Last Tuesday, Calib, Peyton, Hayden and I flew up to Ohio. Our plane landed around 7 and we stopped to say hello to gGgi and Aunt Bonnie. The boys had a mini Christmas with Gigi, and by the time we got to Fremont it was 11 pm. The boys were all so excited that there was snow on the ground in Ohio (They had not seen snow up north since 2010, and had never seen this much). When we got to Gigi's house they kept asking to play in it. I had to explain to them that they would be cold and wet afterwards so they would have to wait until we got to grandmas so they would be able to put dry, warm pajamas on afterwards. They patiently waited, and helped carry things into grandma's before I gave them the green light. Then, they were thrilled.
They weren't really dressed for it though, so it didn't last more than 10 minutes. Then they came inside for some hot chocolate.
Grandma then put these poor kids to work at midnight (notice the clock in the background), having them stamp, stuff and put return address labels on her Christmas cards. (She paid them each $5 for their troubles)
Then we all got tucked in, in the newly redone upstairs bedroom. It was so different with the ugly green shag carpet gone and the new pretty wood floors. Plus it has a nice new paint job and ceiling fan!
The next morning I promised to take them sledding first thing, because the forecast was for warmer weather (high 30s/low 40s) and rain. I knew the snow was not going to last long. This time, though, grandma dug out all the old snow gear so they would be more prepared for sledding. (That snowsuit Hayden has on used to be Corts!)
After gearing up, we headed out.
We went to the hospital hill, there's no where else worth sledding at in Fremont in my opinion. Calib even went down on the very old sled.
I sled down the hill too!
And so did mom!
It was so much fun, and we were the only people out on the hill.
The boys lasted out there close to an hour. I really didn't think they could stand the cold for that long, but they did. I was ready to go by the end for sure. I had cold, cold toes!
When we got back to the house, mom gave the boys an early Christmas present since their hats were too wet to put back on and we were headed back out. Peyton is still wearing his monkey hat around the house even though we're home (and it was 77 degrees today!)
After putting on some dry clothes, we went out to Chuds for lunch. No trip to Fremont is complete without some chud spuds (and a chef salad!)
And the boys then picked out grandmas tree in record time. Mostly because they were freezing to death. They agreed they would not want to go out to chop down a tree if they lived up north.
After I took Calib over to Jeffs, Peyton and Hayden played outside, while mom and I decorated the tree.
They were super impressed with the big icicles.
But I was impressed with how creative they were. They packed snow on the stairs, so they could go sledding even in grandmas backyard!
My first day in Ohio, I also got a haircut. I realy wanted to get it all chopped off, and almost chickened out because I wanted my warm hair in Ohio. But, thinking long term, I did it anyway. I really like it. Especially now that I'm home and I'm not wearing a hat all the time.
That night we went to the Chinese Restaurant, a Sattler family tradition when you get the Christmas tree. Bob and Linda Miller joined us for the event.
Before we left, grandma gave the boys each a penny to get their fortune at the scale (thats been there since I was a kid!)
The next morning, there was still snow (though it was melting), so Peyton and Hayden begged me to take them sledding again. Of course I obliged.
Peyton even made himself a little ramp, and got some air.
Again, they stayed out for about an hour until they got too cold.
Then it was back to grandmas for some cookie making and hot chocolate.
For dinner, we hit the pizza palace, another must stop in Fremont.
Frozen was playing at the Fremont movie theater, and so I took the boys knowing it was much cheaper than going to the movies in Tampa. It was a cute movie too, we highly recommend it.
When we got home and Hayden put on his PJs, we realized him and grandma matched!
Friday we headed up to Toledo for the day to help GiGi with various Christmas chores, and then up to Detroit to get Asa from the airport. He flew in for the weekend to take part in the festivities. When we got back to Fremont, we waited for my cousin Joanne, her husband Ray and their twin boys Max and Henry. They just turned 8, so they are about the same age as Hayden. They also brought their two dogs: Mater and Miss Kitty. Peyton was in love with Mater.
After the kids went to bed, we may have taken part in some shenanigans. And we may have been asked to quiet down, by an eleven year old. Then we might have stayed up until 3 am. Possibly. Maybe.
The next morning, Ray cooked us all breakfast.
We headed up to Toledo for the day on Saturday. The annual Ainsworth cookie day was being held at grandmas. We snuck out for about an hour, though, to meet up with Asa's dad who drove down from Michigan to see us all.
Cookie day was a huge success as always. With all the helpers, we were done in no time.
Ray even got to fry them on his very first cookie day. This is usually an honor reserved for more seasoned cookie-day-ers.
Clint, Jess, Cort and Garrett drove up with Elemeno, giving Peyton another dog to pet.
But he did still help out with some of the easier jobs.
Which for some, maybe wasn't so easy.
We ordered pizza and when all the kids congregated on the stairs for dinner I had to take a picture. It's where we all used to eat.
Holly and Gwen arrived just in time for the last few cookies, and to put grandmas tree. That used to be a tradition of Holly and I putting up the tree (going back to 97 I think!) Until of course, I left her for Florida.
Saturday night all of us went back to moms house. Sunday morning Jeff dropped Calib off, so we all got to open presents together. It was the first time we were all together this year, so mom was one happy camper.
Garrett opened up a Browns sweatshirt, and Calib had on his Steelers sweatshirt, so I had to take a picture of the two rivals.
Elemeno was also picture worthy in his Grinch hat.
There are so many stockings on the railing now, we can't all open them together. So, we let the kids go first.
Gwen got some of those looms for Christmas, so her and Calib worked on those.
And we all took a family picture, plus a self taken one before Calib went back to Jeffs.
Cort made us all dad's eggs for breakfast. They were even cheesy enough this time!
Afterwards, we headed back up to Toledo to round up all the cookies- made all over the country- to distribute into the cookie boxes.
After getting all of them put together, the Sattlers met up with the other Sattler's at Red Robin for a Christmas lunch/dinner. We got to visit with Grandpa Sattler, Uncle Grant, Aunt Sharon and Jake and Nate.
A quick stop back at grandmas (much quieter house), and Peyton found yet another dog to cuddle with. This time it was Lily, Corts dog.
Before he fell asleep, tuckered out from the weekends events.
Sunday night we said our goodbyes to my grandma, and took Asa up to the airport to fly home.
Monday we had all come down sick, and so we packed up, ran some errands and waited for Jeff to drop Calib off. Tuesday morning, on Christmas Eve, we were up early to get to the airport. However, we first had to fit in our traditional Christmas Eve breakfast of Santa pancakes.
We flew out of Toledo around noon. I love flying out of Toledo, it such a tiny little airport. How small? Well, they had free cookie decorating on the airside, and $2 subs at subway. Our plane even left early and landed almost half an hour early in St. Pete!
Asa picked us up from the airport, and then we came home to do a couple more punches on our board. We played the ever popular 'Guess which random household item the wrapped present is' game.
I also managed to put together a snacky Christmas Eve dinner spread, per tradition.
Then for the first time ever, the boys helped us put out all the presents. It was such a long day, I was happy to have all the helpers.
Every year the boys get new PJs to wear Christmas Eve, and this year was no different.
And we always drink hot chocolate from our Santa Mugs. We headed to bed early, I think we were all asleep by 10:30.
The next morning, we ended up waking the kids up around 8:30. We had settled on a 10 am wake up call, but after going to bed so early the night before I was up and couldn't go back to sleep so we woke them up.
Hayden opened his big Perry first, something he'd been asking for for MONTHS, so he was pretty thrilled.
Asa and I apparently had the same idea for labeling our presents.
Peyton had a very Denver Broncos Christmas.
I got my usual year supply of chapstick. (Which makes me VERY happy by the way). I also realized I did not take a picture of it, but the boys made Asa and I 'coupons'. They even wrapped the present! They had done it weeks ago, and we didn't have any idea. It was a very nice surprise.
Peyton got his juicer. Because, you know, 11 year olds ask for juicers for Christmas.
Asa was shocked to discover I bought him a Vincent Jackson jersey when everything was 75% off at the Bucs store during the last home game. He really had NO idea, which made it even more awesome.
Peyton received the coolest t-shirt ever. It's SO fitting for him.
And by the mess, you can tell they were all pretty spoiled this year.
After presents, we had our traditional angel food cake french toast breakfast.
After breakfast, the boys asked to do the last punch. Calib was excited to find out that it said 'But wait! There's one more present.'
Turns out, they also all got a PS3 for Christmas, and games, and controllers. I took a video of them opening it. They were super excited!
Another member of the family REALLY pleased with Christmas: Maybel. She loves her new bed. I've never seen her sleep so much.
My favorite part of Christmas though, is the board games. We have so many new ones to play! They've all been a hit so far. We're making our way through them.
Calib was happy with his hat and his new clothes. But his favorite present is probably his new rugby ball.
We spent the rest of the day playing board games, and video games, and had our traditional seafood Christmas dinner. I haven't put the Christmas night pictures on my computer, and after two blogs I am not feeling like getting to that too, so you'll just have to take my word for it.
But, I got both blogs done while Asa and Calib went to pick my mom up from the airport, and that was my goal. So, ta-da! Time to go pull out the sofa bed for mom.
Next Up: Grandma visits us for the next week!
