Christmas

Leaving the motorhome at Randy and Audrey's house, we headed to Washington DC to meet Uncle Kent who was Grandmom's ride back home to Pennsylvania. We had a fun trip with her, and we're so glad that she could come along.  Amy's college roommate, Christine, and her family graciously hosted us as we wanted to stay in the Washington area to see Mount Vernon.  This was another stop where history really came alive for all of us.  The house and grounds have been very well preserved and the tour was exceptional.  Even more impressive were the museum and the 4D film that helps the visitor get into the story that unfolded during the American Revolution.

We headed back to Williamsburg the long way, through Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia's Eastern Shore across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  We celebrated Asa's 10th birthday at a very crowded Christmas town at Busch Gardens, and with a Jeep grill cake and classic Alaskan fried halibut dinner…yum! We attended Williamsburg Presbyterian Church's Christmas Eve candlelight service where Papa sings in the choir.  Christmas day found us gathered around the living room with family (including Aunt Betty's family), sharing presents and eating Amy's (now) traditional Christmas doughnuts and other feasts throughout the day.

Surrounding Christmas there were lots of fun activities with the relatives including a ride in Uncle Randy's Cobra, creating an off-road Jeep course in the back yard, putting a National Park puzzle together, going to Cousin Kurtis' track meet, and walking through Colonial Williamsburg. Grandma and Papa arranged for a special trip into Richmond to see the Chihuly Glass Exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  We also took in some amazingly tacky Christmas lights in Richmond afterward.

Amy got to spend time with her old hospital work friends and thanks to some help from Grandma and Papa, saw 5 movies in 2 1/2 weeks!

We have really enjoyed staying in one place for a few weeks and Randy and Audrey were gracious hosts, putting up with us for almost three weeks!  The grand finale was a lobster dinner with all the trimmings.  One of their neighbors is a "Mainer" and still has a seafood market connection.

Now, we head south looking for 80 degree weather.  We will stop for a while when we find it.