Christmas Break Highlights: 2014 Edition

Christmas break has always my favorite two and a half weeks of the year, but I've grown to love it even more than I ever thought possible ever since I up and moved across the country to go to college. There's no better feeling than landing at Washington Reagan and seeing the Washington Monument and the Capitol from the tarmac! We have established so many classic Christmas break traditions that are highlights every year!

1. Quality family time.

It's quite lucky that my family and I get along so well, because we had plenty of quality time together this break! Whether we were going on fun outings, shopping, or just sitting around the living room talking or watching a Hallmark Christmas movie, we have so much fun just being together! We also made our return to ICE at the Gaylord Hotel at National Harbor, resulting in many quality pictures and rides down the ice slide.

DC Temple Lights! As an added bonus, I ran into my good friend Anna who's serving a mission there!

I legitimately teared up when I saw this Ferris Wheel modeled after the London Eye (just ask my sisters).

And again when we passed my London favourite, Nando's. I might miss London just a little.

3 years later and we still got it.

2. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

I absolutely love our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day traditions. We start out the festivities with a delicious dinner. Then the cousins put on a little Christmas Eve concert followed by caroling to my grandparents' neighbors. Then we get to go home and open our matching Christmas jammies. Now that we're all older, we have to be woken up on Christmas morning. No more jumping on my parents' bed at 5:30 a.m! We start off the day with a cup of hot chocolate. Then we open our stockings and then go downstairs for presents. My mom cooks a delicious brunch, and then we spend the evening having Christmas dinner at my grandparents' house!

So fun to have the squad all together for Christmas for the first time since 2011!

Grandma's beautiful table setting!

Family selfie #wheresdad

The most regal family in all of Northern Virginia.

Christmas morning!

3. Buhler/Freeman Night
A Buhler/Freeman night has become a staple of Christmas break and I love it! Our families have been good friends since I was in elementary school and we have way too much fun together! We took over a large section of tables at Potbelly's for several hours talking and laughing! The Buhlers are just the best and I love them dearly!

We love our Cole Baby!

Kenna could easily pass as a 5th Freeman sister!

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