We just got back from Indiana, where we spent Christmas and New Years with Michael's side of the family. We haven't been back since our reception about three years ago and obviously have never taken Noelle, so it was about time we went. We had so much fun! Here are some of our adventures...
Let's start out with the plane ride to Indiana. All I'm going to say is that it didn't go as well as I hoped but it could have been a lot worse. I can tell you one thing Noelle does not like to sit and she didn't watch the dvd player much at all. Oh and going through security they found a pocket knife in our diaper bag. Yes, it was ours and yes, I completely forgot about it. Luckily we didn't get in trouble and we even mailed it home.
Michael letting Noelle get some energy out before we got on the plane
in her airplane seat
We got in to Indiana on Thursday (dec. 23) night. We were all pretty tired but very excited to be there! Christmas Eve we made food, relaxed and just spent time together. Noelle warmed up to everyone and just loves to be the center of attention. She is also very helpful and loves to show everyone her new discoveries. She loved their dog, Sandy and Grandpa's fish. We had an delicious dinner and ate around mom's formal, dining room table. Teandra (sister-in-law) is an excellent cook and everything was amazing. We then got to open some presents and read the Christmas story. We felt so much at home there. And we LOVE their house!Noelle trying on Grandpa Pfeil's shoes
Christmas morning started around 8:00am for us. Noelle actually slept until then. Then we all sat in a circle and opened presents. Noelle loved opening presents this year. She wanted to do it herself and loved unwrapping. She got so many fun things. Some presents we had to keep in Utah as well. And we did an early Christmas with my parents before we left. She is kind of spoiled and she currently is the only grandchild on both sides of the family. However that will change this year. Michael and I also got very blessed from both sides with some things that we both needed and wanted. Thank you so much everyone!!
This little Elmo was one of Noelle's favorites!
helping Grandpa open their gigantic present
trying to ride her little alphabet caterpillar. I think she's a little too big
Teandra, Noelle and Mark. Noelle LOVED playing with them and saying their names :)
Another activity we did was go to Lafayette and visit with some of the extended Pfeil side of the family. We've never done that. We went to Michael's Grandma's house and had really good food and company. It's about an hour drive from Fishers (which is the city Michael's family lives in).
Michael playing with the rubiks cube
playing with Grandma. She loved singing songs with Grandma too!
The ten days we were here were so much fun and so relaxing. We didn't really have a schedule and that was nice. We went to Steak -n- Shake which is one of Michael's favorites and they don't have those here in the west. It was yummy. Noelle played liked crazy with all of Grandma Pfeil's cool toys and books. She also met a neighbor's cat and loved it. (We're not cat people) Michael read his over 800 page book while we were there. I don't know how he does it, but he's a maniac when it comes to a book he likes. Michael absolutely loves playing games so he tried to get a lot of games going there. I enjoyed reading, cooking with Teandra and watching movies. We just had fun being there and around everyone. Michael's other brother Martin surprised the family and flew in from Austin, TX on Christmas day. He wanted it to be a surprise but most of us suspected it. This is the first time since our wedding that EVERYONE has been together and it was wonderful! We got family pictures taken also and we'll have those to share with everyone soon. We wish we would have gotten better sleep. Not one night did Noelle sleep all the way through. She even slept in our bed a few of those nights, which NEVER happens when we are at our home. This pregnancy has brought with it a LOT of exhaustion. I feel it more this time around. Thanks everyone for being patient with my moods and also with all the naps I took. It was just really therapeutic to be there and we're so grateful we got to go.
The Pfeil siblings: Martin, Michael, Mark and Rebecca
The brothers
Noelle watching a movie with the girls. Too bad it didn't last very long
Grandma playing some primary songs on the piano and singing for Noelle. Noelle loved this and kept asking for more.
sitting out in the cold
Noel and Noelle
The very friendly cat that Noelle loved
It seemed liked while we were there Noelle's vocabulary increased SO much and how she communicates. It's crazy how fast it happened. She is getting to be such a big girl. Without the details I'll say that Noelle was sick the last day we were there and our last night was pretty bad but she got a blessing and did great on the plane on the way home. She is still getting over it but hopefully it will end soon. We're so excited for her to be a big sister. She is so sweet and helpful and loves babies.
When we got home we rested for a bit and then went over to my parent's house. We were happily welcomed by everyone, mostly wanting to see Noelle ;). We are so blessed to have such amazing family. We wish we were closer to ALL OF THEM though. But we're hopefully going to make it out to Indiana more often than in the past. I know this post is kind of everywhere but a lot has happened since we left. We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and New Year. I'm excited for 2011. We have a lot of different things happening and some changes are coming. We're excited and anxious to see what else it brings!
We started this tradition where each Christmas you sew one or two things on your stocking that represent that year and what you did. I finally got caught up this year and I think they turned out really cute
Before we left for Indiana we went over to Michael's aunt and uncles house and some of their grandkids were over. So we did a little fhe where they did the nativity. I think Noelle was a shepherd.
Don't you love the big Elmo face right in the middle of her shepherd costume
1 comment:
Way fun!
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