Oh what holiday fun!!!!

It has been awhile since my last post. We went nonstop during this holiday season, but it was oh so fun! Holiday meals, family meet ups and Christmas activities kept the Luck‘s quite busy during my favorite time of the year. Here are a few of our highlights!

Nashville

Thanksgiving, Ellie and I went to see my sister in Nashville. It was a quick 24-hour trip but it was packed with fun.

Katie hosted a mother-daughter tea party. It was so much fun to go and meet the tribe she has built around her in Nashville. My sister has such a neat home and to be with her in it while she entertained was nice to experience.

The other big thing we did was visit the Nashville Zoo. They currently have an event called Zoolumination.

The zoo brought in these very talented paper artists from China to create intricate and impressive lantern displays throughout the zoo. It had exhibits with animals, florals, examples of Chinese pottery and a fire breathing dragon, as well as the North Pole. It was amazing to see!

The Polar Express

This year has been so much fun for us. Ellie and my nephew Nash are both at an age where the magic and hope of Christmas is new to them and their understanding of it was so much fun to witness. This year we met up with my mom, bonus dad and my sister’s crew in Bryson City, NC.

It can be hard to get together during the holidays, but we do our best. My sister also has a birthday in December so we made a plan to meet up to do Christmas but also celebrate her birthday. We selected Bryson City because of the Polar Express event they have. You can ride the train and go to the North Pole, just like the movie.

The kiddos had a blast and really enjoyed the train ride. One tip though, if you have a party larger then 4, you should get there early so that you can get on board and save seats on both side of the train. We didn’t know that so we didn’t really get to sit with each other the way we had wanted.

On the way to Bryson City, we spent the day at The Biltmore House in Asheville seeing the Vanderbilt Christmas and Downton Abbey exhibit, which were both amazing. The exhibit will be there through April so if you’re a fan, make sure to check it out as it’s well worth the time.

Also as a side note: Bryson City is enjoyable year-round. We have been there many times in each of the seasons and there is so much to do. You can hike on trails and look for waterfalls, explore during the fall when the leaves change or you can go whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River or ziplining. It is one of my favorite places to visit. There are wonderful cabins to rent all around town that are perfect for a getaway weekend.

Relaxing with Papa and Gigi

Right before Christmas we drove over to Fair Play, SC to meet up with my dad, bonus mom and my brother and sister. They had rented a cabin that overlooked Lake Hartwell. It was gorgeous. It was nice to get away and relax for a night with them.

Abbie and Ellie loved being there and spending time with family. Abbie did a science experiment with Jamie (my brother, River’s girlfriend). The girls also helped Gigi make gingerbread cookies and had fun decorating them. We played games and watched Rogue One. We also able to exchange gifts and I am in so in love with a new monogram initial L sign we received for our home made by a local SC artist where they live.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Abbie and I went to see a play with one of her best friends from school and her mom. I had never heard of The Best Christ Pageant Ever, but it is based off of a children’s book. It was such a cute play and was performed at the Children’s Theater. It tells the story of two siblings that the town didn’t like and their desire to star in the church Christmas pageant. It had a great message woven in while telling the story of Christ’s birth.

Abbie loved it and it may have to be a yearly thing for us. I love that she is developing a love for the arts. If you are wanting to introduce your kids to the arts or if you are on the fence on whether they can do a play, the Children’s Theater is a great place to start. Our tickets were moderately priced and it wasn’t that long. Plus they do have a parents observation room if they get a little loud and rowdy.

The Thanksgiving and Christmas Ham

This year we tried out a new recipe for our holiday ham. It was a recipe that had been floating around Facebook and we wanted to try it. Instead of cooking our ham in an oven and using a glaze, this recipe has you cook it in a crock pot with brown sugar and pineapple chunks. It left the ham juicy and tender. It was a refreshing new take on our holiday staple and one that we will definitely do again. See the recipe here if you want to try it yourself.

It was a great holiday! Stay tuned for a full recap of my birthday New Years trip to New Orleans soon.