Magical Elf breakfast party

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

 

In the dark of the night, elves visited our kitchen and they left a surprise. Our breakfast table was set in a red and white theme with candy cane place cards and snowballs in our bowls.

The snowballs were so fun and when we unwrapped them they were filled with little candies and gifts.

 

A delicious cinnamon roll bread and pastries awaited us to fill our hungry tummies.

We knew it had to be elves when Thayne found one of their hats outside. Quayde promptly placed it on his head. We are going to leave it for Santa on Christmas Eve and hope it gets returned to the proper elf. We are feeling a little bad for that elf; ears do get cold at the North Pole.

Lydia woke up first and ran upstairs to tell Quayde. Then they were waiting for everyone else to come. Even Chaiya came from her house sitting job to find out what magical things were happening at our house.

Thayne is convinced that these candy canes hanging from the ceiling fan are real and he wants to eat them. I am going to have to pull them down and show him they are just plastic. 

It was such a wonderful morning, full of laughter and smiles. We are so thrilled the elves started our Christmas season with some fun!

QOTD

From Quayde again: "Mom have you ever noticed how Dorthy and Alice are a lot alike?"

I swear he is still as cute at 15 as he was at 3

Hayes Girls Week

A few of my sisters and my mom came to spend some time with us in October. I have a ton of pictures. It was the most incredible few days filled with lots of laughter and out right silliness. I will post some pictures here and there but there are so many good ones. Here's a collage of their first time on the Metro headed into DC.  We are all so much trouble when we are together.

QOTD

These are some of the things heard from Quayde today:
"Swords are overkill, I think they should have used forks"
"I wish cheese did not make a person constipated"
and what he wanted to yell at the kids from his seminary class as they were getting on the bus, " Have Fun and Preach the Gospel"
(which he didn't because he is concerned they would kill him)

Amazing Autumn!

Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by the incredible beauty here, it truly takes my breath away and I just am in awe. As beautiful as Arizona is, I wasn't prepared  for the nuances of color that wrap themselves around my spirit here in Maryland.  This Autumn has gifted me with  peace. Wrapped in the most spectacular packaging, I am so blessed and so grateful.

Ren Faire

The Ren Faire has always been one of our favorite things to do together as a family! In Arizona the faire is in February and March, which is such a welcome break from Winter but here in Maryland it runs the first part of Autumn. We dragged Marissa and Ruby right along with us and I think everyone had a fairly good time. The food choices were a lot more plentiful here and so yummy. This faire is set is an amazing woodland setting which makes it all the more magical. It is NOT wheelchair friendly! I really wasn't prepared for how much work it would be pushing Lydia around. Next year I will be prepared and we will definitely have lots more fun. Here are some highlights from our day last month.