An Indiana Christmas

As most of you know, or if you didn't know, my Mom Deneen, Step-Dad Charlie, and Brother C.J. moved to Indiana this past summer. Now they live almost the exact distance as when I lived in CA and they were in AZ! So, Jan-Michael and I drove to Indiana while my Sister Kara and Grandma Charlotte flew out. Well, about half way into our trip, I wished that we too hitched a ride on a plane! The weather was awful! Thanks to my Dad who got us a lovely GPS for Christmas, we flowed it's route and watched as the "arrival time" listed went from 4pm
to after 9pm. We spent a total of 11 hours driving to Indiana which should have taken only 6. AAHHH!!! Half way in to our trip, we suddenly came to a stop somewhere in Ohio. The current freeway we were on had been closed. Imagine this- the roads were so icy that the slightest little incline sent semi-trucks sliding backwards! We *illegally* exited the freeway and spent the next hour or so just wasting time by eating or shopping in this little plaza. Thank goodness we were in the boonies with only a gas station to keep us entertained! It was a scary and nerve-racking trip to say the least. I'm pretty sure that any sort of winter driving is worse than the scariest roller-coaster.

















We did have a lot of fun in Indiana though. The kids, meaning Jan, me, Kara and CJ went exploring and shopping. Everyone was ecstatic to find a White Castle and try it for the first time! My husband ate a total of 8, including one chicken burger. My my my. Kara then built a castle out of the boxes. We went downtown, took pictures and shopped. Christmas Eve night, we got all dressed up and went to a candlelight service. Then watched "A Wonderful Life" and wrapped gifts in to the wee hours. Christmas morning was spent doing the usual- opening gifts. I however was so excited for Kara to open her gift from us. I had been working on a scrapbook for her since this summer! C.J. said he had the best Christmas ever (he got a ton of hunting stuff including an air rifle). Even the dogs got gifts =) My Mom made the tradition Christmas breakfast...
strawberry blintzes MMmm Mmmm. That night we played one of Jan's gifts from my parents- Pirates of the Caribbean version of Life. And for the first time, us ladies drank spiked Egg Nog! Merry merry!


The day after Christmas, after hitting some Christmas sales, our family came over for a Christmas party! My Mom made tons of yummy food and family from Peru and Kentucky came- My Aunt Sara and her daughters Ashta and Alaura (poor Amelia was sick so Uncle Jay stayed at home with her), Aunt Jenny and Uncle Steven with their girls, Danielle and Emily, Aunt Heidi and her kids, Hayley and Brandon, Grandma Carolyn, and Uncle Christopher and Aunt Mindy with Cassie and Christopher Jr. I had not seen my Indiana family in about 8 or 9 years! It was also fun being reunited with my beautiful flowergirls =) We ate, opened gifts, and watched Kara rock out! Yes, my brave little sister sang and played for the whole family!



Jan-Michael and I left the next day. Luckily the drive back was much much better!
We hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas!