Our Gaylord Vacation

Our Gaylord Christmas Vacation!

Welcome to our 2nd Annual Gaylord Christmas Vacation! Last year we met our cousin's at the Gaylord to see Ice and spend time together before the holiday craze. We had such fun, we decided to make this an annual event, and our gifts to each other for Christmas. So, this year we decided to spend the night at the hotel with our sweet cousins. It was WONDERFUL! We had so much fun and did so many things. There are many pictures ahead, too many shots I just couldn't think of not sharing with everyone.

We arrived in our rooms and immediately went downstairs to check out the Christmas decorations. The entire atrium was decorated in head to toe Christmas, with mini toy trains everywhere, reindeer shrubs running rapid, Texas-size gingerbread houses that you could live in (and made from top to bottom with food)... Wow!

First, like always, our family shot!

And here is a shot showing you how excited AJ is to start the party!

Pictures taken around "town":

The BFF's and cousins - so happy to be here together!

Reindeer Games:

So while our cousins were checking in and getting settled, we discovered a fun scavenger hunt in which KK needs to track down all of Santa's reindeer that are hiding within the atrium. Each reindeer had a clue that you would use to guess which reindeer you found. It was so much fun. KK got a light up nose to wear as we walked around and tracked each deer down. Of course, we took pictures of each and had to share them:



What a great way to see the sights and let the kids run around. We did get a little silly in some of the pictures :-)

Of course, I had to join in. That red nose was just too cute not to try on. The girls loved seeing that too.

After our reindeer games - it was off to dinner. If you put all of us together, you will get a wild time. I think the tables around us were laughing as much as we were!

Gingerbread Men:

After dinner, us girls decided to decorate some homemade gingerbread men at the cafe. It was a fast event, as the girls wanted to dig in and eat. But what handsome men they were... for a second at least!

Sledding & Sliding:

We weren't ready to call it a night yet! This year the hotel was offering sliding (for a fee of course). KK wasn't so sure about it.... we are Texas girls and don't see a lot of sledding. But when her cousin said please, she couldn't say no. It was so fun to watch. The girls were spinning and dizzy and had a great time.

After our sledding adventure, we hit the pool for a late night swim before bedtime. AJ was fast asleep before we could put him in his bed... but KK & Mommy couldn't help but remember those big yummy cookies we saw at the cafe. Our Daddy went out and brought us a late night treat that made sugar cookies dance in our heads all night long!

CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS IN ICE:

The big day was here. After sweet dreams, we were refreshed and ready to see Charlie Brown. Mommy had found two little pink and blue Snoopy's for KK and AJ weeks before we came to the hotel. They were fast favorites, sleeping with my babies each night in their beds. And we couldn't leave them behind for this either!



We bundled up tight, as it is about 9 degrees inside the exhibit. For those who don't know - the entire Charlie Brown Christmas story is carved into dyed ice making for a wintry walk through a favorite Christmas story.

Words don't capture how beautiful it is - we loved it. Even the kids were awed. Granted it wasn't all roses getting there. It is always a long walk to the deep freeze and you are required to wear Arctic coats to go inside safely. Convincing four overly excited (and tired) kids to put on another large coat that makes it hard for them to move is never fun. There were meltdowns on both sides of the family, but we pushed through and had so much fun exploring Charlie Brown's story!

We can't wait until next year - so many fun memories! And to share this and spend time with our cousins, that was great. They are such a blessing to our family - we love you!