Christmas Season Going Strong!

Tony returned on Friday from a week at the German Christmas markets, and we decided to keep the holiday spirit high by visiting the LightUp Fest at One Loudoun on Saturday night. It was really cold so about an hour and a half was all we could handle, but it was plenty of time to walk around as well as catch the acrobatic show -- which was our favorite part.

Simone was astonished by the feats of flexibility and strength.

And we ended the evening by trying out the new Slapfish restaurant.  A great place to get warm and fuel up!  Their lobster taquitos were amazing!!

Grilled fish taco wasn't too shabby either ...mmmmmm.

 We hope everyone is taking time this season to relax, have fun, and share the holiday with family and friends.  It's what makes this time of year so special!

Tree hunting!

Our holiday season is moving right along, and today we went for our live Christmas tree.  We were so happy to return to Snicker's Gap Farm with our dear friends who are back in VA this year!! We had planned to go yesterday but got rained out.  Today was still very wet, soggy, and foggy, but we braved it anyway for the sake of Christmas.

First, fueling up with some hot cider.

Then the climb up the hill--which today resembled more of a  mudslide.  But nothing worth doing is ever easy, right?

Visibility was a little limited -- still a good bit of late morning fog.

Surveying the blue spruce kingdom.

We were getting a bit discouraged, but then FINALLY found the winner.

On the way home we treated ourselves for a job well done with brunch at the Leesburg Wine Kitchen.  We opted for hot coffee over wine, but brunch was great!

Fingers crossed, we finish up all of our decorating this week.  We've made a good start!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year was an atypical Thanksgiving in the Dotson house.  For the first time ever we did not travel, host, or feast at home.  With just the three of us, we switched up our traditions a bit, but still had a relaxing, delicious, memorable, and blessed Thanksgiving.

Kicked off the holiday with a light soup dinner at home on Wednesday night to conserve  for the Thursday eat-a-thon.

We started our Thanksgiving day bright and early with an 8am community Turkey Trot.  I must admit, the idea sounded a lot better BEFORE we learned that the high temperature for the day would be 30 degrees.  But we bundled up and the sun helped a lot.  It was a great way to feel a part of the community and to help support a wonderful cause -- helping women fight breast cancer.

These guys were nuts--and had to be frozen solid.  Oh, the frivolity of youth! LOL!

Nothing like a good trot through the polar vortex to get the system going!  But it helped us feel a bit less guilty for the AMAZING meal that followed.  We splurged on one of our favorite restaurants, which was an awesome, gourmet--but all locally and organically grown-- Thanksgiving feast.

A completely WOW menu.  Everything was SUPERB -- still dreaming about it!  

Mulled wine was a warm, festive treat for dad.

 Some of the culinary delights...

Turkey and stuffing was truly the piece de resistance.  All of the  entrees were beyond excellent, but the turkey was simply incredible.  Even Simone LOVED it, and turkey is among her least favorite of all meals.  Normally we have to coax her to eat a small, token piece of the great bird.  This year, we had to wrestle it away from her.

 Corn bread, carrots, trout, white sweet potatoes, spinach, and even a bit of pork shoulder.  A traditional thanksgiving meal with a few exciting twists.

We left the restaurant happy and full, and Simone was so impressed she nominated it for a Michelin star (at least in her book)and we agreed!  And now.... the most wonderful time of the year...

Surprise, Grand Dad!

Last weekend we took a road trip to Warren, Ohio to surprise Grand Dad for his 80th birthday!!  We drove as far as Pittsburgh on Friday night where we made a quick stop at Pitt to see mommy's old college stomping grounds.  It was really nice to see Pittsburgh again after all these years.  There were certainly some changes and new things, but it was great to see that much had also remained the same old familiar University of Pittsburgh!

While on campus we stopped to buy a sweatshirt at the same outdoor kiosk that sold me my first Pitt sweatshirt over 25 years ago.  I was stunned to find the same owner, who graciously posed for a picture.

Cathedral of Learning still standing strong.

William Pitt Student Union

We headed over to Squirrel Hill for breakfast on Saturday morning and just had to stop at Eat n Park for a box of cookies.  Still yummy!!

Simone snapping a shot of our cookie stop.

After a stop at the bookstore and breakfast at Pamela's, we headed to Warren for the party.

Grand dad was totally shocked and completely overwhelmed.  It was such a joy and blessing to celebrate this milestone with the entire family!

And finally, on Sunday, we all headed to Cleveland where dad and grand dad saw the Browns game.  Mom and Simone opted for Les Miserables at the Playhouse Square theater.  We all had a wonderful time before we hit the road back to Virginia.

Now to gear up for the holidays ahead.  Our favorite time of the year!