Growing up I lived far away from my extended family. I got to see them at Christmas. My family would pack into the car and drive 4-5 hours to see my dad’s family.

Over the few days we would gather with my dad’s family over chocolate chip cookies, Chicago’s best pizza, and my grandma’s Norwegian Buns! Christmas Eve, I remember always opening our Christmas presents and celebrating my grandpa’s birthday. He was born on Christmas Eve.

The next day or two, we would pile back into the car with all of our memories and our gifts and make the trek home.

This tradition became our family vacation, holiday and birthday wrapped all into one! My siblings and I still look back on those years with fondness!