Holidays and Family Time

Christmas at the Nobles involves many traditions. It starts at Thanksgiving, we make a lot of cookies. A trek to the tree farm to cut a tree is next. Alyssa helps Randy put lights on the tree, and she usually puts up the lights outside too. Everyone helps hang ornaments.  In December we watch holiday movies, such as Elf, Miracle on 34th Street, and It's a Wonderful Life. Trinity Methodist Church has a live nativity and we consistently make a trip to see it.  The kids all went to preschool at Trinity, we call it our Methodist church!  This year we attended a Christmas Eve service at Westminster Presbyterian Church. 

Christmas morning starts on our bed, and the reading of the birth of Christ. Well, they don't fit on our bed anymore, and we relocated to the den for this tradition.  We have some great stories of Kate's renditions of the Christmas story.  After prayer the kids open stockings, and then on to the  presents under the tree.  A few years ago we started opening gifts one at a time...youngest to oldest. That makes it last longer, and it's not just a ' free for all' of paper shredding! Later we go to Grandmommie's house (Randy's mom) for a wonderful lunch and an afternoon of hanging out...movies, games, and sometimes general craziness.

The girls started a new tradition: a gingerbread house made out of graham crackers

Boots and new sweaters!

Kate is a HUGE "One Direction" fan

Nerf wars because it's fun to get toys!

Alyssa received a calendar this year

After our first National Parks trip in 2002, I began making calendars for the grandparents.  This year I had one made for Alyssa.  It had pictures from our Colorado trip, but also included pictures of friends from home and Berry.  When we were in Florida, the kids enjoyed looking back at the old calendars.

Kate on an early calendar. She was SO cute!

Checking out the calendars.  Cousin Leslie on the left.

Passing time on the farm includes battling with sticks!

After Christmas we make the journey south to Hawthorne Florida to visit my folks. One of the best parts of visiting my parents is getting fresh fruit.  There was a freeze last year, and some of our favorite citrus, Chinese Honeys, did not bear.  We did get some Parson Brown oranges to make fresh squeezed juice.  We are spoiled!

Aaron juicing oranges

Yummy oranges

My parents are elderly (89 & 88), but are still in their own home.  They have in home care for almost 24/7, but when I'm visiting 'the help' gets time off. When I was growing up my Dad was always busy working, but there isn't much he can do anymore. He used to pick oranges and juice them.  He used to pick up pecans, crack and shell them.  He used to plant a huge garden.  The kids have great memories of working with Papa in the field, but that is in the past. The trees on the farm didn't bear any nuts this fall! To give Dad something to do, my brother bought pecans for him to crack and shell. 

Mom and Dad shelling nuts

The kids with Nannie and Papa

A big shout out to my brother, Leo and his wife Dee. They take care of all the details with my parents, and I am so grateful for all they do. I am blessed with a great family! 

Pittsburgh in December!

It's December, before Christmas and time for a fun trip....to Pittsburgh!  Who does that?  Me and Aaron!

Gloomy, rainy day in Pittsburgh

Here's how it started -  Aaron and I wanted to see  Straight No Chaser at the Ryman in Nashville, but it was the same day as his graduation.  They were not coming to Atlanta this year, so we assumed we had missed our opportunity. Then one of our favorites, Ryan, announced he was leaving the group in December to work with Young Life in his hometown of Fishers, Indiana. That made my decision, I would surprise Aaron with a trip to see our favorite a cappella group....it just happened that the best time to go was when they were in Erie Pennsylvannia.

Aaron opening the concert tickets at his party!

10 man a cappella sensation, Straight No Chaser

Warner Theater in Erie, PA

Ryan Ahlwardt at the meet & greet after the show

Used Visa points to stay at the Bayfront Sheraton in Erie, PA

On Lake Erie outside our hotel

Since we were traveling to Pennsylvania, I knew to contact Tom Carver. He hails from that area, and recommended stopping for lunch in New Wilmington, which is home to Westminster. Tom was at Westminster before coming to Berry in 1978.  We easily found the Tavern on the Square, and actually enjoyed lunch there both days! It's a beautiful old house, built in 1849, and was a part of the Underground Railroad during the Civil War.  The sticky buns come with every meal, and were delicious.  We liked them so much we got a dozen to bring home.  I gave two to the Carvers, and they were delighted!

Sticky Bun...yummy!

The Carvers have dear friends, Paul and Peggy Musser that still live in New Wilmington.  Aaron actually went to high school with their granddaughter, Morgan.  As it turns out, Paul was having lunch at the Tavern too!  It was nice to see him, as I have met him during his visits to Berry.  He turned 90 on December 26!

Dr. Musser having his Presbyterian beer - root beer!

We flew into Pittsburgh on December 19, the day of the show.  The next day we didn't fly out until late, so we had the day to enjoy. We found a chocolate shop in Erie, and bought some gifts for family and friends. Then we drove back to Pittsburgh (making the lunch stop at the Tavern).  It was cold and rainy, but we had already planned to spend the afternoon at the Heinz History Museum in downtown Pitt.  I learned the the Heinz family (think ketchup), and Rooney family (Steelers, football) are important folks in Pittsburgh!

The museum had a special exhibit while we were there -  Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame — a major exhibition focusing on the history of pro football, from its humble beginnings in 1892 to its rise as one of the world’s most beloved sports.

Aaron trying on some football pads.  

Famous defensive line of the Steelers, circa 1970's

Back to the reason we went on this trip....Straight No Chaser.  If you don't know this group, they are amazing!  You can click on the link earlier in this post to hear them, and you should!  They play smaller venues around the country, and ALWAYS have a meet and greet with the fans (called Chasers) after the concert.  Aaron and I follow the guys on Twitter, and had tweeted about being at the show.  The guys introduce themselves at each concert, and sometimes welcome a friend or family member that is in attendance.  The night we saw them, Ryan (the reason we went), gave a shout out to us from the stage - "I'm Ryan Ahlwardt from Fishers Indiana, and I want to say a special thank you to the Nobles family for coming to the show tonight".  

Lobby of the Warner Theater

Happy Graduation & Merry Christmas!