Our week in Maryland
Monday we drove to Maryland and arrived around 8:30 PM. The drive was surprisingly very good and we only had to stop twice.
Tuesday Mike's sister and her family came over and we all just hung out. We let the kids make gingerbread houses and the adults (Jessie, Carol, Mike, Jason, and I) made a cake. I showed them how to make flowers and cover a cake with fondant. Layla wanted to help so we let her cut out some little diamonds and she put those around the edges. We also had homemade pizza for dinner that night.
Wednesday we drove to D.C. to see my brother Dave. We decided to go to the Smithsonian and stay as long as the boys could handle it and then maybe go to another museum after. The boys lasted about an hour and a half and then they were tired and hungry. We jumped on the metro to go back to Union Station where we had parked. The boys loved riding the train. We grabbed a bite to eat and said goodbye to Dave then drove home. The drive is really only a little over an hour but ended up taking 3 1/2 hours. It was insane traffic. It was really fun to see Dave with the boys. He was really sweet with them, holding their hands, chasing after them when they ran away, and giving them rides on his shoulders. 
This is the best picture of got of the kids with Dave.
Later, on Sunday Dave and Tana came with Tana's brother for a visit. I am really grateful I got to see them for a little bit before we came back home. 
Thursday was Christmas Eve. We went to a little Dairy near Steve and Carol's house where we saw some train sets and ate delicious ice cream. When we got home the boys made cookies with Carol. They just love their grandma and loved being able to make cookies with her. That night we gave the boys the pj's Carol and my sister helped me make. We read the Nativity and left out cookies for Santa and food for the reindeer. We sent the kids to bed and then set up for Santa and watched a movie.
Santa left us lots of treats that we will be eating forever. 
We had a great Christmas. Everyone was pleased with what Santa brought them and we enjoyed good food and good company throughout the day. 
Saturday the kids played with their cousins and watched movies on Grandpa's home theater. Carol, Jessie and I went shopping for a few hours while Mike watched all the kids. On Monday we let the boys play in the hot tub, which they loved, and that night we got a babysitter to watch the boys so Mike and I could go on a date with Steve and Carol. We went to dinner and then went to a movie. 
We really had a great time. It's been a long time since we've been close enough to spend any holiday with family. We love being so close to family and are looking forward to spending more time with them in the next year before we move again.
Comments