Happy New Year 2015!

 

Happy New Year from the Busy Bryant crew.  

We started our year with a hike at Pocohantas State Park.  The Virginia State Parks celebrate the new year by organizing and encouraging First Day Hikes.  This is our second year participating and it just seemed to set the tone for last year....lots of time outdoors and plenty of visits to new (to us) state parks.   I'm looking forward to doing both of those things in 2015!

Happy New Year!

Well folks we made it to a new year!  I can't believe that 2012 has already come and gone!  It was a terrific year and that just makes me even more excited to see what 2013 has in store.  There are so many things that I want to do and to accomplish.  Maybe I'll do a post on our family "wish list" as far as adventures later on this week.  I did it last year and it was nice to go back and see what we had done. 

We were low key on celebrating New Years Eve this go around.  We spent the night at my sister's house and brought in the new year surrounded by family.  Even Emma stayed up til midnight :)  We also celebrated my birthday on the same night.  I will NOT be telling how old I am.  And it's rude to ask a woman's age :-/

I hope everyone's New Year is starting off wonderfully.  If not, tomorrow is a new day to start over.  I hear that there is even one the day after that. 



Giddy Up Brother...we have a new year to rein in!



Bright Blessings! 
The Busy Bryants

Oh What a Year!

It was almost a year ago that I posted on here the adventures I wanted the Busy Bryants to go on during 2012.  If you don't remember it you can read that post here.  I remember when I wrote that post it seemed like a wish list of things I really wanted us to do but didn't think we would be able to find the time to ever get to.  I am happy to say we really did get a lot marked off that list! 

In January we spent a few days in a cozy cabin with the kids and my parents.  James River State Park is every bit as picturesque as their web site describes.  I think a return trip in the Summer to go tubing is in order.

In February we headed to Nelson County and tried our luck at snow tubing and zip lining.  Then we warmed up by hitting a few wineries on the way home.  Awesome day!



In March we visited friends in Harrisonburg and celebrated birthdays. 

In late March, early April, the races started gearing up...............lord why do we torture ourselves?



Shamrock 5K



Monument 10K

  

Muddy Buddy

In May we finally got to go on one adventure I have been eyeing for a couple years!  We went on a river boat tour of the Rappohannock River.  The fact that a winery was also on the tour was a total surprise...haha.  Ok yea I knew.  So what. 



Ingelside Winery

In June we slipped off to Orlando with my sister and my brother-in-law.

Emma started it!



I don't LIKE it!

We came home from Orlando just to pack our bags and head to Tennessee in early July.  We stayed in an absolutley amazing house with some even more amazing friends. 

We came home...recooperated just a bit and had some fun doing the biking and running thing again :)

High Bridge State Park

High Bridge State Park

Pre Color me Rad

 

Post Color me Rad

The Color Me Rad race still has to be one of my favorites!  I'm already signed up for 2013. 

In August I went on a little camping trip in Natural Tunnel State Park.  It was breath taking.  Not just because it was beautiful...but also because we had to share the camp with skunks :)



In September we visited another place I had really been wanting to check out.  Westmoreland State Park and Colonial Beach. 

Westmoreland State Park

 

Westmoreland State Park



In October we took our second trip to Manassas to watch Tommy run.  Then we hit up a pretty awesome come maze. 



Hmmmmmmmmm



November was a time to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.  We celebrated Thanksgiving and spent time with family.  We spent a weekend at Bear Creek State Park and marked that adventure off our list :)

We also ran the last race of the year for us.....The Dunkin' Donuts Munchkin Run

In December we completed the year with a great adventure/surprise birthday celebration for my mom.  We went to Virginia Beach and checked out the lights on the boardwalk!  

Whew!  As I was go back looking at all the things we did this year I feel so blessed that so many of the things we did were with our family.  At times the kids complain that they feel like we are always on the go...but when we sit down and talk about all the things we've done they just smile, laugh and then say how much they enjoyed it...But it's not nearly as much as I've enjoyed spending the time with them.

I know there were a lot of pictures for this post....and you know what....even with all the adventures I posted and pictures it's still not really a list of ALL the things we did.  It was an amazing year!  I can't wait to see what next year holds :)

Looking at the year ahead

Like a lot of people, for me, the first part of the new year brings with it a feeling of new beginnings and a spirit of "anything is possible".  I usually pull out my calendar around now and transfer all the birthdays and special events that I'm suppose to keep up with and I start looking at dates and thinking "so what can I fill this weekend with?" 



Photo from the park Website.


This year I have a few things already in mind.  We know for starters we're going to James River State Park in just a couple weeks.  That will go along with my goal to visit all of Virginia's state parks :)  It will only be for a weekend and no we will NOT be camping.  Many of the state parks also have cabin rentals!  I envision a weekend of board games, warm cozy fires and a hike or three. It will probably end up being three kids fighting, two parents arguing (that would be my parents-not Mark and myself) and me wondering why do I plan these trips?  LOL.  But it will be fun....even if I have to hose down the kids and my parents!

February I am in the works of planning a trip to go snow tubing.....Mark and I have never been but Tommy and Christy have.  This particular resort also have zip lining.  I hear tubing it is a total blast but then again the kids also think staying up until 2 a.m. is a good idea and Mountain Dew for breakfast is ok.  So again I may end up thinking why do I plan these trips :) 

March, April and May have a few things in the works.  Races in the area start to gear up so some of our time will be spent getting in some form of shape for those and then actually running them.  I used to enjoy when I could run with Tommy....but now that he is a good five or six inches taller and a whole lot faster so he leaves me in the dust!  I also think as the temperatures get warmer I'll book a couple seats on a Rappahannock River Cruise.  The cruise will take us to a winery for lunch and then bring us back to dock. 




Taken from the cruise website.

June I am looking forward to going back to southwest Virginia and spending a week camping at Natural Tunnel State Park.  I want to take the kids back to ride the Virginia Creeper Trail.  Christy and Emma went on our first adventure there but Tommy wasn't able to make it.  The park itself looks to have a lot to keep the kids busy/happy so it looks like the perfect combination of family fun and adventure. 




Our first visit to the Creeper.

July we are looking at a trip with friends to Gatlinburg, TN.  I know, I know it's not Virginia but this is a trip I can't pass on.  I mean who could resist a chalet with a river running right along side of it, a hot tub, a pool table and the company of great friends?  Not me!  Our friends have been to this place once before a couple years ago....and they tell me it's awesome....and no they don't think Mt. Dew for breakfast is ok.

August we will be at the beach for a long weekend as a family and then a weekend away in Chicoteague Virginia for just Mark and myself.  We will be celebrating our anniversary and a trip is usually our treat to each other.  Maybe a lake for the long family weekend, the Eastern Shore is also always nice....decisions decisions.

September I want another long weekend away and this time camping at Westmoreland State Park.  From here we can visit the birth place of George Washington and there are several wineries in the area to visit. 

October we will plan another Great October adventure.  I know there will be pumpkin patches, ghost tours and trick-or-treating! 

November we might find time to make it to a few of the dozens of wine festivals that start happening around the state.  And what a perfect time to start stocking up for Christmas gifts and our open house. 

December I want to go to Virginia Beach to see the Holiday Lights on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.  I know this time of year is always busy but I think it would be well worth slowing down just for a night to take a short visit. 

Photo taken from the Holiday Lights web site.

There are so many other great things I want to do this year.  Sometimes I feel like I'm going to bust with excitement when I start thinking of all the possiblities :)  One thing is for sure....no matter what the Busy Bryants are doing....we will be trying to have fun! 

So what have I missed on here....what are you guys doing or planning?  Tell me so maybe I can add it to my list, if not this year....then next year :)

Happy New Year!

Our New Year is getting off to a wonderful start with family and friends.  Mark and I rang in the New Year at Wabi Sabi, a local restaurant, with some close friends and family.  Then New Year's day we hosted an open house...more friends and more family...I was delighted!



Bill, Gail and myself.



A shot of the martini bar...yes that is a fish tank

Ringing in the New Year :)



Some yummies for the open house.



Mulled wine anyone?


Christy was my "photographer" for the open house so I'll have to down load those photos and post them this week.  Hope everyone had a great time ringing in the New Year.  We didn't make any resolutions but I did mention to Mark that I would like to travel more...haha.  The look I got said it all ;)

How about you....any resolutions?