Gingerbread Houses at Grove Park Inn

Sample of just a couple of the HUNDREDS of amazing gingerbread houses

This pic gives you an idea of how intricate the gingerbread houses were

The underground pools at Grove Park Inn (no we didn't get to see them in person)


drawing of Grove Park Inn- beautiful view from the Inn!

Many different themed Christmas trees

Arielle & Isabelle

Thought this was a cute shot of the Sloan kids

Checking out the Gingerbread houses

The cousin brigade

Boys, boys, boys...

Girls, girls, girls...

Friday we cruised over to the Grove Park Inn with Julie and her kids. What a magnificent resort! They were holding their annual Gingerbread House Competition that is free and open to the public. There were hundreds of great, creative houses on display and the Inn was decorated so beautifully with tons of Christmas trees in different themes and other displays. The view of the green Asheville mountains from the resort is gorgeous. We also walked around their underground cave a bit and explored the waterfall. An Anesthetist convention was held at this report recently and some of Jim's classmates attended it. To stay at the Inn is at least $300 a night and can be close to $1000.

Thanksgiving at "Bonky's"

The chef extraordinaire
Aunt Shirley & Nancy
Stephanie (friend of B & J's) & Joyce- Stephanie is an amazing single mom with 3 kids under 4 yrs. old. I watched her have all three kids hang on her all day- patience of a saint & such a positive outlook!

Mags & Daddy

Aunt Nancy & Negy (bummer its so blurry) Negy was cute- he wouldn't leave Aunt Nancy's side

Julie & her friend "from the road" Jolene (the family they went to Mexico with last winter)

Jim & Steve (male bonding) Love this pic 'cause Jim is actually laughing so hard he's showing teeth :)


We ventured to Asheville to Bahnson & Joyce's house for Thanksgiving. They were so nice to have about 30 of us over for the day! We had a great potluck style meal with tons of great food. A new kind of "Tofurkey", Joyce's homemade rolls and German Chocolate Pie were the highlights for me as far as the food goes. The cranberry ginger ale is good too! The gals huddled around for the later part of the day, reviewed Black Friday ads and planned our shopping strategy! Julie, Nancy & I headed out at 4:30 am Friday and got some great deals- just about finished all my Christmas shopping. Bummed that I forgot to take pics of Ann's family! Gracie & Arielle had so much fun running around together.

Bring it On

Yah, bring on the holiday weight. Picked up my Tofurkey and Silk Nog today and darn the cashier who told me I HAD to try the chocolate dipped peanut brittle. I'm blaming those pounds on him!! Later in the week we are headed to Asheville for Thanksgiving and I'm getting excited. First Tofurkey, then Black Friday shopping! (Oh, and I found a radio station that is already offically playing Christmas music, thank you 104.7)

New Moon

This poster doesn't do him justice... as to not gross out my kids, I picked a poster where Jacob's shirt was on (you know, the THOUGHT of mom thinking a shirtless man is attractive- yucko)
Me & Jaime with our Five Guys soda & popcorn in hand

Jill, Melissa, Me & Jaime

Yes I am one of "those" people. A "Twerd", a "Twi-hard" whatever you want to call it. The books were fabulous and whenever you read a good book you just have to see it portrayed on the big screen. I think I am getting better though...this year I saw New Moon at 7pm the night after it came out instead of the first midnight showing possible like I did with Twilight. Five Guys first then the movie. Great night with the gals!

Treats for Troops

Arielle in front of some of the finished boxes
Jim & Arielle read thank you letters from soldiers who received packages from the school last year

Just had to include this one 'cause of the look on Toby's face :)

The empty boxes we had to start with, so satisfying to see them get filled throughout the night

Toby & Arielle filling bags to be shipped to soldiers (no Toby's not picking his nose...he's just thinking really hard about what to send his soldier)

All the stuff being sent- snacks, gum, over the counter meds, hats, toothbrushes/ paste, other toiletry items, blank cards & stationary, pens, flashlights, batteries, thank you notes from students, etc, etc

packaging them up and putting address labels on

Nothing kicks off the Christmas season like giving some service! I'm grateful to Arielle's school for organizing this tradition. For the past month families, students and a local church donated items like toiletry items, snacks, stationery, etc, etc (see longer list under one of the pictures above). Then parents and students were invited to meet at school and package up the items to be sent to soldiers over seas. We decided to participate in this as our Family Night for this week. It was neat to be part of something like this. The boxes were quickly filled in a matter of minutes 'cause as you know- many hands make light work. I think the final count was 112 boxes filled. Hopefully that will brighten the day for some soldiers living in chaotic conditions this Christmas season. It was one small way we could say thank you for all that they do for our freedom. Amazing how when a community comes together such good can be accomplished.

Arielle's Going Far!

Arielle with finisher medal after 5k
Arielle at finish

What a wonderful & BIG event! So great to see the community get together and celebrate healthy kids :)

Arielle & me at start

Arielle and her friend Anna who is in our ward and same school class as Arielle

Arielle, Me, my friend Jill and her daughter Anna

This fall Arielle participated in the "Go Far" program

at school. The goal of the program is to promote healthy habits in kids like exercise, good nutrition, goal setting abilities, self esteem, good character, etc. It was founded in NC and is now in a few other states as well. Every Monday for 10 weeks Arielle would meet with other 4th & 5th graders and they would have a lesson then they would run/walk. Slowly they built up to being able to run 3 miles. The grand finale was a 5k for all the kids in Forsyth county school district who participated in the Go Far program. I signed up to run the 5k with Arielle. We had a GREAT time! She was the pace setter. I was just along for the ride. She was amazing! She ran the entire time except for stopping to get a drink at an aid station half way. She finished in 39 minutes, had a really good time and was so proud of herself. Arielle is really GOING FAR!

This Picture Has a Story Behind It

Christmas morning 2005 at my parents' house in Heber. If you look close you can see the snow and mountains in the background (along with a ridiculous amount of presents!) We did have all the family together (does that make it any better?!)

So now you are tagged!! Erin, Melissa C., Michelle F., and anyone else who wants to play!!

Go to the oldest picture file on your computer, post the 10th picture and give us the background :)

(and I must confess, I cheated...this was not my 10th picture, but it was in the correct file. The 10th pic was a candid shot at a Christmas party and didn't have anyone I knew in it?! Why I store all these things on my computers for years, I'll never know!)