Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone! I guess I shouldn't have titled the last post "We're Back" and then wait a whole month to post again. It's better than nothing :)

We hope that your holiday was fantastic, you were able to spend lots of time with family, enjoyed the company of friends, and made it back home safely. We had a great trip to Virginia and are excited to get back there in February for my nephew's first birthday (Hi Lukey!!)! I can't wait to read about your holiday on your blog and would love to tell you a little about our holiday.

The Cousins in their "tooter" pajamas. The kind with the butt flap. And their names on embroidered on their rears. :)

Each year we split the holiday with my family and J's family because the distance from one house to the other isn't that long. This year it was my family's Christmas on Christmas Day. Next year it will be J's family Christmas on Christmas Day. That's just how we do it. My family also has a few traditions that were started once my sister's and I started having children. We like to visit the REAL Santa at the Children's Museum in Richmond. This Santa is the REAL Santa because he is the same Santa we visited as kids (my mom has the photos to prove it and he does look exactly the same!). A's cousins Owen and Delaney went first to sit on Santa's lap, then little Lukey (he's not so little though - 5 months younger than A, but basically the same size),  and then unsure about Santa A. Then all of the cousins sit with Santa and we take a group picture. I won't say anymore, the picture speaks for itself.

HAHAHA! No caption necessary. 

Momma and A at Christmastown!

Decorating a "gingerbread" house with Grandma.

The second tradition that my family has started is going to Christmastown at Busch Gardens to walk around the park, people watch, and enjoy the spectacular light display Busch Gardens sets up for the winter. It really is fun, but this year there were SO. MANY. PEOPLE! I think they scheduled their visit to the park for when we were going so they could see our beautiful faces :) We also take a family picture in front of the gigantic Christmas tree. This was our 3rd Annual trip to BG and it is fun to see how our family has grown.

Stolle Outing to see the Christmas lights. 

Daddy and A watching the trains!

At J's house we had Christmas early with his family and A got to enjoy time with his auntie, uncle, grandma, and grandpa before everyone had to go back to work. We walked around Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to take in their light display and they even had a fire pit so we roasted marshmallows to make smores! Each time I have gone I have forgotten how cold I was on the previous visit. I guess great company makes you only remember to experience and who you were with and not the temperature. :)
J was able to go hunting, his favorite Christmastime activity, and I got to experience Hot Yoga with my sisters for the first time. (It was something different, but very fun! Everyone should try it at least once.)  My mom was also very kind and watched A so that J and I could go on a movie date together. We saw Les Miserables and it was great!

Cookies!

A LOVES his Panda Climber from Aunt Courtney!

Packing for 2 adults, a baby, a dog, and Christmas presents was quite difficult. But not as difficult as the drive. The hardest part was sitting in the backseat of an SUV (that looked like the Clampit's owned it - trunk full and a platform on the back!) for 10-12 hours. Even though it was stressful to figure out the schedule and logistics of the trip, seeing family for the holiday is a tradition I will never pass up.

Stolle Family 2012

Now the new year has begun and I can't wait for the adventures this year will bring! Here is to a happy and healthy new year!