Chris and Brindy Bennett: Home for the Holidays: Trains, Plains and Automobiles

Lydia rode on an airplane for the first time December 3rd. She was actually really pretty good. We had a few small tantrums just because she was tired and the plane was crowded so she couldn't sleep like she needed to. She mainly just wanted to peek over the seats at other people. Which is okay, but a little awkward sometimes depending on the other people's personalities.

First time on a plane.
Daddy did her hair the previous night after bath and it stayed firmly!

Like Father.....Like Daughter.
(our lay over at the airport in Denver, CO)

We arrived in Washington D.C. at close to 5:00 p.m. My parents were there to pick us up and we drove home. It was absolutely wonderful to walk through that door leading to my old home! Memories were opened! So many things even just about the house that I had forgotten. It just feels so good to go home sometimes; your childhood home (although this was not my only childhood home).

Home Sweet Home

Our Traditional Gunny Sac Stockings...and Rachel's.

We had so much fun simply relaxing, chatting, and playing games, and eating dinner together most nights. We rode a steam engine train, visited D.C., met with Santa Claus, went for a country drive, went out for dinner, enjoyed the Christmas Devotional, toured a dream home...actually two (we got to see Nicolette and Ryan's new home that they just bought!), went to the temple, watched "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens, I got to attend the Relief Society Christmas dinner with my sisters and mother while Chris went to Five Guys with the 'guys', went to the Prince William Ward Christmas Party, decorated the Christmas tree, created a Christmas Dairy for my dad, visited with old friends, caroled to the neighbors, witnessed a fountain show and was eaten by a giant at the National Harbor, and we even went shopping together. It was fantastic!

RELAXING TOGETHER

Aunt Rachel and Lydia

Grandpa's Kentucky Durby

Cute Cousins
I actually think Gabe was pretty annoyed with Lydia. She was his little tag-along and he didn't really like that.

We took a little walk with Gabe and Lydia one afternoon to get out of the house for a little bit. Chris started stomping on little piles of snow with Gabe and he really caught on. He wanted to stomp on every pile of snow he saw. Chris and I were worried what his mother might say if we took him back home with wet, cold, feet.

Gabe enjoying the cold fresh air.

Lydia and Grandpa Stoker

She LOVED this little jumper that Grandpa would put up for her.

Two Cute Kids in Pajamas.

Lydia had a crush on the singing Grinch! It was so amusing to see how excited she'd get when he was in the room!

Lydia and Grandma

FAMILY GAMES

That's a "tuba"... (brindy)

and that's "above"... (ryan)

Cards are a classic.

COUNTRY DRIVE/DREAM HOME

FamilyPicture. Lydia was having fun.

My wonderful parents.

Dad's Dream Home.

NATIONAL CHRISTMAS TREE(S)

Lydia and Grandpa watching the toy trains at President's Park: National Christmas Tree
Washington Monument in the background.

This was a cute little elementary school choir. That is a tap dancer out front.
Lydia wasn't very happy...

The trees from every state surround the National one.
Neat villages and trains circle the National tree as well.

Lydia and Santa Claus 2009

National Christmas Tree. (I personally have seen prettier trees...but oh well it's what it represents that counts.)

An effort to keep the little one warm. It was cold COLD cold!

VISITING D.C.

Lydia enjoying the American History Museum...or that Starburst wrapper?

My parents watched Lydia for us one day so that we could go on a date. We really had a lot of fun. After getting on and off several different metros because we kept getting on the wrong ones...we got free coke on our way to the Postal Museum and a picture with the Coca Cola Santa Claus. We went inside Postal Museum where we made a postcard, viewed years and years of unique stamps, and mailboxes, and mail carriers. We went to Union Station, where we ate at McDonald's and sat next to a man that sat and talked to himself the whole time, until he looked up and went off on Chris and I about voting for a Chief of Police who was a liar...?

a.

a. Chris driving a Semi b. flirting c. Chris thought this hologram cool enough for a picture d. Brindy playing in the semi

My parents watched Lydia for us one day so that we could spend a day in D.C. just us two. It was wonderful! We went to Union Station and the Postal Museum. We had a great time.

a.

a.My Prince on a spiral staircase b.We're happy c.Welcome to Union Station

waiting for our metro

POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN RIDE

cute little town of Cumberland, Maryland. This is where the train station was.

waiting for the train to arrive

Ryan and Gabe

The train was pretty late, but we didn't mind because Nicolette was able to make it in time and we got great seats together.

The picture to the left is when it first arrived to the station coming around the corner.
The other two pictures were taken after it had stopped on the turn table, before we headed back to Cumberland.

ALL ABOARD!

Nic and Gabe watching the scenes go by.

When the train came, we all boarded and went through about ten cars before we found the one that we liked. The seats were neat because they had the ability of flipping backward or forward, so we made three booths that faced each other.
There were Christmas lights strung through each car. Santa Claus came through during the ride and gave the kids candy canes.
Lydia liked looking out the window and being able to sit with Grandma and Grandpa.
The train stopped at a little town that I can't even remember the name of now. It was full of little shops and was all "old towne" style. There was a lot of ice and it was a steep walk, so Mom and Dad stayed at the train stop and looked at the steam engine on the turn-table. Although they couldn't actually turn it that day because of all the ice.