Christmas

Sooooooooo, I'm a little behind on my blogging.  There's a lot to catch up on, so I think we should start with an update on the main event - CHRISTMAS!!  It was another great holiday with lots of miles and lots of smiles. :)

As you may recall, Christmas this year was on a Tuesday.  We were planning to hit the road for Iowa the Friday before, so on Thursday night we got an early jump on gift opening so Emma could open her presents from us at home.  She loved opening the presents and tearing apart the wrapping paper - there could have been a box full of bricks inside and she wouldn't have cared.

 Emma was a great helper every time Melissa watered the tree!

 Opening her new basketball hoop!

A shout out and thank you to Sarah, who watched Emma the week before Christmas.  Thank you Sarah!

Emma also loved to throw the paper away.  After she ripped a piece of wrapping paper off, she would promptly walk into the kitchen and proclaim "away, away" - which means that she wants us to open the trash can so she can through it away.  After 4 or 5 trips like this I finally brought the trash can into the living room to speed things up. ;)

 "Away, away!"

After a good nights rest, we loaded up and hit the road on Friday morning, to our first destination - Council Bluffs.  A bad winter storm on Wednesday had left the roads in Iowa in rough shape, with the worst of it being around Des Moines, so we took a detour route and skirted the north and west borders of Iowa.  Emma was a champ during the drive so we were able to make the 6 hour drive with only one stop in LeMars, Iowa.  Which for those of you who don't know, is the home to Blue Bunny ice cream.  We had about a 2 hour stop in LeMars to eat, let Emma run around a bit, refuel, and of course visit the ice cream parlor. :)

A couple of hours after leaving LeMars we made it to Council Bluffs.  At the house waiting for us were my parents, Justin, and our niece Aubrey (Jon, Amy and Annie were on the way, they had to drive through Des Moines which added 4 hours onto their normal 7 hour drive).  Mom had some sugar cookies baked and ready to frost.  So the cousins took to the task and started creating edible masterpieces!  Not to mention, very sticky fingers and faces.

Most of Saturday was spent in Atlantic, IA at my Grandma's house for a family picture.  Emma also got a few presents while she was there.  One of her favorite toys quickly became her new tool box!

 Emma's fancy stocking.

 Emma found GG's (Great Grandma's) cheeks!

After naps, it was back to Council Bluffs for dinner and present opening at the Burgart household.  It was a great time!  One of the highlights was getting a new Burley kiddie trailer for my bike so we can take family bike rides this summer.

 Grandma Becky made Emma a new pot holder and oven mitt for her new kitchen!  

And a new blanket for when she starts back to day care.  

Emma doesn't get to see Justin very often so she made the most of her time with him and loved to be perched on his lap reading books, snuggling, or playing with his iPad.

On Sunday, Jon, Amy and the kids loaded up and headed back to Antioch, IL and we headed to the Henry Doorly Zoo with my parents.  It was pretty cold so we were relegated to the indoors which was fine because we didn't get to see the aquarium last time we visited.  

Emma and I in front of a display of dead bugs.

After a great visit to Council Bluffs, it was time to head east to Reinbeck.  We had great weather for the drive and made good time while Emma napped.  It was hard to tell who was more excited to be in Reinbeck, Emma or Grandma and Grandpa.  

On the docket was lots of playing in her new "club house" and tea parties.  Grandma and Emma drank more tea than Greg Mortenson in 3 Cups of Tea.

Later that night it was time for the girls to gather 'round for the traditional reading of T'was the Night Before Christmas.  Then, off to bed to dream of elves and reindeer and to let Santa do his thing.

And did he ever - Emma woke up to a mountain of presents!  

 She loves her pillow pet and her cousin Ella.

Melissa and Megan found a great gift for Roz this year.  They worked with an artist on etsy.com who makes boards with family rules on them.   So they made a list of the rules that they grew up with and the artist laid it out made a one-of-a-kind Stull Family Rules board.

Our family photo before the big Christmas feast.

The day after Christmas was just as it should be, a lazy lay around day.  Complete with sugar cookie making and frosting.

Emma knows who to look to when she's looking for a snack!  There always seems to be some food near by when Grandpa John is around.

And always lots of smiles with Grandma Roz and Great Grandma Aileen.

Emma apparently wanted a slumber party so she gathered Melissa, Megan and Roz and led everyone to the mattress for "night, night."  At one point Roz popped her head up to say something but Emma wasn't having it and gently guided it back to the mattress.  So cute!

All it all it was a great week and another great Christmas.  It was wonderful to be able to spend some time back at home in Council Bluff and Reinbeck and to watch Emma play with her cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.  It was equally great to be able to share with them first hand the joy, happiness, and love that Emma brings into Melissa's and my life every single day.

With love from chilly Minneapolis,
Jason, Melissa and Emma