Our trip

We left Cleveland on Friday Dec. 19 to drive out to Pittsburgh.  We were flying to portland out of pittsburgh because it was about $200 cheaper per ticket. That, and we could also visit with Alex & Laurie before we flew out.  

Well, the whole flying out of pittsburgh thing could be a whole post in and of itself. In order to save us all the pain of rehashing what was yet another nightmare travel experience (and to prevent PTSD flashbacks on my part), let's just say things didn't go quite as planned.  We were all set to fly out at about 1pm saturday.  Two 4-hour delays, one cancelled flight, and one rebooking and change of airline later we finally arrived in Portland on Monday night.  

Harrowing experiences aside, it was a trip I'm glad we made.  We had a wonderful time.  All of Mike's family was together at his parent's in Portland.  Megan and Robby had a great time with aunts & uncles and nana & papa.  (Of course, I took like one picture the whole time we were gone.  We got some family portraits taken while there, but my computer has eaten the picture CD, and won't eject or read it.  Hmm.) We made the switch over to Richland to visit my family on the 27th, and the time there went WAY too fast.  Before I knew what was happening, we were back to Portland for a day and then flew back to Pittsburgh.  I guess that's the problem with taking a 6 week vacation earlier this year... after that, two weeks is nothing.  

I wish we lived so much closer so that it wouldn't stink so much to go home so soon... but El Paso is a lot closer than Cleveland! We're already plotting family visits in Texas for the upcoming years, so it should be great! 

Robby and Nick watching the Steeler's game, Robby wearing his "terrible towel" bib (and calling his bookie).

Megan and Aunt Chelsea on Christmas morning.  Santa was good to Megan, and he even left her a thank-you-for-the-cookies note on special Santa stationary. 

Mike and Megan enjoying Christmas lights on Peacock lane

When we arrived back in PA, all our luggage was there (shock!), but not all in one piece.  My big huge duffel that had all of my and the kids' clothes was ripped open on the seam.  Miraculously, most things were still in there unharmed, but among the missing were some super soft socks Aunt Mitzi gave me, and Robby's green bear thermal jammies.  So sad!  So, in memoriam... 

RIP, little green bear thermal jammies.  

(And no, the airline would not accept responsibility)

Megan and her Nana and Papa the night before we left