We started our trip south with a stop at the Grove Park Inn to see the holiday decor and gingerbread house competition. The decorations were just beautiful and the atmosphere was a perfect kick-start to the holidays.
The gingerbread houses were incredible, they had competitions for each age group that were so impressive. The first place prize went to a chess board with an incredible amount of details! I even took a video to soak it all in.
We arrived in NC to visit with J's parents for Christmas week and enjoyed a lot of down time. We cooked a ton, ate a ton more, visited with their friends, opened lots of presents and got out for a few runs on the greenway in town. We didn't take a ton of pictures {mostly because we stayed in PJ's and workout cloths for the majority of the trip}, but we did get a cute picture by the Christmas tree after Christmas Eve mass.
Also had to share this adorable throw-back of Baby J and 35 year old J!
Christmas 1980 and 2014
The day after Christmas we packed up and headed south to see more family and friends. After a pit-stop in Auburn for Momma G's, we met Lyns and Neal on the road for a fun visit and some ice-cream. Miss Allie is getting so big and is such a wonderful baby!
We forgot to take a pic, so I stole one of Allie and her Auntie!
Christmas with my family was so much fun and has lasted over a span of 4 days... and still going. Get ready for picture overload. First we celebrated with my parents.
We celebrated with one brother and his fam.
The Virginia alphabet my sister-in-law penciled for the baby's room. So excited to have this framed!
We celebrated with my other brother and his fam.
Then with the cousins via a throwback Polaroid.
....and we have been soaking up 70 degree temps since we arrived, eating lots of seafood and are looking forward to a trip over to the beach today to dip our toes in the sand. It's been a wonderful break filled with lots of excitement and cheer! Couldn't ask for a better way to enjoy the holidays. Looking forward to NYE on the coast and the arrival of Baby Charles any day now... we can't wait to meet you lil bit!