Thanksgiving in BM

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Despite poor Susan's miserable autumn of colon surgeries and extended hospital stays, Grandma still came through with her annual gingerbread houses!  The teacher in her has FAR more patience for this sort of thing than I do, so I am grateful.  

Due to Susan's recovery and lagging stamina, Steve and Clare graciously hosted Thanksgiving for the extended Killian Clan.  The Eberts all came, too---even Beth and Kevin's crew from Boston!---so it was a full house of 26.  Thanks be to God that Susan was happy and healthy, ready to play, eat, drink and be merry with all:-) 

 

We spent much of the weekend with Beth and Kevin and their sweet girls—Molly, Emily and Josie.  Andrew is between Molly and Emily and had spent several days with them in August when Susan took him to Boston for his 10-yr-old trip.  Those three picked right up where they left off and Margaret joined the mix like they were long lost friends...but we escaped without a picture:-(  Baby Josie was beloved by all and Matthew was thrilled to have a baby around:-)  

A cold and rainy weekend, we were regulated to inside.  Sufficient football to watch, so no problem there!  We built forts, created projects, got hot chocolate at the Harbor, and watched VT pull out their 15th straight victory over UVA despite trying as hard as they could to hand their state rival the Commonwealth Cup on a silver platter this year (it was an unusually poor year for VT and a surprisingly great season for UVA).  OSU annihilating Michigan St. (Bill and Jack were there) was icing on the cake....or gravy on the turkey:-) 

The trains at Kennilworth mall never cease to amaze, even adults.  The level of detail and engineering involved is unbelievable.   

Skiers and Sledders

The Fair and Carnival

The Grinch!

Sunday morning, we had the distinct privilege of hearing Harry Cahill's last sermon before retiring.  The Killians first met Harry decades ago at Towson Presbyterian and followed him to Babcock when he was installed as their Senior Pastor.  He walked with Susan and the boys through Dave's illness, so has been a special part of their lives since Michael was young.  It was neat to have Steve, Jim and Michael all worship with Susan on this special occasion and I was honored to be there myself.  And praise the Lord, Matthew remained patient throughout the entire service without any entertainment bags or buddies:-) 

 

No rest for the weary, we stopped by our favorite farm on the way home for our tree---a 9' frasier fir it must be!

 Life's been so full and so non-stop, there wasn't even time for the annual cranberry libations to toast the lighting of the house....soon, though.  Very soon.   

40 again, Performances, Concerts & Christmas Storytelling

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Seems like November through year-end is simply a blur each year----between performances, concerts, birthdays and sharing good will, it's endless engagements, but all for good. 

Andrew's 5th grade concert was very well done.  The most touching song was
"You Will Be Found", from the Broadway musical "Dear Evan Hansen"....

Snow Day Poem - Prelude to "There'll Be No School Tomorrow ('cause it snowed).

"There'll Be No School Tomorrow"

"I don't know where the boys went"

We visited 97-yr-old Mary Spencer and she immediately launched into the  Christmas Story---first Luke, then Matthew.  All three were on the edges of their seats the whole 10 minutes---they just seem to understand what she has to offer us all.

Does it get sweeter than Ella (Associate's daughter) and Mary Emma (Praise Team Leader's daughter) presenting the rose while Mary Emma's Mom and big sister sing, "Lo, How a Rose E're Blooming"??

What Ann does with a handful for kids is remarkable.  "What Can I Give" -  bells were never rehearsed, but you can't do it all in 10 minutes a week. 

"Away in a Manger" duet - Margaret's first piano gift to the congregation.

Good times at the end of year First Tee Banquet. 

K/1 at the remarkable Wildrock facility in western Albemarle.  

 

Our baby "Enforcer" is finally 40!  A lovely evening celebrating at the newly opened Prime 109 Steakhouse.

 With another HEN flying the Coop this summer, this is the last winter get together that will be "easy" for this remaining group to pull off.

We couldn't wait until the big day to celebrate our girl, so we snuck away just 45 minutes to indulge in the Library at Barboursville (definitely the way to taste there!), the Inn at Willow Grove's lovely accommodations, and their restaurant's decadent meal.  Not a stone left unturned there.

 Perfect fall cocktails...

 ...and a divine menu from the "sip of soup" through the scallops. 

 Nothing but love at the Market at Grelen.

 Mighty proud of her colorful braces---round 1, anyway, to accompany the expander!

Halloween & VT - BC

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Halloween then and now! 

The kids love doing an "ole grandpa, ole grandpa" impression, so suggested we be as much for Halloween---to which Andrew responded that if I was going to be an old lady I didn't need to dress up at all:-)  

Our first Halloween in Charlottesville

We couldn't carve pumpkins before our trip or that would have been suspicious timing.  So we scrambled to do them after school on the 31st before our neighborhood party.  Too bad I bothered gutting this one.  Pointless effort, but they turned out well (except that it looks like my gourds are on top---oopps).

 

 

  Grandpa looks like Spiderman did a number on him and then the vampire sucked his blood - lol!  If this is a glimpse into my future, heaven help me!  

  Grandma was too busy warming in her mink to be grumpy.  (Though it now resides with Margaret's dress-up clothes, it is a real mink from Monnig's family department store---Aunt Edith Monnig.  The little cape was the biggest fur my sweet great grandfather could afford for my great grandmother.)

Oh, Buzz!  You look so much like Matthew!

Home from Disney just long enough for Halloween and then off to Blacksburg - awesome backyard to the house---too bad the trampoline, zipline and rope swing were soaking wet:-(

Thinking about Granddaddy - Framed, the 2,000 piece Coke puzzle we never finished in our childhood. 

Born September 27, Ellery made sweet Nora a big sister!  Congrats to Mark and Diana.

WINDY!

Our own tailgating football field.

Roommates and brothers:  Mark's family, his brother Kevin's family and Kevin's roommate Brian and son....Kids ranging from 16 to 6 weeks.

"Enter Sandman"

"Living on a Prayer"

Nora adores her Daddy