Family Fun: 25 Days of Christmas - Days 7 & 8 {Light Up Millbridge & Lawson's Cookies with Santa}

On Saturday we started our day with Fluff hot chocolates and Christmas shows all morning. We seriously stayed in jammies till like 2pm. I LOVED it!!



Then we went to dinner before heading to Light Up Millbridge event in Waxhaw.



Millbridge is a neighborhood next to the kids' elementary school. This year Waxhaw asked them to open the event up to the public and they obliged. So we went!! They have this cool bridge in the neighborhood that they cover in lights. It is beautiful to drive through.



Driving through the bridge and the lit ramada that led to Santa and a large lit Christmas tree in the center of the community.



Waiting in line to see Santa




They had a great Santa (except he doesn't look Jolly in this shot!!) and an awesome tree!



Below are photos of the lit Club house and the luminaries that line all the streets of the neighborhood.



We had a great time and appreciate their hospitality which also included Christmas carols, hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and candy canes. Thank you Millbridge! See you next year. On Sunday it was time for OUR neighborhood celebration here in Lawson!

It was great seeing friends there! We did crafts and had hot cocoa and cookies.



The Lawson Christmas tree. New families to Lawson were asked to hang an ornament on the tree with their family name and year we moved to the neighborhood. Here are the girls hanging our ornament.



Here is our key ornament. It says "First Christmas in our New Home 2013". I think I need to get another one for MY tree!



Photos with Santa (who arrived on a Waxhaw Fire Truck by the way!!)



What a fun day with neighbors and friends. The girls colored, made frames, had treats and cocoa!



We love living in Waxhaw and in such a Family friendly community. We are truly blessed!

Fun: SNOW in Charlotte!!

Oh my gosh we are so excited! It snowed (and pretty good too) here in Waxhaw!! We are so happy! Ryen started screaming, "Thank you Santa Claus!!" over and over!





My favorite photo of the night.



The kids were so excited!! But poor Ella was so sick she could not even go outside to enjoy it. Just standing in the doorway to watch it was too cold for her. Tell that to Ryen who was out there in a nightgown and flip flops. haha

We can't wait for it to snow again!!! May be awhile but we are optimistic!

Fun: Halloween in Lawson 2013

Tonight we had our first Halloween in our new neighborhood. We live in such a big community with so many kids so we knew it would be fun! Ella went as Super Girl and Ryen went as Rainbow Dash from my little pony.



Our social committee holds a Halloween event every year at our Millhouse. There was a DJ there to greet everyone and get the party started while all the kids mingled and saw each other's costumes. The social committee passed out hot dogs and glow sticks to the kids. Then the kids hopped onto to trailers, trucks and golf carts that were decorated with hay for a parade up Lawson Dr. It was so cute! Here are some pics!



Then we headed back to our part of the neighborhood to trick or treat with our friends Cate, Connor and Faith and my friend Jonee. :)





We had such a great night and loved seeing all the kids out and about in the neighborhood. :) Happy Halloween

Fall: My neighborhood foliage is GORGEOUS

You would not believe the foliage here in North Carolina. I can't even believe it. It is so stunning! I take this road to my house every day and this is what I get to see. I just had to stop and take some pics to share with you. As someone who has not had fall in 10 years I can tell you I am giddy over it. Never really remember appreciating it when I had it. Funny huh? Enjoy the pics.



My house on the "hill"



My backyard at sunrise after our first frost of the season :)

Family: First Friday Trick or Treat Style - Waxhaw

Tonight is the first Friday of October. And our town of Waxhaw has another Family friendly First Friday event planned. Tonights theme was a Halloween trick or treating event! The kids were told to wear costumes and do a mini trick or treat through all the restaurants and shops. Our girls were excited and dug through their costumes and dress up clothes to plan their costumes.

Ryen chose a fairy ballerina compilation and Ella chose her ladybug costume from last Halloween!



Our first stop was an art gallery that was having some crafts. The girls decorated cut paper plate spirals.



Next we went trick or treating around the different store fronts and shops. We ended up at the haunted obstacle course that the girls loved and wanted to do over and over.



And I couldn't leave Daddy alone for 5 seconds without the ladies chatting him up. Not sure if it was him or the dogs that were stealing the show, ha ha!



Next we headed over for some pumpkin bowling.



Then we just floated around having some Halloween fun!



Picked up our painted spirals that were now dry and headed home :) Thanks again Waxhaw for another great Family friendly evening!!!