Christmas

We usually split Christmas day with my parents in the morning and Kevin's parents in the afternoon. Because we do this, it is easier to stay the night at my parents house on Christmas Eve. The babies actually woke up at 8 instead of their normal time of 9. It was like they knew Santa had came! Once everyone was awake and moving around, we started to open presents. We started with the babies presents first, then went onto our presents. They weren't too sure of the concept of opening presents yet. Once they opened a gift and saw what it was, they wanted to play with that toy and not do anything else. So we ended up hiding the toys as they were opened so they would continue opening their other gifts! They received a lot of clothes, some toy cars, a Race'n'Go Pit Stop house and bunch of other cool gifts. After all of the presents were opened, we ate our breakfast. We had eggs and biscuits with gravy and bacon! It was yummy!!!

Around Noon we headed over to Kevin's parents house to have Christmas with them. We had to stop by our house first to unload the truck of all the gifts from my parents house and load the gifts for his family. Once we got there, we had our Christmas lunch. We had ham, country ham, beans, rolls, beans and dessert. After we ate, we opened presents. We started with the babies presents first and then moved onto our presents. They got some books, sit on cars, blocks, height chart and many other cool presents. After all the presents were opened, we relaxed for a little bit, then headed home.

Once we got home, Kevin started to put together the presents from us to the babies. We got the girls a play Kitchen and Ashton got a play Workbench. After he put those together, he then put together the Race'n'Go Pit Stop that my parents got for them. Their toy room is definitely full now after this Christmas.

We still had a few presents that were under the tree that they didn't open on Christmas. We saved them till the next day so they wouldn't be overwhelmed. There were a few presents from us, and my aunts and uncles. They got some clothes, a nativity scene, toys and trikes! They played all day with their new toys!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we spent with both sides of the family. We started at Kevin's aunt's house for lunch and watched the kids open presents. We had a delicious meal that consists of turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken salad, homemade rolls and a bunch of other stuff. After we ate, we took a couple of family pictures. Once the pictures were done, it was time for all of the kids to exchange their gifts. They all draw a name and they buy a few presents for that person. They all got some really cool gifts. Our cousin Kim got the babies 2 sleeping outfits each!

Cousins on Kevin's side of the family

Around 4:00, we headed over to my sister's house in Virginia Beach for my side of the family's Christmas Eve. We use to draw a name and buy a present for that particular person, but the past few years we have just bought a gift and do a Chinese exchange (I think that is what it's called!) All of the presents go under the tree and we all draw a number. Once your number is called, you either pick a gift under the tree or you can steal one from someone else. Everyone has different rules on how the game is played. So we came up with house rules. Whoever house we are at gets to make the rules. Kevin and I walked away with a Fire Pit this year! Well, actually it's my dad's since I picked for him since we didn't bring a gift, but we brought it home!

Ashton opening his gifts

Brittany opening her gifts

Caitlyn opening her gifts

Mommy being funny!

Mommy and Daddy on Christmas Eve!

After the gift exchange was done, Kevin and dad took the babies back to mom and dad's house while mom and I stayed to help Ashley and Tommy clean up. Luckily it didn't take too long to clean up! Then we headed to my parents house for the night. For the past few years we have stayed the night at my parents house Christmas Eve and open presents on Christmas morning with them. Once the babies start knowing about Santa Claus, that will change and we will be staying at home on Christmas Eve so they can open presents on Christmas morning at home.

Grand Illumination

On our way home from Richmond, we stopped in Williamsburg for the Grand Illumination. The Grand Illumination is held in Colonial Williamsburg. It starts at 5:00pm and the houses and businesses "Illuminate" by turning on candles in their windows. There are different areas for Fireworks and places where there are people singing and playing instruments. We met up with Kevin's family and walked around for a little bit before the fireworks started. I wasn't quite sure how the babies would react to the fireworks. When we went this summer Caitlyn loved them and Brittany and Ashton cried the whole time. This time the roles were reversed! Brittany loved them, Ashton wasn't to sure, but couldn't keep his eyes off of them and Caitlyn cried, until she got into her daddy's arms. After the fireworks were over, we walked around a little more then headed home after a long, fun filled weekend.

As soon as we got home, the babies went straight to their playroom and played with their toys. Once it was time for bed, Ashton decided to go hide in the toy box!!

Weekend in Richmond

This past weekend, we were in Richmond with our friends Jerry, April and their family. At the Children's Museum in Richmond, they have the Legendary Santa that we go see (www.legendarysanta.org). Last year was our first year going up to see Santa. We also go up to see the Richmond Christmas Parade.

We got to Richmond Friday night. We went to Dave and Buster's for dinner and then just went back to the hotel to let the babies play before bed. Saturday morning we went to see the Christmas Parade. The parade lasted about 2 hours. Ashton slept pretty much the entire time. After the parade was over, we went to the mall to do a little shopping. The babies started to get a little fussy from being on the go all day, so we headed back to the hotel.

At the Parade with our friends

Ashton & Caitlyn playing in the hotel room

Kenly, Ashton & Caitlyn playing

Sunday morning after breakfast, we headed to the Children's Museum to see the Real Santa Claus. We had a feeling that Brittany wouldn't want anything to do with him because she isn't fond of anyone she doesn't know. Ashton would just want Mommy or Daddy and Caitlyn wouldn't matter either way. I ended up holding Brittany and we sat Ashton and Caitlyn on Santa's lap.

Caitlyn and Brittany did great... Ashton just wanted to get down! But overall, they had a good experience. After the picture with Santa, we let them play in the little houses at the museum.

Thanksgiving

We had a busy Thanksgiving!! Since my parents and Kevin's parents live so close to us, we celebrate Thanksgiving with both families. Our day started off going to Kevin's parents for lunch. We had Turkey, Ham, Green Beans, Mashed Potatoes, homemade Rolls, butter beans, cranberry sauce and a variety of desserts. We sat the babies in their booster seats and they ate their first Thanksgiving meal with us. Last year at Thanksgiving, they were only 4 months old so they only had formula.

After lunch, we headed over to my parents house for dinner. My sister's fiance works at a restaurant so he had to work Thanksgiving morning. Once he got off work, we had our Thanksgiving dinner. We had the babies in their booster seats and ate dinner with us. We had Turkey, Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Sweet Potato casserole, homemade cranberries, pumpkin pie and apple pie. After dinner, we watched some Football and relaxed.

A lot of Black Friday specials were starting at 10:00pm or 12:00 midnight. We really didn't see anything that we really wanted to get at the stores, but we decided that we would venture out and see how the crowds were like. My parents weren't going, so they watched the babies (well, the babies were down for the night, but they kept an eye on them). Kevin, Allison and I headed out to Wal-Mart first. The store was crazy, but no one was in line to check out. All of the electronic stuff didn't go on sale until midnight so there were a ton of people standing in different lines for that stuff. We did end up buying some diapers (because we were running low at my parents house) and some DVDs (they were having a good sale on them). After we left Wal-Mart, we headed to Target. Target opened at midnight and the line to get in was CRAZY! Once the doors opened up, they would like 20 people in, then close them again for about 5 minutes. We didn't go into Target, we stayed in the car and watching the people! We went to a few more stores before heading back to my parents house.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with our families. It was an extra special one because the babies were able to eat lunch and dinner with us!

Camping Trip

We went camping at Bethpage Camp Resort in Urbanna, VA two weekend in a row. Every year, the first weekend in November, they have an Oyster Festival in downtown Urbanna. We have been going to this event for the past 5 years and this was the babies second year.

Friday night they have a Fireman's Parade that starts around 7pm. We don't attend that parade because it is too loud for the babies. Since the festival started around 2pm that Friday, we did head into downtown early to check some things out and get back to the campsite before the parade started. After we got back and ate dinner, we let the babies play with their toys in the camper until bedtime.

Saturday morning after we got ourselves and the babies ready, we walked back into town. They had a parade that started around 2:30pm. There were different bands from High Schools in the area, the Shriner's have a few different floats and other different floats. The babies enjoyed seeing the different floats that went past them. They would clap their hands and kick their feet.

Sunday it was time to pack up and go home. That was the last camping trip of the season. We aren't done with our travels for the year yet, but as far as camping, we are done.

Thanksgiving is this week and we will be spending time at Kevin's parents house and my parents house. We might do some Black Friday shopping, but not with the babies! 

Our last trip of the year will be up to Richmond for the weekend to see a Parade and visit Santa Claus.

Halloween

This Halloween, we decided to take the babies Trick or Treating with our friends Jerry & April and their kids. Of course the babies can't eat any candy yet, but mommy and daddy can! It was great weather! We didn't go up to every house, but we went to enough! This year, I think the babies liked to dress up! Well, at least they weren't crying like last year!

Ashton - Monkey

Brittany - Kitty

Caitlyn - Ladybug

Ohio Vacation

In October, we took a week vacation to Ohio for my cousin's wedding. The wedding was on Saturday so we had plenty of time to do some site seeing and visit some places and visit with family. My parents rented a cottage in Port Clinton so we were able to stay with them. My friend Danielle came with us to babysit the babies during the wedding. Our family from Georgia came to visit us at the cottage on Friday. My cousin Stephanie and Kyle had a baby last year and this was the first time that we all got to meet her!

The cottage was a 3 bedroom with a living room and kitchen. There was a big open area so we set up the play yard for the babies to play in all week. When our family from Georgia came to visit, the babies got to play with Alexa in the play yard. Since the babies have been around and played with other babies before, I knew they would play great with her.

Lexi and Caitlyn sharing a toy

After the family left, we took a trip to Cleveland. Our main reason for going there was to go to the Winking Lizard Tavern. The Winking Lizard has awesome wings! My dad orders the sauce for the wings so we can make them at home! After we ate lunch, we walked around Downtown Cleveland. We visited the Cleveland Indians stadium and the Cleveland Browns stadium!

The babies at the table ready for lunch at the Winking Lizard





Us in front of Progressive Field

Danielle with Caitlyn and Brittany at the Browns stadium

On Monday, we went to Put-In Bay. Put-In Bay is an island on Lake Erie. We took the Miller Ferry from Catawba Island. This was the first time that I have rode on a ferry! When we got over to the island, we found out that everything was closed for the season. We did however find a restaurant that was still open so we were able to eat! We walked around the downtown area and then walked back to the ferry. The island had one school, Kindergarten thru 12th grade.  They had a lot of different restaurants and bars. We visited a Winery, but unfortunately, they were not giving tours for the rest of the season.

We had to head home on Tuesday. We had a great vacation visiting family and site seeing!