Holiday Visiting, Part 1: Pre-Christmas

We have survived hours of travel, lots of snow, slush, and ice, and many wonderful days visiting with friends and family! We have about a week more of visiting ahead of us, so we thought we'd better update the blog on our holiday visiting thus far, before round two starts!

Before leaving the Cities, we were able to visit with the Kalizabs and Zippy T. Here's the whole gang--the little ones all ready for bed.

The drive to Madison was, thankfully, uneventful. Andy drove us the whole way, Simon kept us on our toes with alternate laughing, sleeping, and fussing, and Jess fulfilled her navigator duties by pouring coffee refills, playing DJ, and providing toys in the backseat.


It was Simon's first ride forward-facing! You're allowed to switch kids to forward facing carseats when they are at least one year and 20 lbs--Simon has the 20+ lbs, and was just a week shy of a year, so we thought we'd try it in hopes that it might help him enjoy the car ride a little more. Hard to say if it worked...he does like pointing out stoplights through the front windshield now!


In Madison, we got to visit with Grandma and Grandpa, play with new toys, and generally relax!

We were also able to nurture Simon's budding pianist tendencies with Grandpa John's electric piano. Here you can see a typical 20 seconds of Simon engaged in any activity--from very excited/interested, to distracted, to interested again, to signing "all done" as he's ready for a change.

Piano Man 2 (21 seconds):




Andy and Simon even got a chance to play in the snow, as Madison had over a foot of snow waiting on the ground.

I think Simon tackled Andy, if I remember correctly :)

Christmas Eve and day were spent in Madison with Grandma and Grandpa, going to church, eating yummy food, and hanging out.

Next post: opening gifts and after-Christmas partying!