The Holidays!

If I have to choose one word to describe our holiday season every year, it would be chaos!  Chaos doesn't have to be a bad thing, but chaos is chaos.

This year we were on the road for ONE week!  Our travels started on December 23rd headed to grandma and grandpa M's house!  Let's back up for a minute... this was a day early because the weather decided it wasn't going to cooperate this year.  So, with leaving a day early, it meant I lost a night to finish wrapping, getting organized, the house cleaned and everybody packed for a long week ahead.  Of course, I had everything figured out and planned, but it was very cold and we received a snow storm that rivaled a Christmas storm of 1945.  Snow begins on Weds night and doesn't really stop raining, snowing, sleeting, icing over and melting/refreezing until Saturday. 

Once at grandparent M's, we stayed put until Saturday... it was an odd year because of the weather.  Not everybody was able to get to their house on Christmas Eve because of the weather, but we did see everybody at one point or another. 

Saturday we packed up and drove to Chicago to Grandma and Grandpa B's house.  That, too was a long drive because once again the weather didn't cooperate.  Our family decided to celebrate Christmas on December 26, so we walked into the party.  Everybody was very excited to see us... we had a fantastic dinner, played the dice game and opened presents with Grandma B's side of the family!  Sunday was a very low-key day and I think everybody was happy to spend some time relaxing.

On Monday, the Bears and the Vikings played in Chicago.  I worked my magic (months and months ago) and got tickets for Marc and Tim.  Although the Vikings didn't win, the boys had a great time as it was a nail biter that went into overtime!  Happy birthday dad!  A very successful birthday present, if I must say so myself.  While the boys were at the game, Nece, Franny and I went to Auntie Cindy's house and hung out, ordered pizza, took showers, cleaned the bathroom, played the fishing game and enjoyed each others company!  Thanks Auntie Cindy for a fun filled, relaxing evening!

Tuesday, we hit Build a Bear and got daddy a birthday cake!  A nice dinner was had, hung out with the B family, did laundry, packed and got ready for a long car ride the next day!  Wednesday, we got on the road fairly early and headed back for our 7 hour drive.  A majority of that ride was crummy weather again.  Traveling in the winter months is for the birds!  Once we got home the girls were excited to see presents in the living room, just as Santa had promised!  Nece was very excited about her Barbie car and Camper.  Franny was very excited about her new baby and stroller!

Once again, running behind on posts, so it's pretty high level.  BUT gives us a record of what we did for the holidays December 2009!