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

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? 

 

 

Norfolk Botanical Gardens-A Million Bulb Walk

Now that we've stuffed ourselves silly and washed a million dishes we can turn our thoughts to all the fun and festive things that Christmas has to offer.  I try every year to make Christmas a magical experience for our kids and in the process I get caught up in the excitement and have just as much fun as they do. 

We started early this year by visiting Norfolk Botanical Garden and walking in the Million Bulb Walk. It was only offered for about a week and then just like magic...it was over.  But no need to be sad, you can still drive through the Garden and check out the lights! 

 

The walk was a mile in and then a mile back out.  There was a tram that could take you back but it was so much fun walking in we wanted to walk back out.  The cost was $12 per person unless you are a member of the Gardens.  Before getting in to the lights there were a couple places to buy hot chocolate if you happen to need a little fuel to help you along the way.  We did pass a bathroom stop about halfway through as well (in case you need to empty the hot chocolate).  Keep all of this in mind as I'm sure it will be offered again next year.  But for now you will have to make yourself content with just driving through.  To drive in it is $20 for weekdays and $25 for weekends. 

 

If you don't live in the area a few other places you can try...The Celebration of Lights in New Port News, McDonald's Holiday Lights in Virginia Beach, Dominion Gardenfest of Lights in Richmond, The Illuminate Light Show also in Richmond, Light the Tunnel at Natural Tunnel State Park in Duffield, or Celebration of Lights in Staunton. 

 

We have visited New Port News, Virginia Beach (on the boardwalk) and Richmond's Gardenfest.  I loved them all but Gardenfest at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens was my favorite. 

 

No matter what you do or where you go I hope that you do it with your family.  Making memories with them is magical.