Snowflake Stampede 2018 Edition...

It was time once again for one of our favorite family traditions - the Snowflake Stampede at Bull Run! The official kick-off to the holiday season and a weekend we look forward to all year long. The weather was great - cold, but not too cold - which allowed us a lot of outdoors time to enjoy our decorations and of course, the Festival of Lights!

Uncle Mark joined us this year - he stayed in one of the cabins and got to enjoy lots of campfire time and he participated in the Snowflake Stampede as well! We were all decked out in our Santa hats with jingle bell necklaces and Christmas tunes playing. There really is nothing better to start the most wonderful time of the year! Harper is already talking about how he will get to do the walk on his own next year - big boy!

Josh Groban...

Thanks to Kathleen celebrating 20 (!!!!) years at her company we got the opportunity to see Josh Groban in concert .... for the 5th time! Her company has a suite at the arena and thanks to mid-November snow storm most of the people who were going to be in the suite that night canceled so it went from being just Kathleen and me getting to go to Grandma, Olivia & Adam getting to attend as well! 

I worry that Adam is getting a very false sense of what concert going normally is after our ridiculous last minute Imagine Dragon seats (remember this) and to now getting to experience a concert from a suite that was stocked with unlimited food and beverages! I still can't believe my first suite experience was also Adam's - one of these days this kid will be sitting in the nose bleeds! 

The concert was so good and we were lucky to have Idina Menzel opening up for Josh - this was the 3rd time Kathleen and I have seen Idina - she's such a great entertainer. 

Josh of course was spectacular and the kids really enjoyed getting to hear him sing live. Adam listened to his music for days after - and still enjoys hearing him when I play his music in the car. 

Awesome experience and Kathleen and I can't wait to see Josh for a 6th time this summer at Wolf Trap - of course we'll have to BYOB for that one ;) 

Back to Orlando...

I had a second conference to attend in Orlando last fall so within four weeks I was down in the land of Mickey Mouse once again - and all alone - I promise I did feel guilty not being able to have the family join in. Especially since they had already set everything up for Christmas! Now I didn't go to any of the parks, but my hotel was walking distance to Disney Springs (what used to be Downtown Disney) so I did have the opportunity to walk around and was happily greeted by a "Christmas Tree Trail." I imagine my heaven will also have a Christmas Tree Trail...

The conference itself was really successful and in fact it was the first time I presented at an industry event. I was definitely a bit nervous but I pulled it off and actually got a lot of great questions at the end and I some business for our company as well - so that's all you can really hope for!

We sprinkled in some fun as well including a visit to the crazy high flying swings. Always a thrill and fun ending to another successful conference week.

A day at the zoo...

One crisp and beautiful day last fall I took the boys to the zoo and it was a day to remember. The animals were all in full on "show off" mode and we were loving every second of it. The last time Harper was at the zoo he was just a baby but Adam and I knew what a real treat it was to see so much activity out of the animals - who oftentimes are just snoozing the day away. The lions were walking around (actually when one of them stood up Harper nearly had a heart attack, screamed bloody murder, and tried to run away - oops), the orangutans were putting on a show, the elephants got to eat some bamboo while the zoo keeper gave a talk about them, and the sea lions were swimming and diving, rinse and repeat. 

Of course if you ask the kids what their favorite part was they'd tell you it was when we got to the copper head snake exhibit - I too nearly had a heart attack, wanted to scream blood murder and tried to run away. Gee thanks kiddos!