YMA Christmas Concert!!

We were high-tailing it from the Maryland family gathering to get to the kids show...meanwhile I found out what Joshua was doing in between shows...😂😎

We made it with like five whole minutes to spare...whew!!!

Let the music begin!!

We could not see Natalie at all from where our friends saved us seats 😬😭

We were sad that we couldn't see our awesome violinist, but we had a great view of the Bassist... 

He rocked it!!

The choir sang beautifully and Natalie shined with her lovely smile!

 

We were so proud of our girlie as she sang a SOLO this year!!

It was AWESOME!!

💕💖💕

😇😇😇

Andrew might have put on his blinking light hat during the show...😂🎄

The show was very festive this year with brass and percussion!!

 

Joshua got to give a speech as VP of YMA, thanking their conductor:

So proud of him!

A show well done!!!

Long story...😂

We are so incredibly blessed by these hard working, talented, AMAZING young people!!

🎵🎼🎹🎶🎻🎵🎼🎹🎶🎻🎵🎼🎹🎶🎻🎵🎼🎹🎶🎻🎵🎼🎹🎶🎻

Hughes Family Christmas gathering!!

 One of the BEST gifts of this season was a Christmas gathering with my extended family!  

 

It was SO DELIGHTFUL and I am so grateful to my cousin and aunt for organizing it!  

We got up bright and early after the adult only party and headed out to join family from up and down the east coast that had come together.  It was so very, very special!!  

 

(I was super sad the teens had to go on to their performance...but don't worry, this day is not over...we'll catch up with them later!) 

 

Do you like the barfy faces in the back seat? Poor boys. Lots of winding roads to get there... 

One of my cousins and his lovely wife hosted in their GORGEOUS historic home...we felt like we were in a grand old hotel!!

 

We got to see our newest cousins/nieces and it was so special!! 

The boys were so cute with the baby girlies!! 

I got to meet my newest niece...so PRECIOUS!!! 

 

We haven't done Christmas together in a zillion years, so this was so incredibly special to have everyone together!

💖💖 There was delicious food and much laughter all around 💖💖

💞💞 I love my family so much!! So fun to be together! FULL heart!! 💞💞

So many new babies and happy grandparents and great grandparents!!

Steve was whooping it up with all the babies!😂

Getting some pro-tips from my cousin on being a grandpa!!

 

Lots of YUMMM!

The boys were loving seeing Uncle Bread!! 🍞💖

 

And then came all the birthday celebrating...🎉🎉🎉 

 

The original FIVE👇! My dad and his awesome siblings!

  

💖So thankful for my family!💖 

Sadly we were missing some, but it was such a special and wonderful day!! 

💖💖💖💖💖💖

At the very end, my aunt gave James my Uncle's autobiography - a great story of God's redemptive work across the globe -  and my little sentimental guy was so touched...he had to get a special picture with the author!!  What a blessing!

 

 

Stay tuned...we are not done with this day!!

The fancy (adults-only?!) Christmas party!!

Woohoo!!  We were so grown up and went to a fancy dinner party, sans kiddos! 

We donned our festive attire...SO fun! 

It was so beautiful...

Serious grown-up party!! So fancy! 

The company was THE BEST!! 

We did a little carol singing before the meal...

There were great toasts! Steaks! Wine! Fabulous company! 

Such good conversation...

And did I mention the fab food!? 

Everyone CLEARED their plates...deeelish!!

What a wonderful (grown up!) night!!

DC Tour Day: Museum of the Bible Performance!!

Mom and THE CUTIES loaded up the teens and then some and headed to DC!!!  Super exciting!!

We were so proud to see our people performing in this amazing venue!! 

😂  Star of the show?!  😂

👇No way...she was our star too😂

 

 

Natalie had her first solo this year...she sang it beautifully!! 

It was an awesome performance!! 

Such fun to see so many friends in DC!!  

😍😍😍😍

 

Can you find the Elves?! 

We dined in the fancy Museum Cafe...

 

Teen table! So cute! 

James and I were hot to try the virtual rollercoaster....it was SO FUN to FLY OVER DC!!! 

We had a fantastic afternoon exploring the museum...

 

 We got to walk through Bethlehem...so neat! 

My lil' kings!!

We caught up with the teens (sorta 😂) and headed out of the city...

🎄We whooped it up for the White House and the National Christmas Tree!!🎄

 

 

The teens went on to CFA and then their second concert, while mom+lil men headed home!! 

FANTASTIC FABULOUS DAY!!! 

SO PROUD OF THESE AMAZING MUSICIANS!!!