New Years in North Carolina

Nick has to take the third part of his board exam in North Carolina, so we decided to make it a family affair. The drive to Skyler and Sarah at Fort Bragg is about 14 hours door to door, luckily for us the Jones' live 6 hours into the drive. We visited them last year around the same time and had a blast, so we were excited to be able to spend some quality (although very short) time with them.

We left at bed time Thursday night, had some not so fun adventures with the rental car and finally made it to them around 1 in the morning. We spent all of Friday hanging out, everyone was still home for the holidays so Nick got to spend time with his cousins, which I know he enjoyed. After an awesome dinner we got on the road again, this time only making it about 4 hours before screams coming from the back seat got us to pull over for the night.

We finally made it to Skyler and Sarah on Saturday just in time for lunch. The next day they took us to the Airborne and Special Operations Museum, it was really cool and you could tell Skyler was having a blast showing us everything. The next nigh was New Years Eve, Sarah had found family friendly activity to do in a neighboring town and Andrew was so excited to be going to a party.

Southern Pines is the perfect town. I would move there tomorrow if I could.  The town shuts down the main streets in the downtown, and have a mock count down of a ball of pine cones spray painted sliver at 8pm. There was a magician, a couple of bands, face painting, yummy BBQ, games and more. We all had a blast, and the best thing about it was that we were able to go home put the kids down and celebrate with Oliebollen and skype with Debi and Martin while watching a very comical Martin approaching to use his juicer he got for Christmas. 

Christmas

Christmas morning is the absolute best with little kids. So much fun! The first thing we did was look outside and saw that it was snowing. This was a big deal because for the few weeks before Christmas Andrew would get up in the morning look out the window, see that it wasn't snowing and declare that it was not Christmas yet because it wasn't snowing. We got pretty lucky that we got a white Christmas.

Upon seeing a big play tent from Santa Andrew said, "What the heck!, What the heck! Look at this! I have never seen this before!" It was the best reaction. I loved seeing how excited they were. They played with it for about 10 min. before they were off opening their other gifts. The one thing Andrew asked for was a yo-yo, and he was so excited that he got one. Sadie's favorite gift was her doggy, she couldn't open a gift without making sure the doggy was right next to her.

It was so nice to just have a lazy morning to enjoy the presents and each others company. Later that evening we went to Ryan and Catherine Hayes' home and had a delicious Christmas dinner and a really fun white elephant exchange with the missionaries.

They got to open the presents they had gotten for each other on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve set up and wrapping session

Marble Run, which is a huge hit

His yo-yo that he is really too young to be able to do. Poor guy tries really hard but can never get it.

My very first sewing project ever.

Sadie's doggy who she named....Sadie

Watching The Grinch at the Hayes'

A little Christmas outfit photoshoot

It's beginging to look a lot like Christmas!

Naturally flocked

Trying to pick the perfect tree

Sadie was stoked that they had hot choclate

I have no idea how she went from dressed to zero clothes...

Andrew was going to put the star on the tree but as Nick was lifting him up he started freaking out because he was too high

My work of art

Andrew's awesome house

Sadie's um pile of graham crackers?

Nick's masterpiece