The Houston's and Christmas 08

Since we have been back in Asheville (our home base) we have been so lucky to have found the best place in town to stay. Julie Houston and her two boys Clay and Reed let us park our 40' home in their driveway. They have shared everything with us, including communal meals, crafting sessions, late night TV video series watching, lots of Pokemon trading, skateboarding and flying around the yard on brooms. The kids created a clubhouse in her shed. We felt so blest to spend this Holiday season with Julie and her boys. Thanks again for everything Julie.

Clay, Julie and Reed

Julie and Bryce

Winston and Reed fighting like......well like starwars

I can't believe Darth Spider was in the same house as us (He was very polite)

Lincoln was so excited to go to karate with Clay



Clay and his many Pokemon


The kids making Christmas treats for others


More dipping


ok and some taste testing


Christmas Eve dinner (we went all out white trash style)


more dinner pics





Santa brought more Pokemon


Santa must have been a dentist when he was younger


Santa gifts

first Christmas in the Skoolie

Winston got more lego's

Isabelle and Conner opening presents

Lincoln loved the Spy stuff he recieved

Reed, Conner and Winston opening presents

Winston received a cool Starwars laptop Learning system

The kids eating breakfast and checking out their new gifts

here's to you Julie.... Thanks

Asheville Pizza and Brew night out

Asheville Pizza and Brew had free movie night. Bryce and our friend Julie H. who has been so awesome to let us park at her house for the last few weeks picked up free tickets. It is such a fun place to go and hang out with friends and family. It's an older movie theater that you can order pizza, food and drinks and then lounge in the full size theater and eat while watching the movie. The movies are cheap when you actually have to buy them. We watched the old funny version of Scrooge with Bill Murray. The kids had a blast with their friends and food. Bryce and I had a great time hanging out with Julie H. and our other friends Todd and T. The sad part of the night was when Julie's son Reed got sick and she had to leave early and go home with him. We'll have to try it again sometime.

Conner and his best friend Quinn

T, Todd, Isabelle, Bryce, Clay, Lincoln, Conner,Quinn and Winston

the kids in front of the funny mirrors

Isabelle dressed up for the movies

Back row: Julie H., Steve, Todd, T

Lower: Quinn, Conner, Isabelle, Winston, Clay, Lincoln and Reed

Winston ready to party!

Clay (Lincoln's best friend), Lincoln

Gingerbread houses at The Grove Park Inn

Last week we met up with some friends from the Asheville Unschooling group and went to The Grove Park Inn in Asheville to see their yearly Gingerbread contest. This was our third year going, so I guess you could call it a yearly tradition for us to do. Isabelle did a house with some girls from church two years ago and one a ribbon and last year all the kids had helped build one with other homeschoolers. We love visiting The Grove Park Inn it's very beautiful. The views are amazing of downtown Asheville from the top level of the inn.

The Grove Park Inn

Model of the inn

Amazing houses

more houses

Conner and Winston

Conner and best friend Quinn

Organic Tribe at the inn

The kids checking out the water falls

downtown Asheville

downtown

Made with gingerbread and icing

Back side of the inn

Beautiful gingerbread skills

More great houses

Quinn checking out the houses

The kids love to pick out their favorites

arn't they so cute!

Asheville Co-op Christmas party

We had a fun time with Asheville homeschool co-op. We got together and set up tables with crafts for all the kids to work on. After making crafts we all had a pot-luck lunch. The kids made some pretty cool crafts and Bryce had her own table set up for the kids to make bead candie canes and bead Christmas reefs.

Bryce helping the kids at her craft table

Winston made his own wrapping paper

Isabelle made a beautiful piece to hang in the bus

Winston made stuff to hang

Winston and Lincoln made wool sheep and wizards

Lincoln making his sheep

Isabelle making a sheep

Winston making a candie cane


Bryce helping the kids

And where is Conner you may ask your self? Well he was off playing Game boy with his best friend. Isn't that what Christmas is all about? (video games)