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Monday, December 3, 2007

Thanksgiving weekend!!

Ryan and cousin Kaitlin
Here's our Christmas tree, freshly cut!!
Ryan and daddy with the tree
Emily sitting in the car, it was too cold for her.

Ryan had a ball playing in the leaves with his cousins.

Friday morning we loaded up the car and headed to Roanoke to visit Kevin's family for the weekend. After the 4 hour drive there we were able to just relax and enjoy time with family on Friday night. Saturday morning we were up and out of the house early to go and cut down our Christmas tree. Every year we drive up into the mountains (close to Va Tech) to this Christmas tree farm to get our tree. You get to climb up the side of the mountain, pick out your tree, cut it down yourself and they wrap it up for you. We tie it to the top of the truck and bring it home. This year we even got my parents tree and brought it back for them. It was so cold, I think it was only about 24 degrees! That didn't matter to Ryan, he climbed up that hill and had a ball picking out his tree and helping cut it down and drag it to the bottom of the hill. He must have gone up and down that hill at least 4 times, and trust me it was pretty steep. Emily stayed in the car with Nanny since it was so cold, and she had her own fun staying warm and singing Christmas carols. We got all our trees and headed back to the house, it was at least an hour drive to get there. Ryan spent the rest of the day outside raking leaves with his cousins and having a blast jumping in the big pile! Saturday night we headed over to some of Kevin's friends house to have dinner and play with their kids. I don't think the kids got to bed until at least 10:00 that night. Surprisingly they did pretty well considering the late night. Sunday afternoon we headed home and the kids took good naps in the car, they were so exhausted from all the fun they had. We had a great weekend with lots more wonderful memories!!

7 comments:

Heather J said...

Sounds like a scene from 'National Lampoons Christmas Vacation' to pick the 'Saunders family Christmas Tree'! What a great tradition!

Andy and Jen said...

Ryan's so cute all bundled up! Made me think of the kid from the Christmas Story who had so many clothes on that he couldn't get up when he fell down. :)

Jen said...

That is a really neat tradition that you know the kids will talk about for years. Glad ya'll had such a great time in Roanoke.

Katy said...

I love those cut your own tree farms...we always did that too (until last year when we got a fake one) and the boys LOVED It. Quite an experience.

dandsratz said...

Jamie...I cannot BELIEVE this blog!! I was JUST telling Dave a few days ago, about HOW fabulous it was living in Roanoke where they actually have Mt.'s and farms to climb up & cut down your own tree!! I used to do that every year growing up!! I miss that about Roanoke sOOOOOO bad!!! I LOVED LOVED LOVED these pictures, and it made me want to go home!! This was an awesome blog!! These family pictures were great, and Ryan will remember this tradition for the rest of his life--HOW FUN!!! Jamie, I sense that you REALLY loved going to Roanoke for this--and that you just MUST LOVE that wonderful city enough to get your tree there!!! ha!! :)

anthonyandbeth said...

looks like so much fun! great memories for Ryan for sure! ;)

Natalie said...

This sounds like fun! What a great time you must have had!