interesting! The picture of our family was taken in front of the church.
This is when they were in the middle of blessing their hounds and they literally went on a fox hunt afterwards, across from the church into some fields. Isn't the church pretty?

Since all my children are deathly afraid of dogs, their favorite place to hang out was by the hot chocolate and donuts. Ooh that was yummy! I'm all about hot chocolate and donuts!


We had Thanksgiving at our lovely friends, the Borgs home! It was great fun with a lot of good food, a great game of BINGO, and gingerbread house making (out of graham crackers). haha We had a great time! Thank you Borgs! Below are the lovely finished products of each child



Yeah! Its Christmas time! Time to decorate the tree! Here is Nathan putting his first ornament on. Since this time, he has managed to take a lot of the ornaments off the tree and has repeatedly pulled the ribbon off! Little stinker! But oh how we love him!
Ashley and Heidi putting their ornaments on. They always love decorating the tree and decorating for christmas! They love it so much that they put their own tree up in their room! Its really cute!

Its great to have a tall husband, but even greater when they can hold you on their shoulders! Macho Macho Man!! How else would we get the star on the top of the tree!

We also have our very own Darth Vader. I so want him to like the good guys! haha! He wore this one night for a long time and kept trying to scare the girls. It was hilarious! Thank you Allison and Clay and Dallin for the evil attire. hahaha! He loves it! And Brooke likes to chew on it!
Brooke and I at Ralph's tree farm. The place that we go every year in Virginia to cut trees for Christmas! The trees are so beautiful and they smell so good!

Kevin and all the kids at the tree farm! Don't they all look so cute!
Look how strong my great husband is! Carrying it all on his own! What a man!

So everyone had to take a crack at it! This is Nathan trying saw into the tree!

Now its Ashley's turn! I think she just liked to do it for the picture!haha
Then Heidi taking a crack at it! Needless to say, Kevin was the only one who could actually cut it down.

Just some fun pictures of the kids while at the tree farm! It was great! We always love doing it!

18 comments:

Summer said...

What fun traditions! You have such a beautiful family!

Martin Family said...

I am so excited to see you guys! The kids look so adorable cutting the tree down. WOOOO HOOOO 3 more days GIRLS! Love You ;)

Jennifer Kouba said...

I love seeing the pictures of my cute nieces and nephew!!! You all take such good pictures...I'll have to do some of everyone while your here. YEAH! I'm jealous of the things you get to do there. Why can't vegas be more fun? Love ya sista'

Andrea said...

Jessica...I just found your blog from Greta's and boy am I glad I did! Your family is SO, SO cute! I can't believe you have kids that old! I guess a lot of people our age do...I am just a VERY late starter!

I did FINALLY get married in 2006 and now have a precious little girl! Bryson and I FREAKIN LOVE this little thing! She is 7 months old and growing WAY too quickly!

Anyway, I am going to add you to my list so I can stay caught up with you and your family! So glad I found you!

Love, Andrea (Croft) Huckstep

Michelle Campbell said...

Jessica, I loved your update and happy late bday to you and Kevin. You guys do such cute cheap things that seem to be PERFECT. I want to be a mom like you! :) thanks for all the calls to me in the hospital... I should've told you it was a major coronary so you'd get down here sooner. haha. just kidding... save the $800 and buy me presents with it. hahaha. I love you guys and can't wait to see you in a few days!!

Allison said...

Nice tree! Don't you just love all the cool things that you can do on the east coast?! We will have to visit sometime soon. Maybe Christmas day or the day after. Or maybe New Year's eve would be fun!

jessenpetty said...

The "Hounds, Thanksgiving,Christmas tree...I love it all! How fun to do all those cool things! Can't wait to see you guys!

jessenpetty said...

Okay! I love the picture of you and Brooke! You look so pretty and Brooke looks freakin adorable!

The End!

Haley said...

How could I have lived in Virginia for four years and not known about that fox hunt thing. So fun! I love that you cut down your tree too. Way to go Kevin. What a man. I love seeing pictures. The kids are so big! Miss you guys!

Becky said...

Another cute Hughes family picture! We hardly ever get pictures taken of our whole family together, and you guys do it all the time! Happy birthday to both of you. I remembered--I just didn't remember to tell you! Wow, Jess, I believe you just turned the big 3-0!

Becky said...

Oh, I was just looking at some of the other posts and comments, and I guess I DID tell Kevin happy birthday, just not you! Sorry!

Megan said...

What a fun time with the Hughes' family!
Happy belated birthday! It looks like such a fun dinner group.

We miss you!

Lexie said...

Wow, you did somw serious updating, way to go! I loved what you wrote about the birthdays, I wish I could have been there to hear your cute kids' program. You have such a great family and I love all the things you do together!

Leslie Ann said...

So cool that you get to cut down your own tree! I love the picture of you and Kevin, you two are so cute together!

The Banner Family said...

You look gorge,miss you guys!

Greta said...

Thanks for the comment on my post. By the way, we have a common friend (well besides the ones you already know). Amy and Chad Sorensen used to live in your ward and now they live in ours!! Funny that we made that connection the other night when they were at dinner.

weavers said...

Your kids look so cute! They are growing soooo fast!

Tara said...

OK Jess, enough of this blurking thing! No I suppose it's possible you haven't received my comments nor looked at my blog, or that years ago I terribly offended you and you want nothing to do with me:(. If you have stopped by mine and you feel so inclined comment. I'm dying to hear from you! I saw a comment you left on someone else's blog, so I know that you know how!

When are you going to be in town again?

Your kids are BEAUTIFUL:)