The kids and I are already working on making Christmas presents for everyone in the family. It’s great fun, choosing colors and patterns and deciding what would fit whose personality the best! And it’s fantastic bonding time for all of us.

In between Christmas projects, we’ve also embarked on our own family’s little community service project. Since four of our five children spent time in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) after they were born, we’ve decided to give back. So we are crocheting up a ton (well, slight exaggeration) of little, teeny preemie hats to donate to the NICU here in Asheville at Mission Hospital. And we’re having a blast doing that, too. Doesn’t take long for each hat and it’s for a very good cause. If you are interested in patterns, please let me know and I’ll send some along!

I think it’s important to share the wonderful things our community neighbors give to us all! My husband, daughter, youngest son and I finally got to have lunch at the Sugar Beet Cafe & Deli here in Fairview the other day. OMG! It was amazing. My hat is off to them. They are only open Wednesday-Saturday for breakfast and lunch, so plan ahead, but you must go. My husband had their pulled barbecue sandwich, Meghan had the huevos platter, and I had their eggs benedict special of the day (Frankie had scrambled eggs & biscuit). Everything was so delicious. We will definitely be going again. I’m addicted!

You can find them at 1185 Charlotte Hwy in Fairview.

Spent the afternoon at the swimming pool with the kids. Clouded over later in the afternoon, but not too bad. Then we decided to go out to dinner so we all piled in the van and went to Wild Wings Cafe downtown. We were pleasantly surprised that an evening of bluegrass music and clogging was on tap. I love to watch those kids clog. The music and the dancing reminded me again of one of the reasons we love these mountains!