Iowa Trip Part 1

We are finally home after a great visit to see friends, family, and snow in Iowa!  Although both the drive there and back pretty much totally stunk due to pouring rain, high winds, fog, traffic, and winter storm Draco (yes, apparently they name winter storms now), the time we spent with our loved ones was worth it!  We spent the first few days at my parents' house celebrating with my family.

The cousins were all so happy to be together!

The gift opening begins.

A thank you hug from Evy to Claire for the gift she picked out for her.

I just love this next series of pictures.  Grammy and Babu found the most perfect gift for each grandchild and it was fun to watch as everyone opened the special gift that was picked out for them.  My mom knows of Emma's love for Diego and searched high and low to find the perfect gift for Emma. Apparently Diego stuff is hard to find!

All of that searching paid off..Emma was thrilled.

P.S. Random side note - As evidenced in the pictures, Emma was suffering the fate of a nasty sty gone on too long... after four months of this pesky thing hanging around, it finally got huge and red seemingly overnight and was in full force during our trip.  We got some antibiotic eye drops and finally the sty started to drain!  Almost three weeks later, it still isn't fully gone though, so I'll be calling up the pediatrician tomorrow to see what, if anything, we need to do now.

Anni and Claire showing off their perfectly selected gifts.  Anni got her very own Bible, princess edition, and Claire got doll clothes and accessories for Myrna.  Perfect!

Our family, all dressed up and ready for the Christmas Eve service at Grace.  It was wonderfully refreshing to go to our church that feels like home to us!  Seeing so many familiar faces, getting lots of hugs, laughing at Pastor Brooks' weird humor, and worshipping Jesus through candlelight were my favorite parts of the night.  I know I've said this before, but candlelight services are one of my absolute most favorite things.  I think the mix of flickering lights, traditional Christmas songs, and voices raised just forces you to focus on what this season is all about.   

I included this picture mostly to show off Emma's sty.  Check that thang out!

Grammy and Babu and the girls

My mom made a nice dinner that we enjoyed together after church.  My mom has a knack for entertaining and the table looked great.  The food was even better!!





After dinner, the girls got in their jammies and we headed down the street to my sister and brother-in-law's house for dessert.  (Yes, you read that right.  My sister lives down the street from my parents.  And I live 800+ miles away.  Yep, not fair.  ;)

Dessert with the Dills!

The next morning Emma was so excited to put on her new 'maker thingy' (aka. the apron Grammy made for her) to help Grammy cook!




Such a sweet time with family and cousins!  It is never enough, but the time we did have was great!  More to come on our Iowa adventures...