Thursday, December 29, 2016
After Christmas at home was over and everyone was packed up and on the road again, we also hit the road - off to Martinsburg to see Grandma and Granddad Miller, Aunt Laura, Uncle Andy, Jacob, Aunt Alison, Uncle Charles, Everett and Griffin. We actually arrived in Martinsburg on Wednesday afternoon. We just spent some time around the house that night visiting with Grandma, Granddad, Charles, Alison, Everett and Griffin. Everett loved playing with Emily and she was very patient with him. Their favorite game was definitely hide and seek and they played all over the house. Sometime even Griffin was able to get in on the action. But at just 18 months old, he didn't really get it quite yet.
Thursday morning we got an early start and headed to Winchester to visit Great Grandma Miller. She is in an assisted living facility now, but still seems to be getting along pretty well. I think Emily looks forward to seeing her and telling her about her skating and American Girl dolls (the collection Great Grandma Miller helped her start). We showed her the videos from Emily's skating competition at Ohio State and told all about 3rd grade. It was a nice visit. We hope to get up there to visit again before next Christmas.
After the visit with Grandma Miller, all the kids and wives headed to Chick-Fil-A for a bit to let the kids eat a quick bite and blow off some steam in the play place while Daniel and Charles went to Westminster Canterbury to visit Great Grandma Gamble. She is not doing quite as well and a crew as large as ours would be too much for her. So splitting up was the way to go.
When we returned it was nearly time for our big Christmas dinner (turkey and all the trimmings). So we feasted and then cleared the way for the Festivus of presents for all the kids followed by the grown-ups.
Grandma Miller got an iPad mini. She seemed unsure how to respond at first, but once we got it set up, she seemed very excited about it.
Emily's favorite gifts were an American Girl pet bunny, named Carrots...
and a Hatchimal! Another great Christmas reaction caught on film. These little guys were almost impossible to find before Christmas, but thanks to a little Christmas magic, Granddad was able to give her one. It was definitely a hit among the cousins as they played and played and played with it until about 30 minutes later, it hatched!
She named him Martin. He is part turtle and part bird, I think. Little wings with a shell on its back. A little weird, but really cute. He can be trained, he sings, dances and plays. It was a great Martinsburg Christmas!
Unfortunately, Charles, Alison, Everett and Griffin had to leave the next morning, but before they hit the road, we tried to get one last pic of all the cousins. Griffin tried to be cooperative, but its hard when you are the littlest...and when you've been up since 4:30am. Yep, he's an early riser.
Jacob and Emily were like two peas in a pod this year. They seemed to really enjoy just sitting around and talking and occasionally playing with Everett and Griffin. I think they both enjoy the fact that they are the oldest and they bond a little over that.
On Friday afternoon, Andy took Jacob and Emily shopping with their gift cards. Jacob got a few things, but Emily saved her money. Daniel and I hit the outlets and we both got some things. Then Saturday morning, it was time for everyone to head home. We looked at calendars and identified a weekend this summer when we hope to get together again. Once a year just isn't enough. Emily was so sad when it was time to say goodbye to her cousins. Here's to hoping 2017 brings more chances to visit and stay in touch.
Our New Year's Eve consisted of mostly driving home from Martinsburg, but we made it back by early afternoon and Emily was able to have Reagan over to play. That meant a pretty quiet evening around the house for Daniel and I unpacking and starting laundry. We baked frozen pizza and ate chips and leftover Christmas cookies. No one made it to midnight, but after all of our many Christmas adventures, I was not surprised at all.
After the longest night of the year, Christmas finally arrived! And, guess what? No one was sick!! Not one of us. That was enough gift for me right there! Emily and Grandma were the first up (shocking) followed by me. Everyone else made their way to the family room by about 8am. Emily headed straight for her pile and immediately identified the first present she would open...the one with a box that looked suspiciously like the box a Zoomer Kitty might come in.
