2024 Ornaments...

This year was hard to narrow down ornaments for the girls... so there are a few extras than usual.  That's okay. It only adds to the fun.  Here are 2024's Christmas Ornaments...

Quinn

Graduation

Pretty self explanatory... It was a big and important year for Quinn as she graduated from high school.  Of course we needed an ornament to celebrate the milestone.  

NC State 

Another self explanatory ornament - as Quinn is now an official member of the Wolfpack at NC State.  This helmet golf cart is what the mascots, Mr. and Mrs. Wuf, ride in on at the football games each Saturday.  Funny side note - the first football game of the season that I went to with Quinn, we witnessed Mrs. Wuf fall out of the helmet cart and biff it hard on the field.  She recovered well though, as most mascots do! 

Pickleball

Quinn has taken a liking to playing pickleball this year.  She and her friends play quite a bit at school.  

Sullivan

Cheer

It seems fitting to memorialize Sullivan's time on the cheer team this year with an ornament.  She has, and continues to be, very involved in the cheer team and is loving every minute of it.  

French Fries

Let me tell you... Sullivan could eat her some french fries.  It isn't uncommon for her to ask randomly, "Can we stop somewhere and get some fries?"  She is pretty choosey about the fries though and she has all the "good" places scouted out.  She just may turn into a french fry some day. 

Gracie Bow

Sullivan was able to go to a concert this fall in Atlanta with her friend and see one of her favorite artists, Gracie Abrams, perform.  Gracie is known for her bows and wearing them at her concerts.  So this ornament signifies the concert she attended (plus it also doesn't hurt that we often call Sullivan 'Gracie' and Sullivan loves her a bow too!).

Quinn and Sullivan

Dancing with the Stars

Quinn and Sullivan really took a liking to Dancing with the Stars this season.  They haven't always paid attention to the show, but for whatever reason, they both were into it this year.  While they weren't able to watch it together because Q was off at college, they often connected and discussed the week's show over texts.  

Family

Puerto Rico

We were able to go to Puerto Rico this spring for vacation.  The buildings and doors in Old San Juan were some of the most colorful, vibrant colors you have seen.  They were so neat to see, and this ornament depicts one of those beautiful buildings!

Picture Ornaments

A Just Because Ornament 

I saw this at a Christmas craft fair this season and it instantly took me back to when the girls were little.  Nana had one of these at her house for Quinn and Sullivan to play with, and I am almost certain we had one at my house growing up when I was little.  It was just a walk down memory lane and I couldn't resist buying it for the tree!  

And there you have it.  The 2024 edition of our Christmas ornaments.  It's a tradition that I absolutely love and look forward to doing each year.  I am excited to see what 2025 will have in store for all of us!

An Eighth Done...

This girl...let me tell you.  

Not only did she just finish up her first semester of her freshman year, but she did it with flying colors.  She fretted over tests and essays and assignments throughout the semester, but she put in the work and the grit.  Her perseverance paid off with an A+ in every class, except one (and that one was still an A).  Not too shabby for her first foray at college.  Quinn is one eighth of the way done with her undergraduate degree.  Way to go, Q!  We are so proud of you.

States...

 Sullivan's cheer team competed at States this weekend....

To preface their performance and the results of States, Sullivan's cheer team ran their first full out the day before states.  That means that they had practiced all the parts individually, but the day before competition was the first time they ran through the entire performance from start to finish. 

They cheered their absolute hearts out... and left it all out on the mat.

They had only one minor flub throughout the entire routine and came home with a trophy!  They got 3rd place!!!!!  They were beyond thrilled, their coach was beyond thrilled, and we were all beyond thrilled at all the hard work they put into the routine and into their cheer season.

Celebrating after the performance...

The team with their hardware...

Perhaps we are a bit biased, but the bestest cheerleader holding the trophy. 

We are so proud of Sullivan for her hard work.  It was so fun to watch her doing something she loves!

Thanksgiving....

While we weren't able to be with all of our family this Thanksgiving, we were lucky enough to have Nana and Papa come visit us in North Carolina.  The time was spent well - with lots of laughter, conversation, and good food.  

We managed to have a very delicious Thanksgiving meal...

We also ventured out to a Christmas craft fair one afternoon, to the park for a short stroll on the beautiful nature trails, and also took in a movie (Moana 2) together...

It was exactly what we needed - a relaxing, restful weekend surrounded by some of the best company.  To thankful that they were able to make the trek this way to spend Thanksgiving with us.