Christmas in Portland, Part 1

We made a cross-country trip to celebrate Christmas with my family this year.  We hadn't all been together since Christmas in 2013 and it was a much anticipated trip!  Bags were packed, carry-on entertainment was ready, snacks were prepared, and Uncle Steve picked us up to head to the airport.  Much to the chagrin of the family, I had us pose for this photo before the chaos ensued:

Shortly after the above photo, Ryan and I simultaneously realized at our individual check-in kiosks that we were at the wrong airport.  Noooo!!!!!  It was completely my fault.  I still don't know how I made the mistake.  But in God's kindness, Steve (the Superhero of the day!) was stuck in traffic trying to get out of the airport departures drop-off line and he didn't have any pressing engagements.  So we sprinted to the van, piled back in, and Ryan took the wheel while to drive like a madman while I pulled up the map to see how long it would take us to get to Dulles Airport.  Google said 1 hour.  We would miss our flight.  But Waze directed us a different way and we arrived at the airport with just enough time to check-in our one bag, breeze through security and get straight in line to board the plane:

It wasn't quite the family travel plan I'd been looking forward to, but we made it!  And landed in Portland to wish my dad a happy birthday! 

We flew in on Big Daddy's birthday, and the next day was Gretchen and Strider's birthdays!  Gretchen picked pizza for dinner.  Then Kaye K and Big Daddy treated everyone to an evening at a trampoline park!

Ryan showed everyone how it was done and conquered the ninja course.

Kaye K took on Gretchen's birthday cake request this year and the birthday girl was thrilled!

Happy Birthday Gretchen and Strider!

Going to see The Star in the theater!

Remembering why I'm grateful we have a van and the kids can spread out when we're driving around 

December at Home

We hosted a gingerbread party for the families in our homeschool co-op and had a great time!  I was especially thankful for the nice weather which allowed the kids to play outside after all the decorating (and candy consuming) was done!

Sadly, our beloved hamster, Peaches, died in the month of December.  No tears were shed, but there was sadness all around. 

Friends invited us over for some Christmas cookie decorating! 

It would take more than a little snow to keep this guy from playing with his football on the trampoline.

Dropping off our Operation Christmas Child boxes - thank you, Samaritan's Purse, for this extensive ministry to bless children around the world with a little Christmas cheer and the message of Christ.

Kaye K and Big Daddy passed through for a quick visit and I took full advantage of having guest math, reading, and piano teachers! 

In preparation to travel for Christmas, we had multiple Payne Family Christmas celebrations the week before we left . . . the girls were thrilled with their mermaid tail blankets from Uncle Sean and Aunt Jessica!  We also got to Skype with Grammy Deb and G Daddy to open presents "with" them =)

The girls gave their brother a stuffed football and he loved it as much as they hoped he would!

Some fun snowflake decorating . . .

Our sweet Gretchen's birthday is in December, so we also did a little pre-travel celebrating with some presents and a few of her friends . . . birthday doughnuts in pajamas for breakfast one morning!

The birthday girl with her Payne Family birthday gifts and special breakfast 

Williamsburg

 One of the many blessings in living where we do is the relationship we've been able to grow with my Uncle Steve and Aunt Vallerie.  In God's kindness, we get to live in the same neighborhood!  And for Christmas, they treated us to an overnight trip to Williamsburg for some very special Christmas fun! 

We spent the evening at Busch Gardens and closed down the park!  It was festive, beautiful, not crowded, and so much fun!

Uncle Steve always provides the laughs! 

 Vallerie went on the swings with the kids while Steve, Ryan and I jumped on a roller coaster.  We happened to be on Facetime with my parents and took them on the roller coaster with us!  It was such a thrill, Ryan and I ran back around (no line!) and rode it again!

We spent the next day in Colonial Williamsburg where it really did feel like we'd stepped back in time!

The highlight of that day, at least for our daughters, was getting to ice skate!

For Gretchen, it really was a dream come true!

Such a special trip, and even in a short amount of time we came home with so many wonderful memories!