Van Pelt Christmas

We used to have a tradition with some of my extended family that we would celebrate Christmas with the Van Pelts in Charlotte the Sunday before Christmas. Those plans got put on hold for us once the boys were born in 2013, then last year I don't know what happened. So we were excited that Van Pelt Christmas was on again for 2015! We drove up to Charlotte on 12/20 to visit everyone. 

Charlotte is only about an hour and a half or so, and it makes for an easy day trip. My plan was to get the boys up at the regular time, get them fed and dressed and loaded in the car and pull out of the drive way by 9 AM. That way we could go to Trish and Mark's house by around 10:30, spend an hour or two, then go to Uncle Wells and Alison's house by 12 or 12:30 and back on the road about 2:00. I figured the boys would be tired and the drive home would be the perfect nap! Our actual events happened almost as planned!

Quick photo opp in front of the Christmas tree before we hit the road.

Stokes, Ryan and William

We pulled out of the driveway around 9:05. I was pretty impressed with us, if I do say so myself! ;) I'm not sure if we were driving slow or what happened because traffic wasn't bad at all until we hit Myers Park church traffic, but we didn't get to Aunt Trish and Mark's house until almost 11. 

Aunt Trish and Mark are the SWEETEST! We love going to visit them, or whenever they come to see us. They're so easy going and it's just enjoyable to hang out.

Aunt Trish holding Ryan, and Stokes

Aunt Trish helping Ryan play the piano

They loved the music

Thomas and William

Aunt Trish was so sweet and pulled out some old toys, trains and puzzles and such for the boys to play with. They were definitely entertained between the toys and the dog, Bo.

They also had gifts for the boys to open!

Time to open presents!

Awesome tractor!

Christmas books!

Stokes managed to get outside - heaven help us - but Mark was right there with him! It was a beautiful day out!

Stokes and Mark

Wild man was heading right for the road  haha!

 Obligatory picture in front of the tree. I'm such a nerd.

Mark, William, Stokes, Bo, Aunt Trish and Ryan

William, Dada, Stokes, Bo, Mama and Ryan

Double fisting - the new version

My sweet baby Ryan!

We love seeing Trish and Mark (and got to sample some really yummy cheeses!). Then it was off a mile or 2 over to visit Uncle Wells, Alison, Elizabeth and Mary Margaret. We got over there around 12:30 and shortly thereafter, the Atlanta Van Pelts arrived - Uncle Duncan, Aunt Kathy, Virginia and Abigail.

It was too nice outside so we let the boys hang out with their cousins in the back yard.

Mary Margaret and William

Virginia helping Ryan walk

The chicken coop in the back yard!
I meant to get some eggs to bring home and forgot. :(

Uncle Wells and Thomas watching the Panthers game.
#keeppounding

Uncle Wells and me

Ryan and VV

Sweet cousins!
Virginia, Ryan, Elizabeth, Mary Margaret, William,
Stokes and Abigail

I think it's a tradition that they get a picture in front
of the tree every year.

Bonding time - Uncle Duncan with William

Funny boys!

More presents - ahh!!!!

Mary Margaret was so patient with
helping Ryan to unwrap his gift.

Time to put together the new car track set!

Stokes and Da-da

We love Aunt Kathy!

Abigail playing with Ryan -
he was having a ball!

Alison, Duncan and Wells singing "We Three Kings"
to my Dad on the phone

Family time!!!!

We have the best family!

So we were planning to leave around 2 or 2;30 - yep, that didn't happen. We were having too much fun. And the boys were playing and not being cranky. We finally pulled out around 4:30. I was in shock. The boys had no nap at all and had been playing tirelessly since we got to Charlotte. As predicted, this was the scene about 2 minutes into the car ride home.

Stokes passed out!

William and Ryan slept some, too. The evening, well, that was a different matter. We got back into Greenville around 6 and picked up some pizza for dinner. From the time we got home until they went to bed was a lot of crying, fussing, and general unhappiness. Not fun. Shows us right for getting off schedule, but hey, sometimes you just go with it!

We had a wonderful time seeing family that we don't get to see all that often and it had been a few years since we'd been up to Charlotte. It feels good to be in a familiar place surrounded by those you love.

More Christmas celebrations and memories to come!