Over the Hills and Through the Woods
Posted by Brittney | Filed under Happy Homemakers
Don’t pack away the stockings and lights yet, it’s time for another obligatory Christmas recap! You may want to refill your cocoa because we’re talking picture overload here. Let’s get fired up!
Man oh man was getting home for Christmas a doozie! Thanks #snowmaggedon. Our flights were cancelled at 10 am on December 20th but scrambled to get on a flight leaving from VEGAS at 6:10 pm. Oh yes, we rented a car, threw all of our crap {including one sweet baby and one anxious Chihuahua} in a rental car akin to a tin can and hit the road for 4.5 hours.
sorry for the blurry shot but I had to commemorate my first trip to Vegas!
We made it on the flight to Minneapolis by the skin of our teeth. Everything into Des Moines or Chicago was booked until Christmas Eve. Shout out to our peeps in Minneapolis for letting us crash with them overnight!
We were Iowa bound the next morning and never happier to see the lights of the Cedar Rapids airport {had to drop the car off} at 6 pm that night. It took us 12 hours of drive time + 2.5 hour flight but by god, we made it!
We are so glad we were able to share Hudson’s first Christmas with our Iowa family and friends. I think they were more excited than he was {please note the ridiculous amounts of gifts in the photos below}. Our schedule was jam-packed with festive fun for ten days!
We helped celebrate Jordy’s first birthday party. Hudson was extremely offended that he wasn’t able to partake in the cake and ice cream festivities.
Baby date with our friend Marlee and her parents, Dorothy and Jason. They’ve only chatted by Skype since they live in Florida so they were super excited to meet. Obviously.
Christmas Eve shenanigans with Matt’s side of the family. This includes our first time at the family church service. I’m not sure how appreciative the other worshippers were of Hudson’s enthusiastic rendition of Silent Night {although I loved it}. Also important to note, I was able to take part in the annual pomegranate martini drinking this year. Holla! Recipe here.
Grandpa Bruce reading Hudson a Christmas Eve tale.
Does this child not look like the king of the table? Bring on the turkey! Also, vaguely reminiscent of this guy.
Off to Churdan for Christmas with my side of the family. Lots of fun and lots of delicious Christmas casserole.
this is my “where in the shit are we going to put all of this stuff?” face.
I was even able to squeeze in a Girls Night Out with my homies at WineStyles and Wok in Motion in West Des Moines. Miss these gals!
Brunch with these fine folks. They took a break from bathroom renovating to meet us at Saints in Beaverdale {although I suspect they needed to use the facilities too}.
We ran up to Hampton to visit Matt’s Grandpa Don. He was so excited to see Hudson. He even had a little countdown on his wall.
ANOTHER Christmas at my brother’s house. Complete with ugly sweaters and minute to win it games.
Oh yeah, we gathered round the card tables in Andy and Lindsay’s almost finished basement.
My mom cutting up the prime rib like a boss in her finest Christmas gear.
Hudson’s first snow, he was a little suspicious. Get me back to the sand!
We were also able to squeeze in a few other drinks/lunches/dinners with friends that somehow weren’t captured on film. You’ll just have to believe me that it was a fun filled time. It was a whirlwind 10 days but we made it home just in time for New Year’s Eve. Which we celebrated with a movie, champagne and an early bedtime since we drove to Pasadena for the Rose Parade.
I hope everyone had as fabulous of a Christmas as we did! Any harrowing travel tales to share?
Tags: Christmas, christmas recap, family, iowa, travel
January 4th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
The countdown got me choked up. That’s so sweet.
January 4th, 2013 at 2:50 pm
It was adorable! All of the aides at his assisted living place were like, oh look Hudson is here! We’ve been waiting for you!
January 4th, 2013 at 11:28 pm
This made me L- O – L:” this is my “where in the shit are we going to put all of this stuff?” face.” since I too had this look about my face for the majority of December.
January 4th, 2013 at 11:28 pm
Glad you made it home girl!