We wanted to make it back for a nice, long, two-week stay with family & friends for Christmas & New Years, so we loaded up the Road Warrior (Prius) with plenty of gear, skis, snowboard & Harvey and headed out at 10:00pm on the Wednesday before Christmas for the 16 hour drive west.
Jimmy & Jen had a good number of people over to bring in the new year, accompanied by probably 8 dogs over 60lbs so was a very exciting and wild time.
With our back seats folded down, luggage packed behind the front seats & dog bed, pillows & blankets layed out it was a comfy ride for Harvey & whoever wasn't doing the driving.
With two weeks off, we were able to spend plenty of time with both sides of the family as well as friends from school. We spent Christmas in Wausau with the Wiemans, then headed to Rochester to celebrate with the Hansens. Jill was able to sneak away to LaCrosse to see some of her girls as well. Then it was up to Jimmy & Jen's in Eagen for a couple days around New Year's Eve.
Our time spent in Wausau was great. Plenty of playing in the snow with Trevahn & Harvey. Our dog loved the snow so much we didn't think he would ever want to come in & actually ran off a few times which was a bit scary, but he's a good boy and always made it back (even if it took the neighbor loading him into his truck and returning him!). Spending time with baby Eliahs was great too. We were actually back for Trevahn & Eliahs' baptism as well as witnessing Chad & Kerrie get engage which were both a convenient blessing.
We were able to put Jill's new skis to use, getting in one good night with Kerrie, Chad & Vonnie at Granite Peak in Wausau which we've been meaning to hit for some time...
In Rochester we were able to spend a good amount of time with the family and play with Lily who had grown bigger & cuter since we last saw her a few months ago. Hanging at Alan & Jolene's is always relaxing which is just what we needed over our extended vacation. Harvey missed the wide openness of Wausau, but made out just fine here too. Stuart's parents also threw a rather large holiday get-together with extended family on both sides and all sorts of friends & family-friends. It was an extremely busy night -- a little over-stimulating for Harvey & Brody who just layed in front of the buffet line -- but getting to catch up and celebrate the season with all sorts of family and friends was so much fun.
Heading up to the cities before the new year we were able to spend some time with our good friends at Jimmy & Jen's place... even more relaxing & catching up. New Year's Eve day we spent skiing with Jimmy, Jen, Nick and Christine at Afton Alps outside of the cities. It was great weather and a fun way to round out the year.
We didn't hit the slopes too aggresively spending a bit of time at the chalet so we could save some energy for evening festivities.
Jimmy & Jen had a good number of people over to bring in the new year, accompanied by probably 8 dogs over 60lbs so was a very exciting and wild time. 
After such an action packed holiday break we had to load up the Prius yet again and make the long trek back. What should have taken about 16 hours ended up taking over 20 with weather issues getting out of Wisconsin, but we made it back safe & sound and with little ambition for such a long car ride agian. Although we get to bring Harvey, our future trips home will most likely all be by plane.
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