Christmas in Iowa

We traveled up to Iowa a couple days after Christmas and spent about a week & a half there. It was crazy busy as usual, but we are so thankful to be able to see all of our families every time we visit! This trip was pretty hard on Lexi though. We were going to split up the drive both ways and stay at Chad's in St. Louis. Well, we decided to drive the whole 12 hours, no stopping at Chad's, both ways. What were we thinking???? On the way back home, we were thinking we wanted to get home so she could see her doctor in the morning. The day before we left, we took her to a doctor and found out she had ear infection. Then, when we got back and took her to her doctor, we found out she had croup. Our drive home was pretty miserable. She couldn't breath well and kept coughing. She is all better now, but those few days when we got home were pretty sad. We'll have to take it a little easier on her next time!

At Papa Jason & Grandma Nean's

So cute!!

Papa and the girls

Helping Grandma win a game!

Lexi loved playing w/her cousins.

Painting w/pudding. She was such a girly girl about it. I guess she doesn't like to get her hands dirty.

Lexi learned how to climb stairs. We tried to block off the stairs when we were all in the basement. She thought she could still manage to get through. She got stuck. :)

Blocking off the other set of stairs. She loved climbing them... thought she was pretty big stuff!

Just doing what Grandma showed her to.

At Papa Steve & Grandma Shell's.

A drawer full of lids!! What could be more exciting?!?!!

playing w/Valerie

All 3 of the little blond-headed girls! :)

Natalie & Lexi loved playing together!! Wish they could play together more often!

Lexi stood up and grab Uncle Chad's finger before she realized who it was. The look on her face says it all.

"A box!!! How did Grandma know what I wanted for Christmas???"

Lexi enjoyed watching me open her gifts. Hopefully next year she'll be ready to do it by herself.

Family Picture (Lexi is trying to blow Natalie kisses!)

Grandma Shell & Papa Steve w/their beautiful grandbabies!

Cousins!

(two out of three looking is pretty good.)

While we were there, Grandpa got out his banjos. He & Mike spent an evening playing for us. Lexi of course, thought she needed in on the actions!

I love this picture!