White Christmas

 

This year, as usual, we packed up and headed in the car to family for Christmas. This is no easy feat with three kiddos, but armed with snacks and movies, we started out. After an unfortunate event where we started out in the wrong direction on the interstate and then forgot our beloved elf "Ingle" (pictured below) causing us to swing back home to get him, we finally made it out of Little Rock. Two days later, we rolled into the driveway of Jeremy's parents home in Pennsylvania, and we were so excited to be there! Although it rained on us just about the whole way there, there was the promise of snow in the forecast. Some of you know, although many of you do not, that I have never had a white Christmas. I was super excited about the promise of that! And I was super excited for the kids that they would have their first white Christmas slightly (and when I say slightly, I mean a whole lot) earlier in life than me.

Our first adventure was a stop to the mall to visit Santa and ride on the train! I had been wanting to take the kids to see Santa for a while, and even had planned to go to a breakfast at the local children's hospital with the kids for games and to sit on Santa's lap, but the ice storm that hit in early December halted our plans. I was glad we waited, though, because it truly took Jeremy, Grandma, and I to get them this close to good ol' Saint Nick. The train was an added bonus and was fun for all three of them.

 

 

 

 

Jeremy's parents house is one of the most inviting, unique homes I've ever had the pleasure to visit. Built out of wood from a barn that belonged to a member of the family, set on a beautiful hill surrounded by an old farm road, acres of farm land, and an orchard, and furnished with antiques, it's tons of fun to visit. The kid's particularly liked the trains that went around their Christmas tree!

Here is the gorgeous farm road all covered in snow!

Other activities we did during the week included building a gingerbread house (it was more like eat the candy while making said gingerbread house)! And of course, opening up presents. They loved the pajamas they got to open on Christmas eve, but I think they loved drinking hot chocolate and watching the Polar Express more!

 

 

Christmas morning was filled with opening gifts from Santa and family. I'm not sure Caleb knew what to make of the whole process, but Kirsten and Joshua sure got into it!

 

 

 

 

We had a wonderful time visiting Jeremy's side of the family for Christmas. And as the farm road photo suggests, we indeed got the white Christmas I had been dreaming of! Can't wait to visit Pennsylvania again soon. We always have so much fun when we go!