September 2023

12/17/2022

Mom gave us a little pre-Christmas gift for the car:

A place to hang up the phone on the back of the seat to watch movies:

We were all excited for the trip!

Pillows and blankets gallor!

Of course Mom remembered to get window clings!:

We stopped in Fayetteville, North Carolina and visited the Poe House, Home of E.A. Poe. Not the famous write Poe (unfortunately) but the Brickmaker/Businessman who made Fayetteville Famous apparently.

There was a nice lady who gave us the grand tour:

That was actually interesting but it’s time to head to our hotel. Mom and Dad decided to go to the newest Avatar movie in 3D. The Theatre was about a half a mile away from the hotel, so very convenient:

The movie was quite good, especially the scenery.

The next morning we headed up north for our planned 2 day and three night excursion in Washington DC! On the way we spotted a “flying saucer”:

We made it to our Airbnb in Bethesda, Maryland.

**Beautiful house! Except we had to go around back:**

And go down to the basement:

There were two very nice rooms:

**A tiny little kitchen is all we needed anyway.**

We had a good night’s rest and got up early to walk to the Metro to ride into DC:

**Cold, what cold…if I zip my coat you can’t see my outfit Mom!**

At the Metro station we had to ride a very tall escalator and Rachel did not like it at all (and that’s an understatement!):

**That was the scariest thing I have EVER been on Mom!**

Selfies on the Metro:

We made it to DC and walked to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

**It was fantastic!! Very moving and impactful!**

Time to walk the mall:

**We couldn’t get tickets again (we tried a few years ago but it was closed then and now the tickets are limited).**

We walked over to the Air and Space Museum and fed the birds while we waited for it to open:

We headed back outside and had a little fun:

It got pretty cold outside:

**We still were able to enjoy the visit.**

Dad and Lizzy ran all the way up the stairs to the Lincoln Memorial!:

Dad made it to the top just ahead of Lizzy; good job both of you!

The Lincoln Memorial:

Sorry Rachel but we have to take the escalator in the Metro Station again:

**She decided to put earbuds in and play music keeping her hoodie on and her head down. Good thinking Rachel!** It worked great!

We surprised the girls with a stop at a famous cupcake shop, Georgetown Cupcake:

That was a fun-filled day!

The next day we headed back out in the cold and walked to the Metro station:

**Everyone was a little more prepared for the cold this time.**

**The head down music playing worked well again.**

Today we decided to go to the Smithsonian National Zoo!

We heard they had pandas here but….

There were several photo opportunities:

The Orangutans were awesome!

Yet another staged pic:

This guy was singing or screaming or scared?

We had fun at the zoo but it’s time to head back to the Airbnb for our last night’s stay. Tomorrow we head to NY.

12/21/2022

On our way to NY we stopped at the first real snow and played:

We made another stop in Robert H. Treman State Parkin Ithaca, NY to go see a waterfall!

We were ready to get out of the car although it was a bit chilly outside:

We found the trail to Lower Falls:

We made it to the Lower Falls:

Mom and Dad enjoyed the upper part of the falls:

While we explored the bottom:

Dad found an icicle:

While mom enjoyed the beautiful waterfall:

Not too cold to enjoy this beautiful waterfall!

**Rachel climbed up and got her own icicle! Time to smash it into the water!**

We decided to go see another waterfall a short drive away in Ithaca:

Although the sun was bright, it was cold!

**Rachel decided it was too cold for this one so the three of us just made a quick stop while she stayed in the warm car.**

We made it to NY! this year we found an Airbnb right across from the lot where Nana’s (Mom’s mother’s mother) house used to be:

**It wasn’t fancy but it was still good.**

Next stop was Grandpa Ed’s and Grandma Joyce’s house. As tradition would have it we had a pizza party to celebrate Lizzy’s and Dad’s birthdays:

**Call Uncle Joe’s for some yummy pizza!**

Grandpa Ed brought in the cupcakes while we sang Happy Birthday to Lizzy and Dad.

Cards and gifts too:

**A beautiful necklace! Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce give great gifts!**

We enjoyed celebrating our birthdays and had a great visit with Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce.

December 22, 2022

Mom and Dad took us to the Ice Skating Rink! It was just barely starting too snow:

**Skates on on but are we really ready to go?!**

Dad was the brave one to go first:

A good start. . .

That forward lean is getting bigger. . .

**That was challenging to say the least!**

Lizzy, Rachel and Mom didn’t make it far at all so we asked for some assistance devices:

Even Dad had one! We slowly but surely improved and ditched the walkers and used the wall:

Even the wall was challenging:

We slowly even made it away from the wall (a little):

**Not going to fall…not going to fall..**

We had so much fun but it was exhausting!

After ice skating we went back to Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce’s house. We helped decorate Grandma Joyce’s Christmas cookies:

This is a very fun family tradition that we all enjoy!

**This is going to be a masterpiece when done!**

We decorated A LOT of cookies:

December 23rd, 2022

Today we went to our favorite local shops and restaurants and visited with Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce. It was snowy and just a little cold:

December 24th, 2022

This morning we went to visit Uncle Ted and Aunt Alice in Stanley, NY.

**We shared some handmade gifts with them.**

**Our second cousin Bradley was there too. This was our first time meeting him because he lives in Arizona.**

They sent us off with some yummy homemade Italian Christmas cookies!

Then we drove to Canandaigua, NY to visit with our other second cousins:

**We had a wonderful visit and a fantastic dinner!**

Christmas Day, December 25th, 2022

We went to church in Fayette, NY at the chapel on the Peter Whitmer Farm. This is Mom’s “home” ward; where she was baptized and also where Lizzy was baptized.

After church we went to Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce’s house:

**Lizzy helped set the table for Chrstmas dinner.**

**Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce had candy canes out for everyone and the food looked so good!**

**They remembered the cranberry sauce for Sullivan, Lizzy and Rachel.**

The entire meal was absolutely delicious!

After dinner we sat down in the living room and got ready to exchange gifts:

Handmade Christmas card time!

**From Lizzy to Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce.**

**Handmade Christmas cards from Rachel!**

**Grandma Joyce was very excited about this book!**

**“Hey, how did you guys know I wanted a hydroflask?!!”**

**A beauty headband for applying and removing makeup.**

**Rachel was excited for the movies “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas” and “The Impossible”.**

**More gifts for mom and treat bag for dad!**

**Rachel tried on her new shoes and took’em for a spin!**

Gifts for all our pets too!

After Grandma Grandma passed Joyce took over the tradition and makes these beautiful towels every year:

After presents a spontaneous celebratory dance party ensued:

12/26/2022

Time to head back home to Florida!

12/27/2022

We made it back home!

On a sad note our cat Shadow passed away this morning so we buried him in our pet cemetery on the side of the house shortly after we got home.

No photo description available. — **Rest in peace Shadow.**

We know we will see him in heaven some day and be reunited.

Later in the day after having a small service for Shadow and unpacking and putting away all of our trip items we had our family Christmas gift exchange.

As tradition would have it we start with the stockings filled by “Santa”:

Luna first!:

Now Lizzy and Rachel’s stockings:

Dad’s turn:

And Mom:

Back to the pets:

Miss Kitty!

Windy and Miss Kitty can share these treats:

We can’t forget Bunya!

And of course Luna has more presents!

**Thank you Grandpa Ed and Grandma Joyce!**

Every Christmas we leave a present under the tree “for Jesus”. We open this gift before all of the presents under the tree. This tradition was started by Lizzy many years ago and she has added quite a few things to the gift box over the years. Each year Lizzy unpacks the gift box and describes the contents: