THAT look . . .

. . . . is to let me know that I'm intruding . . .


Excuse Me. This is an A & B conversation. Please C your way out.


How do I explain to her that they're my grandparents too?

16 Months Later . . .

These were not posed! I just happened to take pictures earlier in the month that are an awful lot like the ones I took on Addison's first trip to Iowa! Look how much she has grown!!





MISSING PICTURE TO POST SOON

True Love

Camera Clutz

We also visited my other Great Grandmother while in Iowa. The bummer was that, as with most of this trip (like when Addison met her second Cousin, Jersey, for the first time), I kept forgetting my camera. Luckily we were able to get these few pics the day we drove back to Minnesota.

The Shortest Long Wait Ever

We had a bit of a wait until we received my test results back. The Doc had advised that we say in 'The Neighborhood' while we waited. We decided that met we could head to Iowa to visit my Grandparents & family. Afterall, in Alaska, a four and a half hour drive IS in the neighborhood . . . sorta . . . well almost . . . heck! We drive five hours just to get to our nearest mall or movie theater - so what is a few hour drive in the states?? Right? Anyhow, seeing everyone was definitely the highlight of our trip!

Addison and Tudie wasted no time getting caught up on the past 7 months! Addison has always taken right to her Great Grandmother - she just KNOWS that Tudie is someone important!


Addison also helped Papa Roy work on his numbers for an up-coming job.


That's our grandpa right there . . . and I do mean OUR. My Grandparents have adopted Sean as one of their own grandkids and we all love that!


While we were visiting, Addison and Tudie pulled out the MANY pictures we've sent to Tudie over the past two years . . . Addison loved it. The probably took those pictures out three or four times each day and Addison was so excited that she was ALLOWED to touch the pictures! One afternoon Grandpa pulled out some old pictures of his golf courses and showed them off to Sean. It was so cute watching both pairs check out their photos!


The love affair with Abby Cadabby continues . . . And the only thing that makes playing with her Abby doll more fun is playing with the doll and Tudie!


Look at those faces! It's hard to tell who's having a better time!


The day we left Addison put on one more singing/drumming/piano/dancing concert for Tudie.


She had so much fun!


Just loved watching these two together.


Lots and lots of love here!


It was sad to leave - but we'll be back in a few months for another concert (or 50). Meanwhile, Addison is rehearsing.

Four Generations

New Food

On our trip Addison got to try two of my favorite foods: Corn on the cob and Olive Garden.

This corn was straight from the field, to the stove and to Addison's eager tummy. She LOVED the corn!


One night in preparation for dinner my Grandma had shucked a bunch of corn and put into a pot before she was ready to begin cooking. So the pot of corn sat on the counter for a bit. Once Addison caught a glimpse of the uncooked corn she frantically signed more to me and cried when I told her she had to wait. I felt bad but also found it a bit funny.


Sean grilled rib-eye steaks for everyone during our stay. My Grandpa really wanted a picture of the steaks on the grill. I think it was because he didn't want to forget the great meal!


We ate late and it was cool enough outside that we were able to have dinner outdoors. Not too shabby for Addison's first picnic!!!


I've ate at some really nice restaurants. Ones where the waiters place every one's meals in front of the diners at the same time, where there are fancy ratings and reviews on the restaurant - but none that will compare with the good-old Olive Garden. I can't explain it but I love their bread sticks and fettuccine alfredo! Turns out Addison loved the meal too!

Going goofy waiting for our food!

Addison handled herself better than her mother, she had a great time coloring her menu while waiting for the food.

Grandma Suzy sharing her bread stick

Look at that alfredo covered face. She eats cleaner than I do!

Good bite . . .

Something you just can't do in a fancy restaurant: Group picture!

Playtime

Some of my best memories growing up are of reading books with Tudie. Hours were spent in her lap reading Amy's Doll, Dr Seuss, and about a million other books. So you can only imagine how special it was for me to watch my daughter reading with Tudie, the worlds greatest story-teller.


Addison even read a little with Papa Roy but the books were quickly put aside for the cars. I don't know how much time was spent driving those little cars on that ottoman but it kept those two quite busy! To be honest, I don't know who liked those cars more; Addison or Grandpa!!??

First Great Grandchild

While in Iowa we spent the majority of our time with my grandparents, Tudie & Grandpa (Papa Roy). My grandparents have been married for almost 60 years and are just the sweetest couple ever.



It is always so wonderful to be with them, but now its even nicer because I get to watch them play and interact with their first great grandchild. Can't you tell that they just adore her??

Heat & Humidity

Sean, Addison & I spent the past two weeks in Iowa on what could be my most favorite trip back! It was so wonderful to get out of town and away from our miserable weather to see the sun and our family!



I have so many pictures to post from our trip, and it may take me a few days and many postings; but I'll get them up - I promise! Meanwhile here's some info and pics from our trip.

The weather was too hot to spend much time outdoors. The temperature was in the 90s with the humidity about the same. So it was pretty muggy. One day the truck's thermostat said 111 degrees - yikes! Anyhow, it was so humid that when I took my camera outside the lens just fogged up. Before the humidity completely shut my camera down I was able to get this picture to show how humid it actually was.



Now I've got to brag. Sorry but I have to do it. Addison traveled like a true champ. Our travel days were about 16 hours a piece, on three separate planes with the longest plane ride lasting almost 6 hours (plus a hour on the runway before take off). Let me tell you: after that kind of day I'd sure like to fuss and cry - but not this girl. She handled the whole trip (including sitting in my lap all but three minutes of the flight) so well. On the way home she only slept for one hour and the rest of the time she was content to read books, play with her Abby Cadabbie doll, peel stickers (she did put one on her sleeping Uncle's face), eat and wave to everyone in the back of the plane.

While the other passengers offloaded, we got SO MANY compliments on how good Addison was. One guy, who sat in the row behind us, said that our 'baby traveled great.' Sean said to him, "Thank you. We were worried." The guy came back with, 'So was I!" At least he was honest!!!

Okay, so it wasn't totally perfect. Our only hiccup while flying was the last 20 minutes of our flight to Minneapolis. It was the red-eye flight and she did cry then. I think it was a combination of her ears popping on descent along with sheer confusion as to why she wasn't nestled in her crib. Anyhow - I think only one crying episode during 32 total hours of travel with a 14 month old is a HUGE success and definitely worth bragging about!!

While in Iowa Addison visited a real toy store and she had so much fun! From the moment we walked in she fell in love with the place. I held her the majority of the time while we walked around. She kicked her little legs and clapped her hands as we walked past the fun toys. When I put her down she went crazy running from one toy to the next. When I'd tell her to come on she'd kinda jump up and down and move her head in all different directions. She wanted to listen to me but there was too much to see before she moved on. Okay, I'm sure that the way I described it made no sense to anyone but me - but trust me it was funny!

Anyhow we were on a mission to get Addison her first real baby doll. Can you believe that the store dedicated to nothing but toys did not have baby dolls?! They had porcelain dolls and a large empty shelf across the aisle from them. We assume they must have been making room for the pub. (Seriously, they're putting a PUB in there. The sign outside the castle shaped toy store says "Grill & Pub coming soon!" I so wish I had brought my camera with me to get a picture of that.) But back to the toys, we did eventually find Addison a doll - at Target. Say what you will about Superstores but this one came through for us when the 'mom & pop' couldn't.

Addison getting her baby doll from Tudie:


Obviously, Addison likes her:



Both Addison and Grandpa took excellent care of the new baby:



All in all it was a great trip! Our days were relaxed without a lot of action. However the days were filled with wonderful company and adoring Great Grandparents. How does it get any better than that?!