Christmas Day 2013

This is one of the few Christmas' in over 13 years that we were all by ourselves.  We usually travel to Brian's family, or they come to us - but most everyone headed to Connecticut to be with Brian's grandpa for his 95th birthday on the 27th, and Brian wasn't able to travel this year. 
 
Since December has been super duper busy, we chose to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day just as a family.  Brian worked a half day on Christmas Eve, we had a nice dinner, and our traditional candle light reading of Luke 2 and opening one present. 

Once the kids were sent upstairs Brian spent the following 2 hours assembling the Green Machine -  Grant's gift from Mimi and Papa.  It was tricky - but Grant loves it!

This year we asked for various items for our future backpacking adventures.  Come to find out going out in the middle of nowhere without anything is actually quite expensive :)  Thank you to those that helped build our stash!  We got two more thermarests, a camp stove, pot and utensils, and a firesteel thingy.  Haley got a matching headlamp to Grant's.  For my birthday I'll get a backpack (Brian already has one) and we'll get a small tent and we will be set!  We are going to try a nice and easy trip to Red River Gorge this spring/summer.  It'll be the first time the kids or I have ever backpacked!  We are starting now to get ready for our dream of hiking for a week on the Appalachian Trail as a family someday when they are teenagers.   
Happy Haley with boots, boots and more boots and some new clothes.
Here is Brian recovering from the Green Machine.
It was a great day, full of lots of Scrabble, chocolate and being in our jammies for most of the day.  

Comments

Unknown said…
Fun fun! I'm glad they still make Green Machines.
December 29, 2013 at 7:23 PM
Anonymous said…
The perfect Christmas.
December 30, 2013 at 7:45 PM
Amy said…
Cool--I like all the neat camping stuff you got!
February 5, 2014 at 1:39 PM
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