CHRISTMAS IN TENNESSEE

We had a great Christmas weekend with the Reynolds family spent down in Mount Juliet, TN at Matt and Laura’s house.

The drive was fine and 2.5 hours shorter than driving to Knoxville, which in winter driving plays a huge factor.  We arrived to Matt and Laura’s on Thursday afternoon around 4:30.  Friday was spent hanging out, playing cards, and then celebrating Christmas Friday night.  We had a fabulous prime rib dinner and then opened up presents.  The kids got some toys that they love and so did Lee and I!  Having our Christmas celebrations spread out this year was actually really wonderful!  I thoroughly enjoyed leaving home and spending a long weekend away this January, rather than doing the traveling in December, right around Christmas when everything is so rushed.  It was so nice to be able to celebrate, relax, and enjoy every little bit.  

And having this Christmas for the boys to look forward to was also really nice.  They enjoyed knowing that they still had one more Christmas to open up more presents and see family only a couple short weeks after Santa came. 

A beautiful morning on the lake.  I was actually able to spend Saturday morning out on the back deck to enjoy my coffee.  It was so relaxing and nice to breath in some fresh air and take in the beautiful sights of the lake.

Later Saturday morning we all headed to the park to play.  It was in the 50’s and felt amazing!  The boys had a great time playing at this awesome park!

I ended up taking the boys back to the park on Sunday to play as well.  It was absolutely beautiful outside and way too nice to stay inside.  It was great that they were able to get out and run around.

While the boys napped on Sunday, Laura and I sat out on the front porch and soaked in as much sunshine as we could.  After nap, the boys joined us outside to chalk on the driveway.

A beautiful afternoon on the lake.

We had a bonfire on Sunday night and then headed to bed early.  We got up and out by 6:00 A.M. on Monday morning to make the drive home.  We stopped in Iowa City to pick up the dogs, give my mom a birthday hug, and made it back home about 4:30 in the afternoon.

It was a terrific Christmas weekend!