Coast-To-Coast Christmas

We had yet another amazing Christmas this year, filled with the people we love. Dan and I took two weeks off from work, and we planned to spend Christmas week with my family in TX and New Year's week with Dan's family in VA. We spent fun time with many aunts, uncles, and cousins in TX and also enjoyed hanging out with just my family at home. The east coast winter storm threw a minor kink in our plans and delayed our flight to VA for two days. It turned out to be a fun kink, though, because we were originally scheduled to leave TX the day after Christmas. So on Christmas morning, we opened all our presents and realized how little time we had to actually enjoy playing all the new games, listening to the new CDs and watching the new movies together. *dismay!* So when we unexpectedly got extra time to spend in TX, we put it to good use! Now we have a new house rule that "Christmas morning" will be scheduled at least a couple of days before everyone leaves. :)

When the east coast airports finally thawed out, we arrived in a beautiful winter wonderland covered in snow! We visited Busch Gardens Christmastown one evening, where they had decorated everything in Christmas lights and had special holiday shows & foods. They had a few rides & attractions open, too, and whenever the lines got too long, we threw snowballs at each other to pass the time. :) Friends & extended family came over to the Jester house for meals & games, and we even got to visit with some good friends from Colorado! We had our second "Christmas morning" and spent the rest of our time playing with our nephews' new Legos and Toy Story characters. Our nephews were involved, most of the time. :) We enjoyed every minute and can't wait to get to see everyone again!

One of our first evenings in TX, we got together with my mom's side of the family at a Mexican restaurant, then went to Braum's for ice cream afterwards.

My brother Steve, my mom, me, and cousin Tim enjoying the. best. frozen. yogurt. ever.

Cousins Kyle, Jeff, Laura (the cute one in the front), Addi (the cute one in the back), and Tricia

My brother Paul gave us a tour of his house & workplaces. This is the store where he works that sells hand-made canned goods & candy

Dan was especially attracted to the pickled quail eggs. haha!

Me, Aunt Wanda, Aunt Lillie, and my mom during an afternoon visit

Dan, my dad, Uncle Larry, and my brothers Steve & Paul

Cousins Emily & Kolby (at the head of the table) invited us over for dinner at their house

In Williamsburg, we all enjoyed a beautiful (and COLD) night at Busch Gardens Christmastown with the Jesters

Guess who we saw there!

For some reason, no one but Dan & I and our nephew Aaron wanted to get a picture with some of the most famous stars in America.

Some of our best friends from Colorado were in VA and came to visit us! Courtney spent the day with Mike & Kate and their kids, Charlotte & Cameron, and they all made the drive to Williamsburg to see us one night. We loved it!

We spent New Year's Eve with lots of family & friends, including Pete, Joyce, Christina & Kimberly. Christina and Kimberly were the flowergirls in our wedding once upon a time!

Dan with Uncle Tony & Aunt Irene

We took some family photos before we left - I love this one of the original Jester family! L to R: Robin, Dad J, Mom J, Dan & Tim

The whole gang

Definitely one for the Christmas card

And I'll end with something that will make your day. During Dan's work Christmas party, they had a game show theme based on "Minute to Win It". They pulled random (yeah, right) names from a hat and those people had to compete to win a prize. Dan's name just *happened* to be called for this competition, which was to shake/dance all the jingle bells out of a Kleenex box the fastest. He got all the style points, I'll tell you that much. :)