Opening the Advent Calendars 2019

In addition to our homemade activity calendar and our traditional "Muppets Gift of the Magi" storybook calendar, this year we added (in lieu of a chocolate one) a Harry Potter Yule Ball advent calendar, with Funko pops in each slot. The kids were pretty happy with this:

Christmas Town 2019

Kevin got a notion in his head about really wanted to go back to Busch Garden's Christmas event this year (we last went in 2015), so on Black Friday we loaded up and drove to Williamsburg. It was chilly and the lines were long, but the grounds were beautiful and we had a good time:

They have injured bald eagles that can't be released to the wild

Also grey wolves

We got to see "Scrooge No More" in the Globe Theatre, which was one of the shows we missed last time around

Thanksgiving 2019

Properly attired to watch the parade

Making Thankful 4s

Abby and Ruth

Benji and Kevin

Ready for dinner

post-dinner Celebrity game (charades)

Thanksgiving Eve 2019

Per tradition, we had a fire and a local cheese plate and it was wonderful:

Turkey Hands 2019

Our traditional day-before-Thanksgiving craft:

Grandpa Steve's - fingered creation

Kevin

Ruth

Abby

Benji

Noah Wilkes' Bar Mitzvah

The first morning Grandpa Steve was here, we deserted him to attend the bar mitzvah celebration for a friend's son. Benji opted to stay home to hang out with Grandpa, but the rest of us had fun dancing and playing in the photo booth:

Abby, playing Coke and Pepsi with Ana Burman

Photo booth shots:

Grandpa Steve's Visit 2019

We had a busy Thanksgiving week (more pictures to follow), but the highlight was that Grandpa Steve was here for a whole week. Benji soaked up his presence and every time we turned around they were snuggled up someplace talking: