Yule Tide Greetings

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you are enjoying the holiday with your loved ones.  We are about waste high in food, family and festivities but wanted to wish you bright blessings! 

Much love,
The Busy Bryants

Christmas in Old Towne Petersburg

 

 

We all know I have a crazy mad love for Christmas/holiday trees...And then Petersburg Area Art League goes and puts 20+ trees on display in their gallery and invites the public to come see it.  UGH.  I just went from tree to tree getting ideas and making my brain hurt.  I loved them all. 

 



I want a red tree...The End!

Local businesses, organizations and groups design and decorate the trees.  I love the creativity that gets put on display.  We visited the night of the Old Towne Petersburg Tree Lighting.  Fire works, live music, trees on display...we were all feeling the LOVE. 

The Grinch That Stole Christmas

 

So at our house we have a "Grinch" instead of an Elf on the Shelf.  It just made more sense to us because of the practical jokes...and because I'm a cornball like that. 

 

 

His first morning back



 

 

He made a tree in my kitchen

 

 

Then toilet papered our tree

The little sign says "Emma did it"

He left her some fun balloons

Stayed up playing cards with his buddies

Went for a plain ride

Gift wrapped the toilet (this was really not an easy one)

Played a joke on Emma

Built us a snowman

Played guitar for us

Made a train out of shoes...the day of our train ride

Relaxed in our crock pot

Entered a sack race

Put on a ballerina costume the day we saw the Nut Cracker



Watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas

 

Reading The Night Before Christmas to his mates

 

 

He really is a rascal!  I've done one every day but haven't remembered to always snap a pic.  Emma is quick to get up now to see what Grinchy has done.  She loves to see what kind of trouble he caused.  I figure as long as she believes then I'll try to keep the magic going. 

 

P.S. Pinterest has some really ideas!

It's Feeling A Lot Like Christmas

For me the feeling of Christmas comes from the traditions that my family has taken part in over the years.  Once we start singing carols or driving around looking at lights I know it will be no time before St. Nick makes a visit at our place....oh and once I feel stressed to the MAX.

First we bake cookies...



Grinch Cookies were a hit this year.  A friend sent me the recipe...you can find it here.

We follow cookies up with Grinch Popcorn...that recipe is here.


 

And lastly we make Grinch Cake...that recipe is here.  This was a little more difficult to make but turned out great.

 

At our house we have a "Grinch" instead of an Elf on the Shelf.   I'll share some of his shenanigans with you tomorrow.

After all the baking we check out the lights.  In Richmond there is not shortage of Tacky Lights.  We've visited them in the past on a limo tour but without the kids.  This year we visited just a few to give Emma a thrill.

9604/9606 Asbury Court Richmond

9213 Holbrook Dr.  Richmond

 

Those two homes are just a couple of the places you can see in Richmond.  There are at least a dozen more that you can check out.

 

The baking and lights are fun but doesn't a train ride with Santa sound better?  Starting in Dilwyn VA, you can catch a train and travel down the tracks picking up Santa along the way.  He visits all the kids then gets dropped back off before pulling back into the station.  This was a new thing for us this year and the girls (and adults) enjoyed it.  Buckingham Branch Railroad is the name of the outfit if you are interested. 

 

 

What Christmas would be complete without a few crafts?

 

I wanted some rustic trees for the yard

And I got them :-)

Do. Not. Ask.

A reindeer in the making

Matching shirts for the girls

A board, some paint, a few nails and a hammer

Ta-da!



I have a new piece to add to my collection

Are you getting tired yet?  I am!  Time to relax with a best friend.

Millie's in Richmond for brunch

A nice relaxing fire at Saude Creek Winery

 

All this and we still had to find time for caroling at the nursing home, a Christmas Tree Lighting, Girls Scout meetings, a parade, dance classes, gift buying, working and parenting.  I. AM.  BEAT!

1. I am thankful for a husband that can go with the flow 2.  I am really grateful for my crockpot 3. Good thing I have a couple long weekends coming up! 

 

I know I'm not alone in stressing over Christmas...and don't get me wrong...I love it.  It wouldn't be Christmas without it.  Right?