HOME!

We are home and settled back in from our big Christmas vacation. We spent two GLORIOUS weeks in Texas seeing all of our family and friends. We had the best time! I have so much to catch up on!

 

One of the first things we did was go meet sweet babies Cole and Luke! We are so happy for our sweet friends!!

Christmas in NYC!

This past weekend we made a quick trip to New York! Visiting was one of the first things on my agenda since the move, we are only a 4 hour drive away! It was my first time and I have mixed feelings about it. I LOVED that it was decorated for Christmas and we saw so many things I have dreamed about seeing but it was SO crowded that it made me claustrophobic. Crowded as in someone in front, behind, and touching both my shoulders EVERY WHERE WE WENT. I couldn't get away from people and felt rushed. I couldn't "take in" the city the way I like to when we travel. I just feel like I need to give New York another chance. This is their high season for tourists and a local told me to come back in May. I also want to go back kid free, we have been to a lot of big cities and this was hands down the hardest to get around in with kids. It sounds like I am complaining and that's not the case because in the end we really loved New York and had a great trip, we both just want to experience it not in the "high season." Heck, we never ever travel in the high season anywhere so this was a new experience for us both.We like to blend in and not be in a giant herd moving from tourist attraction to tourist attraction. :)

We made it to Times Square, saw it, and would be perfectly ok never going back. As my mom says, it reminded me of a Circus!

 

Next time I go back, I want to visit the Today show while its filming!

 

It was POURING! But not crowded because of it! I loved seeing tree!

 

 

There was no sharing with this girl, she finished it off herself!

 

Visiting Serendipity was top on my list. I didn't make reservations so I knew it probably wasn't likely. We walked up and it was a THREE HOUR wait. And I'm not going to say how but short story is, my husband is awesome and we were seated in less than 10 minutes from the time we walked up. No wait for us! Visiting was probably one of the highlights of our trip!

 

Had to put this in here. This lady wouldn't stop photobombing. This was probably the third time I moved Ella and every time she wandered in to her picture. HA!

 

Top of the Empire State building! Another highlight!

 

We spent extra on the fast passes and walked straight to the front of the line. Best money ever spent, we found out that people had been in line for 2 hours and 45 minutes! 

 

Statue of Liberty! We both underestimated how much we were going to like this! We loved it! And this is all Kade talked about wanting to do so we had to go!

Williamsburg VA

My mom came in town during the week of Thanksgiving. We had a great time lounging, eat, sleeping, shopping, and ever squeezed in a few adventures! We had our traditional Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday. And then on Thanksgiving we loaded up and drove to Williamsburg Virginia to explore and have a traditional Thanksgiving in an old Tavern! We LOVED Williamsburg! We really want to make another trip out there because there was so much to see and do!! We explored the old Colonial Town and then had dinner reservations at Chownings Tavern. Everyone was dressed in Colonial garb, and we enjoyed a great dinner! It was a really great day and week!

 

My mom helped me set up my sitting area while she was here! Before and after!

 

Wednesday night, enjoying our pre-Thanksgiving feast!

Funny story, Kade kept telling us he couldn't wait to have turkey on Thanksgiving. The problem was, we were having prime rib, not turkey. On Wednesday morning he woke up SO excited about having turkey. He even told us that if there wasn't turkey he would be reallllly sad. (This kid!!) So what did we do? We ran to the grocery store and picked up a rotisserie chicken and passed it off as the turkey. He even watched us "carve" it. Right here he was saying "mmmm mmmm this is a good turkey leg!" HAHA!