Traveling.

December 13, 2011

We actually travel every year for the holidays. Unfortunately, Gabe and I’s families live miles and states away:( I dream of being in the same state as a few of my sisters or brothers one day. The last few years when we lived in KS, my sister lived a mile away and our kids played together almost daily. We miss them terribly. Someday we hope we can all live on the same street;) Until then, we will be road tripping it. What about you? Is your family near or far? Do you all gather for the holidays?
The last few years we have gone to Milwaukee for thanksgiving to see Gabe’s family, and to St. Louis for Christmas to see mine. We are anxiously counting down the days. You see, at Christmas, its one of the one or two times a year all of us get to be together. (For the newer readers, I have ten brothers and sisters! I am the second oldest!) Those of us who are out of state truck it home with babies, suitcases, wrapped gifts, and months worth of stories to share. My husband actually gets even more excited than I do, if thats possible, to dive into Christmas week with the clan. Its non stop laughs, games, music, and merry making:)
This year, my sister Tricia and her little family will not be able to join us, but they have quite the wonderful excuse….their second baby is due in the next few weeks! We are going to miss them terribly, but we are thankful to them for bringing another ridiculously cute baby into the world (you should see their first babe)! Its hard to be apart from loved ones during Christmas. Are you going to be missing someone near and dear?? 
{Travel Bag c/o Scout by Bungalow}
This lovely bag was sent over from Bungalow and I have traveled a few times with it already. I use it for both Veronica and I. Sometimes I pack all the diapers, blankets, and baby items in here. (Its water resistant too which I love.) Sometimes I use it for me, because like most girls, I always pack more shoes than I need, and it is nice deep and wide to fit them in their well with room to spare:)
Do you have any favorite travel essentials? Do share! 
Hope each of you get to be with loved ones this Christmas, and don’t have to be missing too many family and friends:)
Thank you to everyone who entered the Double Dutch giveaway! Lucky #15  StephanieC is the winner! Will be contacting you about details. This was the last giveaway of 2011! Got some great ones in the works for next year:)

Leave a Comment

  • Safe travels Anna! Have a merry Christmas and I love that scarf!

    http://www.natashafatah.blogspot.com

  • wow! 10 brothers and sisters! my dad had 10 brothers and sisters too so i totally remember the holidays with a ton of cousins and just running around. my grandfather lived on a farm and we’d sneak to see the neighbors cows. Have a Merry Christmas with family!

  • Wow! I had no idea there were 10 kids in your family! My dad grew up with 9 in his, but I still can’t fathom having that many siblings, especially growing up with just one brother.

    We have traveled every year we have known each other. We’ll alternate between Thanksgiving and Christmas at our parents’ houses. Next year, though, we will be staying put and starting our own holiday traditions. We think it’s particularly important to do that before we start bringing kids into the mix. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Have fun with your family over the holidays!

  • My family is in another country but I’ll be travelling on Friday to join them for the festive period – can’t wait!!
    Emma xx
    http://www.gawgusthings.com
    @gawgusthings

  • yay, that is me!! ๐Ÿ™‚ I’m envious of your big family- safe travels and happy holidays!!! Stephanie

  • We travel for the holidays too. It is so worth it to spend time with family!

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  • Safe Travels during Christmas! We’re lucky enough to live in the same city as my husband’s family, but we alternate where we go for Christmas. One year Minnesota with his family, the next home to Florida and vice versa. Wish we could alternate for Thanksgiving too, but so far that hasn’t been an option. Love being with family during the holidays!

  • So glad you get to be with family! We are traveling the week after Christmas to be with our parents and some of our siblings!

  • Happy and safe travel wishes to you, Anna. We traveled for Thanksgiving, so I’m happy we’re staying home for Christmas ๐Ÿ™‚ My essentials include: novel snacks for the kids, small books, new coloring books, ipad/iphone with games or dvd player. Comfy dress of tunic/leggings and boots for me. Happy Holidays!

  • I totally understand the need to be all together for Christmas. I am one of four and my brother is currently far away in California (he’s in the Marine Corps). For the past few Christmases, he’s been unable to be home and it’s been hard. It’s just not the same unless we are all under the same roof!

    Praying for your safe travels!!

  • The holidays must be SO much fun with a big family! Both of our families primarily live in the tri-state area, so we’re never too far from each other ๐Ÿ™‚

  • merry christmas to you, too! looove this bag. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • merry christmas to you, too! looove this bag. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • I totally feel your pain, although my family isn’t TOO far (my sibling that are far are 4 hours away). I know exactly how you feel wishing they were closer, especially the nieces & nephews! At least it makes the holidays extra special! I hope you have a great time with your family!! P.S. There are a LOT of things to do in Vegas! It’s a little overrated, but hopefully you’ll get to visit someday!

  • um, i’m kind of in love with that horse scarf!! and we’ll be missing our whole fam this year, we aren’t going ๐Ÿ™ decided to opt out of flying in the winter this time around and are going to a beach instead!

  • Hey I’ve got that scarf too-I thought it was a fun little hermes rip off! And the bag looks awesome, you really need that size of bag for baby stuff!

    Hope your holidays are great, and the travel goes well!

  • I love that scarf– I own the same one ๐Ÿ™‚

    xx Kathryn
    http://lacoquettedumode.wordpress.com/

  • My family all lives close, so I don’t have to travel for the holidays.

    Gorgeous scarf! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Thank you for the sweet comment on my blog. You made my day!

    http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com

  • Aw, safe travels! Love the purse and scarf!

  • We’re traveling up to the Bay Area from San Diego. My family lives up there and I miss being close to them. So special to see them during the holidays.

  • I love big families! Yours sounds like a blast! Great bag ๐Ÿ™‚

  • I usually try to fly out to see my dad and brother in Southern California the week before Christmas, but this year I am staying in Texas and my bro is coming out here. I hate having family all over the place, but the bulk of my family (extended, of course) is within an hour, so I’m not totally without. I hope you have safe travels and it sounds like y’all wisely embrace the adventure. Great attitude, lady! ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Ten?!? My word that is fun! We travel most holidays as well. Neither of us have very large family (I have 3 siblings and J has none) but they are down in the Carolina’s and we are up north! We try to balance it out and alternate between the parents. It does get quite exhausting! We’re hoping that once J is done with school and on the market, he is able to get a job somewhere a little close (or at worst, not any further away!)

  • My travel essential — my own pillow. And a book.

  • this will be the first year we can’t travel for the holidays but that’s b/c we have a little one on the way!! my parents are coming to visit us though on xmas!! ๐Ÿ˜€

  • Large families are SO much fun ๐Ÿ™‚ We split Holiday’s between our families so we will be with my family for Christmas. I. Can’t. Wait!!

  • we are definitely a road trip couple. i can’t wait for the day when everyone is driving to see us ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Congrats to Stephanie on the win. Maybe I will win something next year.

  • Where did you get that scarf?! I LOVE it…

  • have fun traveling love! hope you guys have an amazing christmas.

  • We’ll change between Xmas and Xmas at our parents’ homes. Next season, though, we will be being put and beginning our own vacation cultures. We think it’s particularly essential to do that before we begin providing children into the mix.
    Volunteering in Uganda

  • That travel bag is quite adorable!! I hate living so far away from Dana again!! I’m so excited we get to share a whole week of Christmas together!! It’s hard when family is all over the state, but at least it gives us an excuse to visit all of those places ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • I love that weekend bag! One travel essential that I would like to add to my bag is a travel sized clothing/fabric steamer! Hopefully hubby got the hint and will get one for me!!

    Safe travels this Christmas season!

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