Beach Baby Johnson: Holidays in PA!

Another First, Actually a Couple!!

The weekend after Christmas and before New Years', we ventured to Lancaster, PA to visit Chris' parents aka JJ (Joan) and DadDad (Alex). We purposely left Va Beach around 1pm on Friday to hit the road around Wesley's afternoon nap. He had a different agenda which made the trip a little bit more challenging! We decided to take Rt. 13 up the Eastern Shore which is usually the way to go (vs. 95 and DC traffic) but this must have been an exception. We hit every traffic light from here to PA which didn't help the situation. We ended up stopping a few times which was fine until we got back to the car when Wesley didn't want to get back in his car seat. Who could blame him? So, we succumbed to bribery with arrowroot cookies. He finally fell asleep 45 minutes away from their house! The problem with Wesley is that he is a great cat napper, sort of. If he dozes for even a few minutes in the car, that is it...there is no way you are getting him back down once he wakes up. So...once we arrived at JJ and DadDads', he was raring to go! A new environment, happy to see his grandparents and happy to be out of his cage (car seat). We've been on equally long trips and not had as much trouble but we have also been on much shorter trips and it's been worse. So...we'll just keep trying. This was his FIRST trip to PA and JJ and DadDad's house!!!

The next day, Lancaster got a beautiful snow fall that ended up to be about 4 inches. It is a different world to me as they are VERY prepared and used to the white stuff. Joan and Alex's driveway has markers along the edges with flourescent markings so that the snow plow guys know where the driveway is vs. the grass. I am sure this is VERY common but being from VA, if it ever got to where we couldn't see where the driveway ended and the yard started---life as we knew it would stop for a few days and we'd hunker down and enjoy it! Not so much in the land of snow and plows! When the snow gets above 4inches, they have a service that comes to clear the driveway and walk. Since this snowfall was just shy, Joan was out shoveling on her own. She was joined by her neighbor, Mr. Fury, who had a real snow blower! I gotta tell you, this is serious stuff and I have no experience with this kinda weather. 4 inches of snow would shut down our town, to Lancaster it is just another day. Their driveways were cleared in no time! The other benefit to seeing Mr. Fury was that he was kind enough to loan us a sled! He has grandchildren and a super hill between their houses which I am sure they have enjoyed many a time. Well, we did too! As you can see, JJ had the most fun, with Chris and I close behind. Wesley seemed to enjoy the first run before the camera but either got scared by the hill, or scared by our screams of excitement! Regardless, he had his FIRST sledding experience and FIRST jaunt in the snow!

We had a wonderful visit with JJ and DadDad and Wesley did MUCH better on the return trip! He loved his vist, too!