The Brown Brick Road

Capturing our adventures one photo at a time...

Candy House

My very favorite Christmas tradition – the candy house! Previous candy houses here – 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

We had to fight through some sickness to get it done this year but I think we ended up with the best one yet! Do I say that every year? For sure…but it’s always true! The kids ran with it this year and I did very, very little. I finished off one side of the roof when they lost steam but that was about it.

candy house

candy house

Obviously PJs were approved and shirts were optional this year! ha!

Samantha’s side…

candy house

Maxwell’s side…

candy house

Maxwell’s other side…

candy house

and Spencer did the front!

candy house

Samantha was very proud of her work!

candy house

Best one yet!

candy house

Santa

After the Christmas parade and basketball game last weekend, we did a quick change and put on our Christmas finest to go see the big man himself! My crew was looking extra sharp…

xmas crew

There weren’t any asks for Santa this year, just taking a photo and off to run around with friends!!

santa

santa

It was a fun night at the club with plenty of friends to run around with!

xmas

xmas

xmas

xmas

santa

Christmas with these cute people is the best!

xmas

friends

xmas

They are definitely on the nice list! Merry merry!

Christmas parade

All the Christmas things, all the time!! Last weekend the kids got to be in the Christmas parade! Well, Spencer could have been in it too but he had a basketball game at the same time so he missed out. But, Samantha got to march with the Dorians and Maxwell walked with the Scouts!

dorians

dorians

dorians

dorians

dorians

The parade was short so I was still able to make it over to Spencer’s game to see him show up and show out!! His team won by a lot and Spencer played so great.

bball

Love getting to watch these kids do all the things!

Oh Christmas tree!

When we got back from Highlands on Sunday afternoon we went on up to get our tree. I’m glad we did! They were already sold out of 10 foot trees and barely had any 9 foot ones left!

tree

The guy happened to pull out a still-wrapped 9 foot one while we were standing there and I said “We’ll take it!” The shape was good and it was slim pickings so no time to hesitate!

9 foot

We got it home and in the house and then let it sit for a day to open up. We got it fully decorated Monday night!

tree

Is it the best one yet? I don’t know about that but it looks pretty good!

tree

We’re already worn out from all the Christmas fun and it’s only December 3rd!

sugar plums

sugarplums

Hope she’s got visions of sugarplums dancing in her head!

More highlands

On Friday morning I woke ready for an adventure and, boy did we find one! It was really cold – not getting out of the 30s! – so we bundled up and headed to hike Chinquapin Mountain. It was a steep hike 2 miles up and then 2 miles down. There were several times we had to cross over the creek and then lots of zig zagging back and forth near the top. My crew were absolute troopers and handled it all like champs!

hike

hike

hike

The views at the top were worth it!

hike

hike

hike

Best way to spend Black Friday!!

hike

hike

hike

hike

hike

hike

One of my favorite hikes we’ve done. Thumbs up all around and they for sure earned the burrito we went and got after!!

hike

That night Robert and I met my childhood friend, Frank, and his wife for a drink and then had dinner at Wild Thyme with Mary Beth and Holland. The kids stayed home and played Clue!

clue

Saturday we met up with Patrick and Henry to hike Satulah…

clue

clue

and had lunch, complete with milk shakes.

milkshake

That night we watched a very exciting Iron Bowl game. Roll Tide! That one was a little too exciting and we were all exhausted by the time it was over. Glad it ended up the way it did though!! We got up and headed back early Sunday. It was a wonderful break and we are so thankful for so many things, including the fact that the state trooper that pulled Robert over on the way home let him off with just a warning! Thankful indeed!!