Spring is here!

I have NEVER been so excited for Spring! I'm usually lamenting how little snow we had and praying for another month of cold just for the chance at some decent snowfall. Well, this year, there was NO shortage of snow and I am loving being able to be outside and enjoy flowers, gentle breezes, and of course, wearing flip flops. Ella has graduated to "big girl" flip flops with not strap on the back and we're both rather impressed with her. Here are some pics of us enjoying the new season!


checking out her shadow


she wanted to make a "sun angel" :-)


pretending to lick the dog toy she picked out for Raleigh while trying to teach her to fetch (even with peanut butter on it, that dog will not pick up a toy and bring it to you!)


Digging!




When we explored the garden for the first time post-snow there was actually broccoli growing!!


And this, is what a tomato looks like after 3 blizzards :-)

Nostalgia and Newness

The week after Christmas we took a trip to Williamsburg, the lovely home of my alma mater :-) I CANNOT believe I graduated TEN years ago. Insanity. But I digress. Even though I'm old and the college kids there look like middle schoolers to me, we love going back there. Chris and I dated for almost 2 years while I was there and have lots of great memories there. It's so sweet to have a place full of nostalgic, positive, fun memories that I can go visit and show to Ella!
Along with all the "old" things we do everytime we're there (Colonial Williamsburg, the campus at W&M, Cracker Barrel, Sal's etc.) we also tried some new things like an aquarium/zoo, Busch Gardens Christmas World, new shopping areas and the new, fancy movie theater :-)

Since we were having a really good, relaxing time we ended up being able to extend the trip and stay almost a full week instead of a few days. God really blessed the time with rest and fun renewed our spirits to start the new year.

Ella insisted on eating sherbert for her "treat" at Busch Gardens even though it was 40 degrees outside

We were all fascinate by this roller coaster and watched the whole time Ella ate her ice cream. Chris experimented with the camera and got some awesome, in-motion shots! That red blur is the coaster car with all the people in it!

We saw a Christmas Show with traditional Christmas music but freaky-monk-Darth Vader-like costumes

Once it got dark they turned on snow machines and thousands of Christmas lights!


The Sesame Street Christmas show was REALLY cute! (and we got to be warm inside for a whole 30 minutes!)

For some reason I really wanted my picture taken in this phone booth. Maybe my recent desire to go to Europe was aroused or something :-)

Ok, this is getting really long...more later!