Hanging Out at Grandpa's House

We had lots of fun our last few days in the States. We spent some time at my dad's house. 

Holding the baby

Throughout the day Ellie asks, "Can I hold Abraham?"... Abraham has a high tolerance for being jostled around and held in positions I am sure are uncomfortable. He adores his big sister.

Mr. Giraffe

Abraham has gotten to the stage where he likes to use hands and his mouth to explore things. Mr. Giraffe was the first toy he played with. Thanks, Emma! :)

Christmas Tree Decorating

Ellie had so much fun decorating the Christmas tree at Grandma Dee's house. She put most of the ornaments on the tree, and then she'd take them off and play with them, and then she'd put them back again.  Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture of her decorating. The camera wouldn't focus right. Between these two pictures, though, you can get the idea.
Merry Christmas!

Little Foods Picnic

The day before we left Breckenridge, Mike and Janell came over and we had a "little foods" picnic... or maybe it was a tea party. Anyway, it was super special. Ellie loved all the little foods, and she has certainly not forgotten putting the olives on her fingers. It was a very fun way to say good bye.

St. Nicholas Day 2011

It was fun to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving and St. Nicholas Day with family this year. In order to celebrate with Matt, Susie, and Hosanna we celebrated a little early.

I forget what story Ellie was telling, but she had Susie and Abraham's attention. I think it had something to do with the gifts. She was pretty excited.

Abraham was pretty thrilled, too.

And we ended the morning with a family picture.

Thanksgiving 2b

One of the things we wanted to do at both Thanksgiving celebrations was to take family pictures. Here are a few from our second Thanksgiving celebration.
Above: All of us... Debbie, Kristen, me, Susie, Mom, Aili, Russ, Ellie (who was counting how many pictures were being taken), Mark, William, Matthew, Hosanna, Franklin, and Abraham
Below: The two girls with Grandma and Grandpa

Matthew and my families with Grandma and Grandpa

Thanksgiving 2a

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving we got together with Mom's side of the family. It was a crazy fun day with five kids, three under four months! We got family pictures, but those will have to be in a 2b post. 

William 3 1/2 months, Abraham 2 months, Hosanna 3 weeks

 

Eliana 3 years and 2 months, Aili 2 years and 10 months at the reindeer/kids' table

Auntie Debbie had the magic touch. It seemed she could calm any crying baby.

I wanted to get a picture of the yummy food.

Mark was kind enough to let me know the gravy wasn't on the table yet.

More important than the food on the table, though, were the people around the table. It was so great to be together as family.

And a touch of the next post... when I can get my hands on the pictures and have time on the computer... Grandma Dee and Grandpa Russ with their five grandkids.

Thanksgiving 1

On Thanksgiving Day we celebrated with my dad's side of the family at my Aunt Doris and Uncle Allan's house. We have loved spending time with them while we have been in MN.

 

We were able to get a family photo with Grandma, Dad, my brother Matthew's family, and our family. 

 Dad and Abraham spent some time together.

Because we'll be gone for Christmas, we got to open some Christmas presents.

It was fun having two babies around. Baby Hosanna was pretty content the whole day.

Abraham wasn't quite as content, but he enjoyed some tummy time. :)

Friends from the Solomons

While we were in the Solomons we became friends with a family from Indiana that worked there. Because they unexpectedly had to make a trip back to the States, while we were in Indiana, we got to spend time with them. Small world, huh?

Callum (4), Abraham (6 1/2 weeks), Eliana (3), and Isla (3)

Juston and Franklin

Erin (who taught me a lot about knitting!) and me

Family

While in Indiana we got to see relatives from my mom's side of the family that we don't get to see very often. So good to catch up.

My Uncle Ken and Aunt Halerie with us.

Cousins together. Melissa, Mike, Mellena, a hidden Franklin, and me.

My cousin Rhonda and her family with ours, Marvin, Rhonda, Arianna, and us.

The next generation... Lucas, Hannah, Abraham, Abby, Ellie, Canaan, and Kenzie.

Eliana and Arianna

Ellie started out afraid of Sugar the dog, but she built up her courage and couldn't stop petting her by the time we left.

And my gorgeous sleeping Abraham... lots and lots of pictures, rather lots and lots of screaming while pictures are being taken, tire a boy out.

We also got a chance to spend the afternoon with my Aunt Judy. 

Our Drive to Indiana

On our way down to Indiana, we got to spend one night with some good friends, Jim and Elaine. 

After we left their house, we stopped to eat at a place that had a cow in front of it. Ellie desperately wanted to go touch the statue of the cow.

Kids need a chance to stretch during a long car ride... this we have learned.

Right after entering Indiana, there was a stretch of the Interstate that had a garden of windmills. It was pretty cool to see all of them. 

A busy girl

I walked into Ellie's room after her playtime and found this set up.
I didn't put them away, so before bedtime Ellie decided they all needed to be put to sleep.
Hosting a picnic and putting this many to sleep sure makes a busy girl!

Smiles...

 I love watching Abraham develop facial expressions.

And I still love Ellie's, too!