Kicking off the Christmas Season

Last night we went to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens! It's pretty spectacular how beautifully they decorate the place with lights, massive snowmen, falling fake snow, nativity scenes, and more! I really wanted to go at night to get the full effect of the Christmas lights, and boy am I glad we did- it was beautiful and so colorful!!!

Claire, Stew, and Kai came with us, which always makes for a fun time. A lot of our friends went to Holly Dazzle, but I am so glad we did this instead. There were no lines, easy parking, and it was way less crowded. Avery and Kai had fun, too! They were so into the lights and music- especially the show we saw. It was like a live showing of Baby Einstein!

Battle of the Christmas Lights

For the most part, John and I have very similar taste in decor...except for the outside of our house at Christmas time. We do it pretty simple- window candles and a large decorated wreath on the front door (we've done this at both our Newport News house, and current house). But I have always wanted to string lights on the roof line, and front steps. We don't have an outside outlet (at either house, actually), which is totally lame, so that has presented a bit of a problem. I've suggested just running a long (very long) extension cord from the garage to the lights, but it's never happened. I decided to let the topic rest, and just buy something simple to decorate the front steps with- small trees that I can either put lights on or leave be. Fake trees (most already have outdoor lights strung on them) are very expensive, and so I decided to go with two real, very small fern trees. They are a little floppy looking, and not exactly what I had in mind- but they'd spruce up the front steps.

Back to the lights...

Our next door neighbors (on both sides), have lights up and this year one of them convinced John he should do it. I guess all it took was one guy friend to convince John, man...I wish I had thought of that 6 years ago!! One neighbor has simple icicle lights on just the roof line, and the other neighbor has bright colored, tacky (her words, not mine!!) lights on the roof line, windows, and garage door. I guess John feels empowered to do lights...so I'm excited to see how it turns out! John does everything with 100,000% intensity, so it should come out really nice!

Our house may turn out looking like this one... :)

Saying goodbye to a part of me

This Wednesday is a big day for the Dorrs! We are closing on the sale of our Newport News house! The first 3.5 years of our marriage was spent in that house, and we have SO many memories there! John (as a sweet newlywed husband) carried me into the front door after our honeymoon, we experienced our first home improvement projects, 3 painful and emotional miscarriages, made new friends, job offers, and learned a lot about ourselves as individuals, but more importantly about our roles in marriage as husband and wife. That house will also represent a season of learning, and growing for me because so much of me growing up, and facing life as an adult happened in that house. Man- if those walls could talk...they'd tell you about deep conversations, and nights full of tears and laughter spent with friends. I'm so thankful for both!

Thank you, 330 53rd Street for hosting so many memories!

My List

I should have posted this yesterday, but forgot- oh well...I am still very thankful for these things no matter what day they're read on my blog. In no particular order I present to you what I find myself most thankful for in the year 2011...

* My marriage- never perfect or easy, but so much fun and full of genuine love.

* Avery Paige- absolutely worth the two year wait...what an awesome girl she is!

* My relationship with God- I don't deserve His love, but for some reason...he thinks I'm really special.

* My friends and family- very loyal and supportive...not to mention good looking :)

* My job- rewarding and challenging at the same time.

* Our house- cozy and inviting...I call it home!

My Crowded Mind

I have been slacking in the blog department for sure.

My mind has felt crowded lately with thoughts, so I decided to share them with you all...

* Avery caught the stomach flu a few days ago and all I can say is W-O-W! Hot volcano lava coming from both ends...nasty and sad at the same time :(

* John also caught the stomach bug and has been down for 2 days (he very rarely ever gets sick)...I really hope I stay healthy!

* I'm going to see Breaking Dawn (book 4, part 1) of the Twilight series at midnight with some friends...bring on the sparkly men!

* I love my job, and feel like God placed me perfectly at this school!

* We're taking pictures for our Christmas card this weekend and doing a fun spin on the traditional pictures. I'm excited to see how they turn out.

* The 21st of every month is always a big deal to me because Avery was born on the 21st. But ever since she turned 1, the 21st isn't as big of a deal.

* We just started a new Community Group three weeks ago, and after the first night could tell it was going to be a life changing group.

* John is facilitating our new group, and doing a stellar job!

* We're celebrating Thanksgiving with our close friends. I can't believe it's only a week away!

* I was reunited with one of my first loves a few weeks ago...Peppermint Hot Chocolate from Starbucks. It's beyond slap your mama good...possibly hit your baby good!

* I've been making some killer crock-pot meals lately, so my crock-pot and I are back on speaking terms. (It was burning meals for a while, and we had to take a break.)

* Avery has been taking lots of steps, but not full blown walking yet. I wonder if I should stop wishing for her to walk. Maybe she'll become even more of a ball in a China shop than she already is...

* A student (4th grader) at my school passed away last week. I cannot imagine if Avery passed away. Lock me up and throw away the key...I'd be a wreck!

* Food Lion confuses the mess out of me. I can never find things, and my grocery shopping always takes at least 3x longer than if I go to Wal-Mart. One time I had to go to the Mexican food isle to find marshmallows...really?!

* With Thanksgiving around the corner, that also means stores are preparing for Black Friday shopping. Can I just say there is NOTHING I want so badly (for myself or someone else) that I would go shopping with those crazies on Black Friday! Don't get me wrong, John and I are extra thrifty, but I don't want to fight crowds, wait in lines, and drive all over the place for a deal.

November is the new December

Avery loving the tree!

Claire, Jess and London, Kristi, Susan, me and Avery, and Carlyn and Rosalie

I guess people in the south like to get November and Thanksgiving over with early and just skip right to Christmas! We went to a tree lighting last night at one of the town centers we frequent often for shopping and their good restaurants.

Can you believe they had a tree lighting seven weeks before Christmas?! They combined it with a tribute to the Veterans in the area...not sure how those two go together, but oh well! We had lots of fun, and met up with a lot of our friends and their kids.

Avery LOVED the Christmas tree, and was pretty fascinated with the bright lights! I'm really hoping she doesn't cause too much destruction with our own Christmas tree...we shall see!

Family Times

Avery taking a much needed rest from trick or treating.
Our sweet ladybug.

Two cuties!

Avery the Ladybug

Avery and our neighbors

Avery and Kai playing in the hay at the pumpkin patch.

Us with our friends and their kids over the weekend.

Claire and I with Kai and Avery on the bouncy slide.

The last month we've been able to do a lot of things together as a family, which I just love! Life gets to busy and hectic, and sometimes I feel like we don't get to spend as much time together as I'd like. Over the past year of becoming a mom I would be lying if I said I don't miss my B.C. days...Before.Children. I definitely sometimes miss being able to do whatever I want, whenever I want to do it on my own schedule. Not too often do I miss my B.C. life, but it hits me every once in a while. The last few weeks have been rich with family time, and there is nothing sweeter than spending time with my two favorite people- John and Avery! We went to another pumpkin patch over the weekend with some friends and had fun picking pumpkins, riding the hayride, cooking our own hot dogs over a campfire, and riding the bounce house and slide! Last night we went trick or treating with Avery and our next door neighbor. Having these experiences with Avery is so fun even though she's not aware of what we're doing. I know when she's older and can really enjoy them it'll be even more fun. She took a bunch of steps over the weekend, so I feel like she may be getting close to walking on her own! She will walk when you're holding on to her hands, and she's been walking while holding onto a surface (like a couch or coffee table) for probably two months now, but the independent walking she hasn't mastered yet.