Here’s a recap of our 2024 vacation!
2024 Holiday Overview
I always feel a little silly writing about Christmas on New Years. Do you guys even care? But since I took all the time off to be present with the family, it’s the only way to keep my blog of 17 years and counting active! Here’s everything we did during the holidays. *Rewinding the VCR tape*
Happy birthday grandpa
Thomas’ father’s birthday is right before Christmas! We had a family night to celebrate (and then he got a new knee for his birthday/Christmas).
Thai food family dinner.
Crozet Christmas Parade
We went to a friend’s sixth birthday party in the new Ivy House Play Space in Crozet. The kids made Christmas crafts and then we watched the parade out front.
Santa Claus!
And I ran into “Buddy the Elf” (as Birch calls him), aka Seth, who was out for a run!
ACAC Events
Make a gingerbread house
My homemade picnic dinner
And a white elephant/Christmas party at Random Row!
christmas pizza
Thomas spent HOURS making two large Christmas pizzas (here’s the recipe!). A Donne family tradition. This was the best one ever!
neighborhood party
Always the highlights!
Christmas Eve
Mazen went to New Orleans with his father, so Christmas Eve and Day passed uneventfully.
The boy was curled up in his bed.
The entire house had a Minecraft and Lego theme on Christmas morning. These blocks were a great success..
Christmas Steak Dinner with Blue Apron
After dinner, Mazey came home!!
Other Holiday Highlights
Date night at Tavola
Mufasa movie afternoon
a lot of play
hot chocolate date
Reading time
I LOVE Lisa Jewell. did not love Girls in the garden. but reading after the party and loving it!
paint by number
We finished a covid era painting by numbers!
Spa day in Keswick
The first day of vacation started out VERY relaxing!
Some friends from ACAC and I went to Keswick Spa for a girls spa day. What a pleasure to go on a Saturday and not have to be home to meet the school bus! I think this is the best and most beautiful spa in Cville, and you can dedicate a whole day to it. We went to the infrared sauna, took a shower, shared a charcuterie board and really relaxed. We all have facials!
Before:
After:
Kath eats real food
Clean kitchen 🙂
Splendid Spoon Detox Kit
Splendid Spoon is my favorite pre-made smoothie company and I sometimes order them when I want to reset or as a gift for a new mom or someone having surgery. They have a new bundle that has tons of high-fiber plant-based lunches and dinners along with smoothies on sale right now. I received a sample and they are so good! Check it here.
Combined wine
Another new find (not the best time for dry January!) are these Medley Wine Bags. They are European wines (French/Italian), organic, without added sugar, pure and with a duration of 45 days. Each one has 4 bottles, ideal to have on hand for guests or to take to a party, to the beach, on a trip, etc. The white and red are AMAZING.
Our break ended with a snow day the day before the kids went back to school. NOW US!
Next week is cruise week!
We took a cruise to Disney from December 29th to January 4th. We had a wonderful trip! I have all the summaries next week.
