Documented: November 2013 Family Vacation

Christmas Part 2: Blue Skies and Sunshine

And our Christmas continued.

Last year (as in 2012, since it might be confusing because I'm writing this so very late), we decided to try to get time off to go to Florida for Christmas in 2013.  We hadn't seen Brian's family during the holidays since 2005 I think.

We stopped traveling on Christmas for two reasons.

One...we wanted to begin our own traditions with the boys in our own house.

Two....honestly, it is just so so so difficult to travel so far with small children - especially during the holidays.

So we made a decision when we moved to St. Louis to be at home on Christmas, and we have never regretted that.  So nice to sit in your jammies all day and not have any obligations - just enjoying the day.

However, like I said, we had not seen our family in Florida over the holidays in 8 years I think.

And because we asked so early (a whole year ahead of time) for the time off, it was granted and we were able to go.

We decided to break our tradition and travel.

I will admit that it was stressful with a capital S to get ready for the trip during the most stressful time of the year.

Part of me wanted to say forget it and plan to see them in the spring or fall when we usually do.

The other part really wanted to spend the Christmas week with them and let the boys experience their traditions since they were too young to really remember being there at Christmas before.

That's the part that won out in the end.

And it was the best Christmas week I've had in a long time.

We went with Beth and Rick and Rick's sister, Evelyn, and niece, Lisa, to the Grand Floridian to see the Christmas decorations out there.  The life sized gingerbread house is always one of my favorites and it did not disappoint this year either.

A nice man even took a group picture of us in front of the huge...I mean HUGE...tree in the Grand Floridian's lobby.

I should say that we also ventured over to The Contemporary and The Polynesian that night, but the decorations there were....ummmm.... less impressive.  I would say those two stops were a waste of time, but we laughed so hard so many times that I wouldn't have missed it!

Christmas morning.

Ethan found a new bat under the tree.

Elliott found a laptop that he had been begging for.

Can you tell who the dramatic one is?

Beth and Rick gave Nana and PaPa a new rocking chair for the porch.

It even has the Army symbol on it - PaPa's branch of service.

Making apple salad for the feast to come later that afternoon, and discussing the preparations for the gathering Beth hosted the night before.

Brian and the boys and I took off one night out to The Boardwalk to get some dinner and just enjoy.

I love that all things Disney are so close to his parents' house because we always feel like we are on vacation as soon as we set foot on Disney property.

This was the lobby at The Boardwalk.  Such beautiful decorations.

The boys talked us into renting this surrey to ride around the Boardwalk.  It was all fun and games until we had to ride it uphill.  Maybe next time a few of us will get out and run beside the thing.  Good grief that was a workout!  Thankfully, the second time around the loop, a man saw us struggling up the hill and pushed us.  Ahhh....that was better.  Thank you kind man!

In front of the Dolphin.

The walkway was line with palm trees covered in lights that danced to music.

So fun.

The chocolate display at The Swan.

All of this is made of chocolate - unbelievable talent!

Apparently, someone tried to eat some of it last year.

I love chocolate, but not that much....yuck!

The Dolphin again.

The tree inside the Dolphin was so pretty.

There was even snow that fell every so often that the kids loved.

(well, my kids weren't so impressed since they see the real thing so much, but the other kids were enjoying it)

And a stop at Beaches and Cream.

The boys want to get The Kitchen Sink next time.

Google it and see why that won't be happening.

Love this picture.

Definitely not a great photograph judging by technical aspects, but I love their faces.  

Totally captured each of their personalities.

The week was over too early.

One more pose with Beth and Rick.

I'm pretty sure the boys would move in with them.

And one more with Nana and PaPa.

Loved getting to spend so much time with them and celebrate Christmas together.

Hopefully we will get to do it again soon!

Over the River and Through the Woods.....

We celebrated Christmas at my parents' house early this year so that we could all be together before the four of us went to Florida over the Christmas break.

Santa hats are a must at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

We all drew names this year for the gift exchange, and Ethan ended up with Ben's.  At Thanksgiving Ben kept talking about the Christmas tree at his house - he loved it and wanted to hug it.  So cute!  He  said he wanted his own Christmas tree that he could hug and put a blanket around the bottom.  Charlie Brown, perhaps?  

So Ethan set off on a mission to find one for him and find one he did.

Ben carried the box with the tree in it all around the house the day we opened gifts.  Erin was smart to not let him open the box until they got home.  He was just so funny with it!

Something like 14 inches of snow had fallen at my parents' before we got there.  It had melted quite a bit, but there was still enough to build a snowman and take a ride on the sled.

And even Santa showed up!

Gideon was willing to sit on his lap, but was definitely keeping an eye on the jolly ole guy.

Very fun Christmas with family.

cisne reunion

The boys look forward to this every year.

So do I, but for different reasons.

They enjoy the bounce houses, Bingo and the other games.

I enjoy seeing people that I rarely get to see, and I

also enjoy the pork burgers very much!

I can't find them anywhere around here, so I wait all year to

have one at the firefighters' stand on the square.

playing Bingo.

Ethan actually won some money one night.

So did Grandma.

After this watermelon eating contest, Elliott tells me that he doesn't even like watermelon.  He just

wanted to be in the contest.

He's way more competitve than I am.

Ethan's baseball arm came in handy for the dunking booth.

I think this was the first funnel cake that any of the boys had tasted.

Erin and I were craving one.

We got two for everyone to share and I don't believe they lasted more than a few minutes.

The best was that Ben kept picking his piece right out of the middle of the cake.

Smart boy.....that's where all the good stuff is!

Finally a pork burger for lunch!

Or a corn dog if you're Eli and cheeseburgers if you're Elliott and Ethan.

Someday they will discover what they've been missing.

Did you like the chocolate ice cream cone Eli?

So, this picture has Brian fired up.

Rob and Amber take their first ever stab at the 

back seat driver contest and come home with a first place trophy.

I'm very proud of them.

Brian says it's on for next year.

Almost all of us tried the back seat driver challenge.

I'm pretty sure Ethan will not choose me as his driver next year.

As we FINALLY got to the end of the course, he told me to turn right.

I asked if it should be a hard right or just a little bit of a turn.

His response was that he didn't care.

Okay then.

Ready to watch the parade.

Taking a little lemon shake-up and funnel cake rest.

Those are very necessary, you know.

labor day

This Labor Day weekend was bittersweet for us.

Brian's uncle passed away, and we all attended the memorial

service for him on Saturday.

It was a very nice service in which his boys both spoke of

his influence on them and how much they respected and loved him.

What a legacy to leave.

I didn't know him all that well but hear stories all the time.

I know he will be greatly missed.

Because of Uncle Bill's illness, Brian's parents came into town

unexpectedly so we got to spend some time with them here,

and we were excited about that.

Oddly I have no pictures of them.  I'll remedy that next time.

But they came out to my parents' house for a barbecue with 

the rest of my family.  And time at Grandma and Grandpa's

usually looks something like this....

riding the Gator

riding the golf cart 

(Ethan's driving was pretty scary)

and just hanging out with the boys.

We all went to the Hot Biscuit for lunch on Sunday

(or dinner, depending on how you grew up or what kind of food is served)

I love their fried chicken, so this is always a treat for me.

While we were there, Sonny introduced himself to Rob and told him to let him know 

if he wanted to know the real scoop about Amber.

Rob called his bluff and actually pulled a chair up to Sonny's table and said

he was ready to hear it.

Of course there's no "real" scoop cause Amber is as sweet as can be, but it was really funny.

Possibly one of those "you had to be there" funny stories.

We went home after lunch, because Brian had to work on Labor Day.

I don't even remember what we did on the actual holiday.

Maybe we slept.  It had been a long week.

weekend stories

Turning 4 is a big deal,

so we headed over to Illinois 

this weekend to 

celebrate with Eli!

It was a Curious George party - love Curious George!

His antics remind me very much of the antics at our house.

Nobody means to cause trouble,

they are just curious little monkeys.

While we were over there, the boys had to ride the

golf cart, of course.

And Rob was a good sport and put up with

their driving!

 Eli's other grandma brought a couple of beautiful 

horses with her to the party.

They were hanging out in the yard most of the day 

trying to stay cool.

Eli wasn't too fond of the Earl (the darker horse),

but he seemed to like this one.

 Isn't she pretty?

I can't remember her name, but

I remember thinking it was the perfect

name for a horse.

And she must be southern, because I

also remember that it was a double name 

(like Anna Beth, Mary Ann, etc.)

The mercury rose to 109 at the party Saturday.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

The only thing to do was play in the water, right?

Happy Birthday Eli!!!