Thursday, December 27, 2012

Holiday fun: Round 3 - Christmas with the Liner's



It has been a tradition in Jason’s family for everyone to gather on Christmas and celebrate. However, as the family has expanded, kids have moved away and grandkids entered the scene, it was time to alter the plan just a bit. We decided this summer at a family gathering to try to get together on the weekend before Christmas. The date was chosen and plans made. Those who didn’t have other obligations were in attendance and the rest were in our thoughts all day.

As with the last Liner gathering, Chase got to start his adventure with a sleepover with Popi and Meme. Jason was off work so he and Chase ventured off to meet Popi for lunch at a half-way point. The day started off as a success when Jason and Chase met Popi for lunch and there were snow flurries! Jason and I went about our afternoon and finalized our plans to drive to Winston-Salem the next morning for the family Christmas celebration. As we were getting ready to head out for dinner with my Mom (we had man-to-man coverage, I wasn’t going to miss out on that opportunity!) Jason got this picture.
 


Chase hanging out of the sunroof of Popi's car




The mom in me thought they were nuts but then Jason explained where they were. In the Winston-Salem outskirts there is a HUGE park called Tanglewood. Every Christmas they put up this ENORMOUS Christmas light display and people come from all over to drive through it. I had actually been thinking it would be neat to take the boys but wasn’t sure the triplets were quite ready. 

Well, Meme and Popi took Chase instead. They got in line around 4:45 and were already the 6th car waiting. Meme, being the amazing planner that she is, had enough foresight to bring games to play in the car while they waited to enter the light show.




Playing games while waiting for the darkness to settle
Once they got in, Popi called Jason to have Chase tell him what he was doing. All Jason could hear was Chase yelling, “Look over there!” “Look at that!” “Wow!” He was mesmerized by the entire scene and loved every minute of it.



Meme would tell me later that she mentioned to Popi that it might not be a good idea to have Chase pop out of the sunroof because the police might not approve. Without being told, anytime Chase would see blue lights (even in the displays) he would shrink down inside the car and wait until the blue lights passed! That kid…..what a hoot!



In her usual fashion, Meme made an event out of dinner with Chase helping and he followed it with a bath and some cards with Meme before heading off to bed.


Making pizza for dinner with Meme



Time to put it in the oven!




A little pre-bed card game with Meme





Barely awake yet still holding his baseball!



The next morning we all gathered in Winston-Salem for some food and a gift exchange. This is the second time in about 6 weeks that the cousins’ kids all got together and they had even more fun this time around.

Thanks cousins Zack and Luke for bringing this mini-hockey table for us to all enjoy!


Graham and Anthony (L-R) with Dancing Bear aka Jason's Uncle Dale


Jason and I left with the triplets and Meme and Popi followed us back to Raleigh with Chase in tow shortly after. This is the final shot we got from Popi on the ride home. Meme said she actually checked to make sure he was breathing at one point!

One tired boy! It is important to note that he gave up naps by choice before he turned 3!


So what's next? Well, Christmas with Meme and Popi here at home!

No comments: