Sorry we went MIA for a few weeks, we left for a big family Christmas at Ryans parents home in North Carolina for almost two weeks, came back and the sick train hit our family with a nice big WELCOME HOME!! In the end it was all worth it though, this was a huge visit for us for several reasons. First, it was everyone’s first time meeting Aveline, and some had yet to meet Novella as well. Novella had only “met” one of her cousins when she was just a few days new earthside. Also, it has been years since we had even seen siblings and nephews. For my Mother in Law to have all of us under the same roof even for just a couple of days was quite meaningful.

As you know Ryan is Active Duty Coast Guard, what you may not know is his older brother is as well, and his brother in law is Active Duty Army. Everyone is coming up on transfer this year (2017), except us. We were determined to get us all together before everyone moved to who knows where. So we all made it happen! It was such a blessing to get to see everyone and get to know our three nephews better. Getting to see all of the cousins interact together was so much fun! They are all different ages, but found ways to play and have fun with one another.

 

Aveline also got to have her first beach experience…she thought the sand was fabulous!! Novella collected shells for Avie and herself, and had fun playing and walking in the sand.

We had about a week with just Ryans parents, then everyone else began to trickle in. The only person Novella wasn’t too sure of this time was Ryans brother, we think it is because they look so similar that it was a little confusing to her, the night we left he finally got to hold her albeit just mere seconds, but Aveline seemed to really like him, maybe for the same reason (looks a lot like her Papa). Even as I am writing this, Novella is looking at the photo below and said, “He look a lot like Papa, he really like sister”. Haha so I guess our theory may be correct! LOL All of the Aunts and Uncles were fabulous with the kiddos!

Christmas day was a very special morning. Once all the kiddos were awake it was gift time, and boy, did they all ale out like bandits. Everyone was very generous this year and every family was truly blessed. I know we were not expecting so much, and we are very grateful for all of the wonderful gifts received. That day was spent, on my part, packing and loading the car up.  Ryan decided it was best to drive through the night with the girls again because they sleep more. An 18.5 hour drive is no joke, and we try to do it in one shot so we don’t have to endure two full days of driving and a hotel fee. We said our see you laters and hit the road. It was a very full two weeks, but it went by incredibly fast, seems like a blur already.

We got home, got settled and then a lovely stomach bug hit me, then Ryan. Next Aveline ended up a cold and now has a horrible cough that she has since passed along to me. Thankfully Novella has, so far, been unscathed by illness, other than a bit of a runny nose and slight cough, for which we are grateful! She had a rough go last year with her 2 week tummy troubles over Thanksgiving with ER visit from dehydration due to her stomach bug, then she had croup over Christmas, and then pink eye for Easter. She had her fair share already. Lol Although, other than the colds, it seems like the Frazier Frontier is on the upswing and ready to see what 2017 has in store for each of us.

Hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas as well!