The Christmas Trip

The Christmas trip was wonderful. It was good to be "back East" again. We managed to get out smoothly and the trip on Christmas Eve day went amazingly well. That is one long plane trip; D and M are great travel partners--- especially considering that I don't like to be trapped in small spaces with toddlers.

I was going to do a day by day recap in words, but I think I will just group some pics and give general ideas--- the dining room ceiling is currently leaking so I am a bit distracted going to check on it. Family fun: all the sisters were in with families in tow, representing NY, TN and VA. We opened a few gifts, ate delicious meals, the kids played in the woods and went to parks and we all just had a nice time relaxing together when we weren't working on puzzles. Pics follow of various participants in the fun:

We went back to Bradington and visited; for D and me and for the kids I just have to say that true friendship is picking up where you left off without missing a beat. I experienced it this summer with friends A from KY and P from TN and Bradington was just the same. We had one long afternoon and a shorter visit to the "Far West End" and both were like going home. It was so good to see everyone and how much all the kids had grown( and the shrubs at our old house---get those people some hedge clippers). Pics of the kids playing:

On Tuesday when we had Grandma and Grandpa to ourselves we all went to Williamsburg for the day. It was a lovely day for a walk thru old town and we even ventured over to Yorktown and found a terrific beach for a walk. Highlight of the trip for E was fulfilling a lifelong dream by getting a tricorn hat. He loves them and has begged us on every trip to W-burg. Pics of W-burg and Yorktown:




New Year's Eve we hung out with Grandpa and Grandma and participated in their tradition of cooking lobsters; the kids and D went to the store to pick out the lobsters, I think they played with them after they got home. When it was time to cook them I thought for sure it would seal G's fate as a vegetarian and PETA activist, but he seemed to handle it OK. Though come to think of it he hasn't eaten much meat since we got home. Pics of New Year's Eve:

The travels back went smoothly though due to strong headwinds we added an extra 45 minutes in the air. The kids took several days to adjust back to West Coast Time. G suffered the most with M waking him up early with talking and playing in the bottom bunk. Pic of G adjusting.

It is now raining and has beensince we got home. Yesterday it rained sideways against the house the whole day so water got in somewhere and has decided to complete its journey by leaking through the dining room ceiling. The front porch ceiling is also leaking, but I think that is due to a clogged gutter. I hate water. I hope it stops raining soon.

love and hugs and send me some sun,

B