By Sean Copeland

BLOOMINGTON – Just over 107 million people are predicted to travel for the year end holidays according to a AAA forecast earlier this week. The projected 3 percent increase in car travel, demonstrates a consistent uptick for the ninth year in a row.

But while many people are traveling, most Bloomington residents are staying around for the holidays.

In their minds, the most pressing thing is their expectations and traditions of the holiday season, like with Raquele and Aly Jaso  who say they tell stories like the infamous,”Who stepped in the cake” story.

“Who stepped in the cake, for sure. We still don’t know,” said Aly Jaso. “Yeah so there’s this story of our dad, our great-grandma, and our uncle, they go and pick up a cake for somebody’s birthday. They put it in the back seat, somebody’s foot end up in it. But everybody tells it different, so we don’t know who stepped in the cake still, and this was 20 years ago this happened,” said Raquele Jaso.

The Jasos said they’re also looking forward to their big family dinner gatherings in the coming days.

Traveling was also potentially an issue for Rachel Richard and Kevin Mudiandambo who came from Chicago and St. Louis with little travel issues, to spend the holidays in Bloomington.

Mudiandambo says his families traditions is what he’s most focused on this late in the season. Giving presents with no name tags, readily admitting it can add more than a few problems.

“My little sister she just kinda picks them out, rips them apart and then we all just kind of decipher who is it for.” said Mudiandambo. “Has it ever backfired?” “Yes… (laughs) Last year, it was a pair of like sweat pants with a fuzzy design or whatever. It was definitely meant for my mom, but it was given to my dad.”

Both say they’re just happy to spend the holidays with each other.

Sean Copeland can be reached at [email protected].