Christmas in VA

Our first Christmas in VA wasn't in VA.  We decided to take a trip for Christmas rather than buying gifts for one another (we weren't totally lame parents...we did get the kids a few small things).  It's admittedly hard to get in the Christmas spirit when you're used to celebrations of Christ's birth with your church family and friends, but you have no church or friends.  It was just going to be the 7 of us...in a smallish house with way too many boxes still boxed up...so we took our celebration on the road. 

Kids got to experience a dinner theater for the first time...and loved it.

We're not really a country family, but this show seemed to have the most action.  We were assigned to the McGraw family - and our "family" won!  We were on the red team.

Best part of the show was when a girl came up to get Miranda and Chelsea to "help out".  Miranda was beside her self and couldn't believe it and was more excited than I've seen her - ever!  Check out that smile as she waves to her audience.  And Chelsea did a great job and looked like a natural, but when she came back up to our seats her body was shaking!  She said it was "cool and fun" but that she was SO nervous.  It took several minutes for her little body to stop shaking.  Of course they film each show and now I see how they make their $$.  We HAD to buy the DVD.  Fun, fun night!

We stayed at the Wilderness at the Smokey's for Christmas...and loved, loved, loved it.  It was pouring rain outside, but inside it was 85 degrees and sunny...no joke!  Corey says he got a suntan??  The wave pool was a favorite and the kids really enjoyed "attacking" the waves rather than riding them.  MJ held her own, too, despite being less strong than the other kids.  When a white top found her, it took her out or flipped her over, but she got back up again - and went back for more!  She was sure a good sport about it and just laughed it off - then asked for her dad to help her get back to the "fight." This wave diving thing is sure great exercise, too!  Dang, were we all tired and sore each night.

It's harder than it looks, apparently, but Jared did great body surfing.

 In fact, they all did surprisingly well.

 

Giant indoor water slides that take you outside the building and wrap you around several times, are rather run - especially when they're this big.  I've not seen one this big before...and there were 2 that held 4 people per raft.  One of them dropped you into a funnel and you found yourself up the wall a few times before it spit you out the bottom.  That was everyone's favorite.

See the smiles?  SO glad Jacob took swim lessons this past summer...he loves the water like the other kids do, and we don't have to worry about him drowning, either. 

I have always loved ropes courses, but I've not seen one like this before.  3 stories and you're attached to a track above the entire time.  SCARY, but fun!

Most people know that Jared is good at just about every sport he tries.  Well, Corey just can't compete with him...until now.  Yep, Mr. Corey made it to the top of the rock wall several times!  And was proud of it, too.  In fact, he now politely reminds Jared from time to time.  For example, "Hey, Mr. 'I can't climb a rock wall', want to play X-Box with me?"                             Way to go Corey!

The girls did pretty well, too.  Chels made it 3/4 of the way up and Miranda almost got 1/2 way.

 

Can't figure out why his photo won't rotate like the other's did...sorry!)

Did ya hear?  Corey has a new girlfriend!

And that's how we spent our Christmas...and it was nice.  We avoided the hustle and bustle of the "worldly" Christmas, took in a live nativity before we left and talked about why Christmas exists.  About the only real question the kids had about Christmas this year was "How did those people dressed as angels on the side of the church hang there for 4 hours?"  Good Question! 

Totally random picture...she is just cute when she gets out of the shower.