Christmas 2015

This year we kicked things off by taking a short drive to Charlottesville (WAY easier than any drive from Kansas we ever made!).  I dropped Kevin off in the woods (technically a trailhead) to go winter hiking and camping with his college buddy and drove to Alaina's (and I would like to thank TomTom for a really adventurous suggestion as to how to get over the mountain from the trailhead-  that gravel road was loads of fun).  My mom and dad picked up the kids and hauled them back to their house, and Alaina and I preceded to have dinner out with no little people and really enjoy her annual ornament exchange party.  Stephanie was over the moon to stay with the grandparents, but I was pretty sure Gwen would stay with Alaina and I.  I am not sure if Gwen just caught her sisters enthusiasm (she literally got into the car seat in my parents car and tried to buckle herself in) or if she thought that I was coming, but, either way, Alaina buckled her in,  I loaded her stuff in the car and we sent them on their way, for their first ever overnight trip away from the parents.  Stephanie had a blast, and Gwen was apparently just perfect for them (only to keep us up nearly all night the next night we were back), and Kevin and I got some very enjoyable R&R- each in our own (and in Kevin's case, unique) way.
We stayed with my parents for several days, got to visit the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens Christmas light display, and had a Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve day with both of my sisters!  We headed up to NJ late Christmas Eve afternoon and were able to enjoy record travel times with no traffic.  We spent Christmas day at Kevin's grandmothers house with just his mom, grandma, aunt and uncle.  It was a very nice quiet day... with raspberries on her raspberry bush... this weather has been outrageous!  The next day, we got to enjoy another Christmas tradition, seeing Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat on stage in New Brunswick.  Stephanie has enjoyed the show since she was 2, so we were hopeful that Gwen would not be difficult and also enjoy the experience.  Gwen, not that surprisingly, slept through the show (despite sleeping in EVERY day of the trip), and the rest of us got to enjoy the show without interruption.  I also had a chance to see Mary's house (sadly, no actual Mary) as she lives only a few miles from Kevin's mom! 
In a mere few days, we were headed back down the coast.  We made the travels fairly easily, except for a traffic jam outside of DC (which we probably should have anticipated, except that it was midweek, 3pm, on a holiday week, so we were optimistic to have a traffic free trip- but Northern Virginia... well, you know Northern Virginia). 

Shortly before packing them up!

Jared got ahold of the silly string...

Gwen and her eating buddy

Christmas Day at Grams

Kevin and Dave had tons of legos as kids- to which we availed ourselves for hours during the visit... Stephanie built a gas station and car wash.  The gas station had a green roof with a party deck.  And a roof bon fire... at a gas station.

Santa visited NC while we were traveling.  Gwen really enjoyed ripping into the presents, and really had the hang of it by our arrival home.  This one was from Mary... Thanks Mary!  They loved them!