Christmas in Iowa

On Friday, December 22, we embarked on a road trip to Iowa. We spent a week battling frigid temps and snow for some fantastic family time. From Great Grandma Kunde's, on to Christmas with Grandpa Al and Grandpa Rich, and then to Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa C's house, we packed in the celebrations. The kids enjoyed time with five great-grandparents; all of their grandparents; and all of their aunts, uncles, and cousins. Despite the nine-hour drive back to Chicago through a snowstorm, we had a wonderful trip. The last few days have been spent huddled up at home. Ella was pretty sick with a sore throat and fever, but is doing better now. Hopefully, we'll all be healthy as we enter 2018!

Hitting the road for a week in Iowa.

First stop: Great Grandma Kunde's house.

Challenging Uncle Don to a fitness challenge. He won the bet!

Reading with Grandpa Rich.

Bathing baby in her new bathtub.

Finley and Maeve play so well together!

These guys are pretty good buds, too.

Reid showing Jack how to throw a football.

Ella received a new doll from Uncle Adam in our gift exchange. Ella named her, "Ava," as she looks so much like her cousin, and she required her own seat at the table.

Opening presents.

Christmas Eve soup supper.

Christmas Eve pajama presents.

The uncles showing Jack some wrestling moves.

Maeve was concerned for her big brother's safety.

Jack learning the "wedgie" defense.

Fort building with Everett, my friend, Allison's little boy.

Building with his new castle blocks.

What a nut.

Making gingerbread houses before we left for Iowa.

Maeve mostly ate the frosting.

Back to Iowa... Great Grandma Kunde gave Ella the dress she'd been working on for Moo Cow. What a special gift.

Decorating Christmas cookies at Aunt Jill's.

Maeve really likes Beags' (the dog) bed.

Trying out new toys from Aunt Annette.

Cuddles with Aunt Jill.

Jack received lots of new train accessories, he was thrilled!

Cousins and buddies.

Grandkids with Grandpa Al.

We truly maxed out the van storage capacity on this trip.

Decorating Christmas cookies for Santa.

Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve.

Reading the Night Before Christmas.

Snuggling Baby Alice.

I miss my baby nieces already!

Christmas morning.

Ella and her second-cousin, Briella, enjoyed playing together with their new dolls on Christmas.

Maeve, Briella, Ella, and Brecklynn.

Brecklynn and Jack are the same age, and were quite the buddies.

Collins family photo.

At bedtime one night I found Maeve enjoying the "man cave" in the garage. 

A visit with Great Grandpa and Grandma C.

GG and Alice.

Ella introduced GG to the selfie.

Papa set up his old model train set for the kids. 

Grandma and her babies.

Alice and Maya.

Papa showing the kids his globe. Maeve sneaking some lefse (a Norwegian favorite).

Back home, wearing her new apron made by Grandma C.

A very sick girl.

When she was feeling better, Ella sewed these hats for Maeve's babies.