Christmas Break 2025: Sibling Swap in MA to Family Fun in MD to Vacation Begins in Savannah, GA

Hello!  Happy New Year!  We have slowly re-entered back into real life after a two week vacation/retreat/reset which was wonderful.  How about a review to capture all the memories lest we (me) forget....

Andrew and Eamon had finished college finals and then stayed at a friend's house in New York for the weekend before going on a silent retreat in Connecticut.  They arrived home late Thursday night (Dec. 18) from their retreat, so they only had one day at home before we left for vacation.  The rest of us went to our last day of work and school in 2025, then ate pizza and packed up Vanna White and cleaned the house in order to leave early the next morning.  But!  Before we left, we had to do the annual Sibling Swap which is a family favorite.

The kids all picked names randomly over Thanksgiving break and bought gifts for their sibling in various ways.  We have quite a few jokesters in the family, so there is always some prank gifts before the real gifts, a scavenger hunt, a gift wrapped over and over, you get it.  It's always very fun.

Eamon celebrating over his trickery

Andrew drew JP a picture before giving him his actual gift

Eamon put junk gifts in Declan's real gift

Maggie got Andrew some golf related gifts - I hope his roommates don't break a window...again

Xander sent Brendan on a scavenger hunt

Jewelry for the only princess

Brendan was very proud to fake out Xander with a toy in an iPhone box

On Saturday morning, we drove from MA to MD to see Phil's side of the family for the weekend.  Brendan got his first (of three) bloody noses on the trip and then a little later got carsick and threw up into one of the big Ziplock bags we keep for such occasions.  When another kid started freaking out that Brendan was "throwing up blood" I almost panicked before remembering that he had the bloody nose earlier.  He was absolutely fine the rest of the trip except for the other two bloody noses and getting carsick again on the way home.  There's always one!  

On Saturday evening, Phil and I went out to Fratelli's restaurant with his brother and wife (my bestie) and I only have a photo of my delicious dinner:

This meal cost $44 and was worth every penny

It was a huge crab cake on top of chicken in a lovely sauce with pasta on the side.  This meal fed me for dinner and then lunch and dinner the next day - delish!  On Sunday we were able to hang out with 5 out of 6 of Phil's siblings and their families (31ish total) which was great.  We sent some of the older kids to pick up the many pizzas for dinner:

You must be having a party!  Nope just a family dinner ;)

Eamon reading to some of the littlest cousins

On Monday morning, we left bright and early to drive to Savannah, GA.  But first, our inaugural stop at Buc-ee's!

Buc-ee and the Martins

Their bathrooms are advertised as World Famous, and I can see why.  So many food options and things to shop for and long but quick moving lines made it such a fun experience.  That neck pillow and travel wallet/tumbler holder came in very handy for the rest of the trip!  I may have looked up if they franchise but alas, they do not.  I'm just saying New England could use one!

Easily influenced

One of our few fast food stops - the kids did really great with travelling

Before we knew it, we had arrived in beautiful Savannah!

We checked into our hotel rooms and then headed out for a stroll before dinner:

The Georgia Queen and her royals

One of his favorite foods

The older kids all took photos and we have a shared album of 293 photos!

Of course we had to take this photo and send it to Uncle Bob

We ate dinner at a place on the river and everybody had chicken fingers except me who tried grouper for the first time.  I prefer cod but it was good!

Declan and his Shirley

After dinner, we strolled some more along the river, shopped for some Savannah sweatshirts, and walked around the cutest Christmas Market...

Eamon rep'ing the Cottage :)

We went to Savannah's Candy Kitchen and spent almost $100 on a treat for everyone.  They sure love tourists like us!  

The next morning, Phil and I headed out for a 4 mile run to see the sights and stay on our training plan:

Palm trees!

Maggie and Andrew also went for a run at the park with beautiful trees:

We saw the first of many 6-7's that we photographed on our trip:

We ate a delicious breakfast at the hotel (included) where Declan stocked up on plenty of the free mints, and headed out for the last leg of the trip to Florida, the "real vacation".