Christmas in Beaufort

Yes, it's almost mid-January and I'm just now blogging about Christmas. That's what happens when you work full-time and have 2 babies under the age of 14 months.

So this year we once again packed up our entire house, 2 babies, 2 dogs, a mother-in-law and a partridge in a pear tree and headed to Reidsville, NC for Christmas. This is where I have gone for all 35yrs of my existence for Christmas. I've never spent Christmas Eve or morning anywhere else but in my grandmother's house. Sadly, she is no longer with us but we still use her house on Thanksgiving and Christmas since it's the only place that holds all 25+ family members. For Christmas Eve dinner we managed to fit 26 1/2 people down one long set of tables. If you haven't experienced the joy of that many family and friends in one spot for a meal, you're really missing out! And yes, we all get along beautifully.

Unfortunately, our little Peanut was sick the entire time. Prior to Christmas he got nasty double ear infections that came with a 102.5 fever that lasted a week. He also got a vicious cold that had congestion and cough. So by Christmas he was on antibiotics, benadryl, tylenol and ibuprofen just to keep him comfortable. But he was a super trooper and after new antibiotics after Christmas (the first kind didn't do the trick), he was better by mid-week. Because of this, we barely got ANY pictures during Christmas. Well that and I didn't get my new camera till Christmas Day.

this is the aftermath of Christmas morning (~20 people)

Charlie...sick but mostly in good spirits

umm, can you tell I'm a wee bit exhausted?

After Christmas Day, I packed up the kids and we headed to Beaufort, NC to spend the rest of the week with my parents. Daycare was closed, Daniel had to work so we figured it'd be fun for the rest of us to visit Nana and PopE. We even had the pleasure of having Aunt Jenny and cousin Brennan come stay for two nights.

Now if you haven't been to Beaufort, NC - not to be confused with Beaufort, SC (both said in entirely different ways) - then you are really missing out. It's quite the quaint little inlet town and the former home of Blackbeard the Pirate. ARGH! (sorry, couldn't resist) I've never been there when it's been Christmas so it was fun to see some of the houses still decorated. Here are a few of the houses as we strolled one day...

And then you can come across little historic buildings like this one...

Could you just see yourself sitting on some of those porches sipping your libation of choice!? There is even a very cool graveyard that has all kinds of history and a self-guided tour that even takes you to the grave of an English soldier who was buried standing up, facing England.

And of course who can pass up these sunset views as you stroll along the docks?

It's a whopping 6 hour car ride home to Columbia from Beaufort, NC but it was totally worth it (even with two kids...by yourself). Usually it would take you about 4hrs 45min but with two babies and four stops...it adds up.

So if you haven't been...GO! It's so cute. Great history. Great food. Great People. I'm just glad we have a free place to stay thanks to Nana and PopE. Wonder if they've recovered yet?