Flying home is definitely not cheap (as I've said before), but with everything that went on with my family this year I knew home is where we needed to be. Unfortunately Derek wasn't able to make the journey with us. Once we were gone he instantly regretted not coming, and we missed him so!
Luckily traveling solo with this crew is a breeze!
We brought some ribbon with us to tie around us once we got to the Chicago airport so that we could come out wrapped up like presents for Grandma and Grandpa.
They didn't get it. They just commented on their cute bows.
It was SO COLD!! Like the most bitter cold ever. Once we got to my parents house (which is brand new, they moved in exactly one week before we arrived!) we had a heck of a time getting all of our gazillion bags up their driveway which was covered in ice!! I did not have the appropriate attire on either. Brrrr! We met Bryan, Daisha and Hannah all at our fav restaurant, Pepe's. Yummo! And then spent the next 4 nights together playing games, shopping, having our little family Christmas, our big extended family Christmas and probably getting on everyone's nerves as we were so off schedule and had colds and just whiny and tired.
The first night we played Bean boozled. I'll spare you from the videos. They were all pretty much the gross jelly beans.
You'll find I didn't take a whole lot of pictures. There is a reason behind that. The past couple of times I have went back home I've had family make comments about "Brooke the photographer" or "Brooke always has a camera on her" or if I don't have the camera "BROOKE!! Where's your camera?!" I wasn't sure how to take it, but as we all know I'm sensitive and after processing tone of voice and other things I took it mostly as they are sick of seeing my pictures. Soooo, hence not many pictures.
American girl dolls!
We always have a sick one. Every time we travel.
Hannah's favorite movie is Trolls. Actually she loves anything Trolls! Since we hadn't seen the movie yet, she wanted us to go with her to see it. I was not expecting it to be good. It's sooooo good!!!
The cousins at our extended family Christmas get together
We went through the Christmas lights drive through like my Mom and Dad would always take me when I was a kid. It was fun to take the kids there.
Then came Christmas Eve. They unwrapped their usual Christmas eve pjs.
Set out milk, cookies and another sweet note from Allie
And went out to the bitter cold to leave some treats for Rudolph and the rest of the reindeer gang.
Christmas morning was a bit unusual. The kids got up and saw that Santa came, but waited so patiently so we could Skype with Dad back in England. He had lunch plans and our timing just wasn't working out. So, we had breakfast before opening any presents.
Santa Pancakes!
Then they continued to wait! Finally I let them go through their stockings and then I got a text from Derek saying he'd probably be another hour so I just let them open their presents. THEN, as soon as they finished he was able to Skype! Bad timing, but we still got to see him and they were able to show him everything.
Avery got a fun science kit from B, D, & H. We spent many days doing little science projects.
Blake got his haircut by Aunt Amy
We went and saw Sing with cousins Conner and Kiya
Went to Hannah's house to play and go to Chuck E Cheese
We went and played Monster Golf with Mony & Papa. Blake hit the jackpot and Allie won tickets by answering their trivia question!
We made a trip to the bookstore as Santa brought Avery some books from the Owl Diaries series. She instantly fell in love with the books! So we had to go buy the rest of them!!
During our stay, the girls shared a room and Blake slept in the same room as me. Every night as I would get in bed he would roll over onto me and literally push me off the bed. One night I came in, thinking he was asleep, but he rolled over, laid his head on me and said, "Mom, what does heaven look like?" Followed by many more questions, including "Will you die, Mom?" To which I told him yes, someday. He then said, "No, Mom, you can't.....I need you!" We had a really good, deep conversation for a 5 year old. Memory I'll never forget. I think it is clear what a lot of our Christmas holiday conversation were about. Maybe not directly with him, but within an ears distance. Just goes to show how easily and quickly little ears can pick things up.
The sign I made for my Mom and Dad
And that was pretty much our Christmas in Indiana. Went by quick as always. Grandma was admitted to the hospital the day we got there and didn't get out until Christmas Eve. We were all still sick and didn't want to get her sick so we didn't get to see her much. Things were stressful for my parents with the new house and it not being officially closed on yet, plus I think us being there and it being so new to them (Blake put a big hole in their wall right away!) Of course, my aunts passing.....and so things were just different. I love my family though. Always. No matter what. Grateful for them!
