Here are some of the highlights in of our Christmas season:
December 21, 2008
Jason, in his Sunday best, playing in a chilren's ministry classroom.
And Madison and Carson, dressed up as well, working together on the drums.
Madison giving us a shy cheesy grin.
December 23, 2008...the adventure begins
...{the following is more for me to hold onto the memories, but feel free to read :) } we decide to leave for Ohio in the evening rather than wait until Christmas Eve morning to leave because of the threat of bad weather coming towards Maryland. Yes, it was coming from the west...the direction we were heading...but all forecasts showed low percentages of ice for the time period which we would be driving. 6pm...leave Clarksburg...7 pm...get through Frederick after sitting in traffic for 1 hour on a 15 mile stretch...finally traffic picks up, but it's dark, and we're already beginning to feel the exhaustation! We take turns driving but find it's hard work staying awake! Then the rain begins and a little sleet here and there, but we're okay...we're halfway there, right? By this point it's raining pretty steadily and when we stop at various locations we realize that there's a good amount of ice building on the sidewalks, and its cold! About 2am we get off the interstate to begin the hour journey on back roads to my parents home. We're still exhausted and we realize the roads are definitely more slick now. As we pass by a Super 8 motel in the last town that will have a hotel, I think for a moment that we should stop...but that thought passed quickly as we had a car top carrier loaded with gifts on top of the van that would have to be unloaded, plus the thought of unloading the kids and trying to get them to sleep in a hotel, besides we were just an hour away, maybe an hour and a half taking things more slowly, right? Matt's driving and doing so very cautiously. He's completely exhausted now and driving in the rain on the slick roads was really wearing on him. He stopped various times just to get out, walk around, check the conditions out, etc. I was dozing off and on. 3:30 am...we get to a point and can go no further and we're just 10 miles from my parents! We had just come up a hill and at the top was a fuel truck, stopped....why? because of the very steep curvy hill ahead that was covered in ice. Cars were trying to come up from the other direction to no avail. There was no way to continue forward. At this point we felt paralyzed. We didn't even want to attempt turning around as the roads were a sheet of ice and we had just traveled up a very steep hill to get where we were! Matt talks to the driver of the truck who says he's called the highway patrol and they're going to send out a salt truck...then it won't be long, right? So we put it in park and try to get some rest. Fortuneately the boys are sleeping and Madison finds comfort as I take her out of her seat and hold her. We all sleep until about 5am. Still no salt truck! Matt gets out and survey the situation. Cars still stuck coming up the hill, multiple cars now behind us, waiting. And it's still pitch dark out! So we feed the kids some snacks, give them what drinks we have and wait, and wait. Finally the sun begins to give light around 7 or so. I'm beginning to get very pretty ansy and the kids are definitely restless even though we have been playing DVDs since 5am! Finally at 7:30 multiple cars make it up the hill and pass us by, but we still can't get down the hill so we decide we can turn around and try another way into town. A call to Dad gives us some alternative directions and we are on our way. We couldn't believe the line of cars that had backed up behind us trying to go the very same route! Finally one hour later we make it to my parent's house. We feed the kids some real breakfast, give them baths, and by 10:30 we all lay down for a 4 hour nap! I look back upon the 4 hours we spent stopped alongside the road and realize it could've been much worse! All things considered the kids and the rest of us hung in there really well!
And now onto Christmas Eve 2008. Feeling a little better after our naps we all shower, eat some good food and then head out to my parent's church for Christmas Eve service.
Madison before the service.
Jason walking the halls of the nursing home where my Grandpa lives.
An attempt at a family picture on Christmas Eve.
December 25, 2008....Christmas morning.
All the kids ready to unwrap all their presents.
Grammy with the grandkids.
Madison and Grammy decorating some cookies together.
Madison totally engrossed in her new Dora cell phone.
And very happy with her cash register!
Jason just taking it all in!
Madison and Carson playing together.
Carson enjoying the day.
After naps, Grandma Helbert (mom's mom) and Grandpa Helbert came for dinner. Grandma is in an assisted living facility right next to the nursing home Grandpa is in. Here we all gather for a picture.
The Helberts.
Carson thoroughly enjoying all the toys.
Carson having a blast at a little playland at the Mansfield Mall.
Sarge (the dog) was a big hit this year. The kids are pretty fearless when it comes to dogs, even big ones. Jason was a little timid at first but by the end of the week was so excited to see him. Carson was probably the most enthused with Sarge. He was constantly wanting to go and find him and love on him as you can see below.
A quick visit with Grandma before we have to head back to Maryland.
And a brief visit with Grandpa.
And one last shot at a Pier family picture before church on Sunday.
Daddy and Madison getting ready to head down a hill.
Mommy and Carson ready to go.
We are blessed by having some great sledding hills right in our backyard. Despite the work that was done last spring in the back we were still able to find a great place to sled. Daddy and Madison enjoy their first ride down the big hill.
