Missionary Friends
Our dear friends, Mandy and Brian, were on home assignment for a few months. It took a lot of rescheduling but DJ and I were able to spend some time with them right before they returned to the mission field in Thailand. It was so wonderful to be able to catch up with them and hear about their life in Thailand. We always hate saying goodbye when they leave but we love that we’ve been able to remain connected over the years.
Spring Break 2026
This year for Spring Break, I took each of the girls on separate overnight trips. First, I took Zoe to Charlotte for a couple of nights. We went to the Airport Overlook Park, Discovery Place, Southpark Mall, and Ikea. We ended the trip with a stop at the Bush-N-Vine on the way home for some extra yummy strawberries.
Next, I took Ava to Charleston for a couple of days. We spent time shopping and walking around Downtown Charleston. We also visited Boone Hall Plantation and made it out to the beach just in time for a beautiful sunset.
It was exhausting taking 2 trips back to back but it was a great time with each of the girls!
Book Character Day 2026
Zoe decided to dress up as Zoey from Zoey and Sassafras again this year. She looked so cute! I didn’t get a picture before she left for school but thankfully her teacher got this pic of her with her friend, Chloe.
Snow 2026
This winter was crazy for our area. First we had an ice storm and then a week later we had several inches of snow. The snow was so beautiful coming down in huge flakes. We enjoyed sledding on our road that was completely frozen over for a few days. The craziest part of the whole experience was our pool freezing solid halfway down. Zoe and I got on top of it and it was insane to be able to stand on top of the the pool. She created a little ice/snow village on top of it as well. We enjoyed the winter weather but were very glad when things finally melted and life could go back to normal (no more e-learning days).
Ice Storm 2026
My birthday weekend we had a record breaking ice storm in Greenville. Everything was covered in ice for days, which was crazy to see in our area. It was pretty and worked well for sledding…not so much for snow angels but Zoe tried. We did enjoy marshmallows and the fire in the ice. Poor Sookie had to learn how to use the bathroom in the ice and she was not a fan at all. We were just so thankful it wasn’t as bad as predicted and we did not lose power.
Gabby’s Dollhouse in Charlotte
Over Christmas break, I took each of the girls on separate day trips. Ava and I went to the German Christmas Market in Lawrenceville, GA. I didn’t take any pictures but it was really fun. Zoe and I went to Charlotte to go to the new Camp store in the Southpark Mall where they had an immersive Gabby’s Dollhouse experience. She had a great time with all the fun in the dollhouse and meeting Gabby at the end. We ended the day with a quick trip to Ikea.
Christmas 2025
We enjoyed a nice Christmas day at home with presents and our traditional Christmas brunch. We watched Christmas movies and played card games and enjoyed our time together as a family.
Family Christmas Celebrations
We enjoyed our Christmas celebrations with family this year. We spent a day with DJ’s family, a day with my family and an afternoon with my Grandmother. It was so nice to be able to spend that time with everyone.
Christmas Trees at the Hyatt
We headed downtown over Christmas break to see the annual Christmas trees. This year, not only did Zoe’s dance studio sponsor a tree but her elementary school did also.
Lessons and Carols 2025
My friend Jennifer and I were in charge of the dessert reception for the Lessons and Carols service at our church again this year. It is always so fun working together on such a special event at our church. We love putting together the food and the decorations.
Zoe’s Christmas Recital 2025
Zoe’s acro 3 class performed to the song Here Comes the Snow (Let it Snow). She did such a great job with her performance!
I didn’t buy her dance portraits this year but they got some great ones. She did agree to let me take some at our house, which is why I didn’t buy the dance ones but I wanted to document them here for memories.
Simpsonville Christmas Parade
Zoe’s dance studio has taken part in the Greenville Christmas parade for a few years now. Each year we debate on doing it but decide not to face the madness and late night. But this year, they added the Simpsonville parade because they opened a second location in Simpsonville. We decided the afternoon parade in Simpsonville was a great way to test the parade idea with Zoe. She was nervous about it but ended up having a blast, even though she was super cold.
School Dress Up Days
Zoe’s grade celebrated the 80th day of school, which is way more fun than celebrating the 100th because they got to dress up in 80s attire instead of dressing like a 100 year old person. Zoe rocked the 80s look!
Every Friday in December, the school had a dress up day. One was tacky Christmas sweater and another was PJ day. Zoe’s favorite was dress like a Christmas character day. We created a Clara costume from the Nutcracker and she looked so cute.
Disney on Ice 2025
Thanksgiving weekend Disney on Ice always comes to town. We haven’t been in a few years and decided it was time to go again. Ava decided she wasn’t into it anymore so we had a fun date out with Zoe. She loved it, as did DJ and I.
Christmas Decorating 2025
We spent the day after Thanksgiving getting our house ready for Christmas. The girls had wanted to decorate earlier but I kept telling them the pumpkins needed to stay out through Thanksgiving. They were both excited to get in the Christmas spirit but did not want their pics taken.
Thanksgiving 2026
We enjoyed Thanksgiving at our house with DJ’s side of the family. The cousins had a great time playing outside in the beautiful weather. It was a fun day spent with family.
Toby Mac in Asheville
DJ and I got to go see Toby Mac for his Heaven on My Mind concert in Asheville. It was such an incredible concert. We haven’t seen him perform live since his DC Talk days and it was so fun to see him again. He sang through the whole Heaven on My Mind album then did another set of greatest hits. We knew he put on an elaborate and fun show and he did not disappoint. Only problem now is I want to go see him every time he is anywhere near us.
Halloween 2025
Both girls had a lot of fun for Halloween this year. Zoe came up with her costume idea of a gymnastics fairy. She got to go trick-or-treating in my mom’s neighborhood again and had a great time. Ava dressed up as a pirate and went to our good friends’ house to go trick-or-treating with their daughter, Nadia. Both girls brought home a ton of candy and had fun trading in the pieces with food dye and the ones they didn’t want for money.
Fall in the Mountains
Ava had the idea recently that we should take a day and drive to the mountains. She wanted to drive all the way to the Great Smokies but we said that was a little too far for a day trip. We headed up to Asheville and hopped on the Blue Ridge Parkway instead. The colors and views were beautiful. Ava wanted to be comfy while we rode so she stayed in her pjs, which is why she didn’t hop in any of the pictures. We all enjoyed the beautiful day in the mountains!
Paris Fun Fest
Zoe and I had fun at her school fun fest this year. We met up with her bestie from kindergarten and the girls had a blast together. It’s always a crazy but fun night.
