Go Hawks!

We watched the Iowa Big Ten basketball opener today. They couldn't pull off the win, but it was a fun game to watch! Congrats to OSU (Ali will be happy)! Good luck to the Hawkeyes tomorrow - they need to pull through for the Big Ten.

Ella's 2 month pictures

Christmas

Ella's First Christmas

With the girls in her Santa Baby outfit from Auntie Alyssa

Christmas lunch - thanks Dad and Barb

The buggy from Grandma Eunie, I have wanted it since I was a little girl and now it can go in Ella's room

A Christmas toast to celebrate the great things of 2008

Merry Christmas Ella!

Our Family

Ella's Christmas outfits

The big reveal - tickets to the NCAA Basketball Tournament!

How appropriate!

Our sweet angel

We had a fabulous Christmas in Iowa. Ella was the center of most activities. It had been a few years since Joe and I were able to be in Iowa for the festivities and we enjoyed the traditional church, chili, and presents at Grandma's house Christmas Eve. Christmas day we opened gifts, went to the extended family Christmas lunch at my Dad's followed by the traditional afternoon Bingo! Ella insists on always being a part of the party and stayed awake for most of the activities! She is going to be a social butterfly and not miss a thing like her parents.

Ella enjoys her Iowa family

Grandpa Larry and Grandma Barb

Alex (no longer the baby of the fam) and Elliot (of course she'll share your nickname Elbow)

Aunt DeNeitt

Uncle Steve

Auntie Alyssa

Aunt Denise

Ella loves Auntie

Hangin' with Max

and Maggie

Aunt Crystal

Nana Di

Grandpa and Grandma T

Great Grandpa Bob meets Ella for the first tme

Great Grandma Eunie holds Ella for the first time

Iowa Baby Shower

Sue,Misty and Sally hosted a lovely baby shower for Ella and I. It was a great way for Ella

to meet many of her Iowa Friends! She was pretty sleepy and slept through most of the shower while I opened the many thoughtful gifts and everyone enjoyed delicious food!

Sneak Peek!

Ella had her 2 month/Christmas pictures taken yesterday. She did a great job! Here is a sneak peek, I can't show you more because I want my Christmas gifts to be a surprise!

We made it!

Ella did awesome on the flight and we made it safely to Charles City! Ella is enjoying time with all her grandparents and she got to meet Great Grandma and Grandpa T. Everyone just loves her! Tonight it's dinner at Grandpa and Grandma T's!

Ella Fix

Photo from today - she has grown!

Tummy time for Nicky and Ella

She puts in on her face and then cries for us to move it!

Thanka Nana Di for my new musical puppy! Merry Christmas to Ella.

Ella and her buddy hangin while Mom and Dad clean and organize!

from our vent....

I know 8 children grew up in this house in the 80's and 90's and I really believe it when Joe pulled this out of our vent in our bedroom. How do they do it? We are in for a treat with Ella!

Christmas Cards....check!

Our Christmas cards are ready to mail. It was an adventure this year. I opted to skip the letter and included a picture. I bought cards long ago and I had a hodge podge and some of them are way crappy....but I couldn't run out and buy more today so they'll have to do. I apologize for the crappy cards where the picture just kind of hangs there.....

Laundry is almost done and I have mental lists of things I need to pack and things I need to get done here before leaving for 2 weeks. Hopefully all goes well and we make the plane on Friday morning!!

Lasagna with veggies and beans?

Our kind neighbor brought us a lasagna a few weeks ago and we had just had lasagna so I froze most of it. I had some tonight for dinner and I can't believe the veggies I keep finding in it - cauliflower, carrots, zucchini, lima beans, green beans and more. I thought Iowan's did strange things with veggies, but this is a whole new level!! I don't know if the rest in the freezer will ever get eaten.....it will forever be known as Utah Lasagna to me and Joe won't touch it.

Flying with an 8 week old?

I'm starting to get a little nervous about flying alone with Ella on Friday. Joe is taking me into the aiport and will help me get my bag checked (I'm hoping I can get 2 weeks of mom and baby stuff into one suitcase) and will take me to security. It's a direct flight into Minneapolis where Nana Di will meet us at baggage claim. Any advice?

Ella's Reindeer Shoes

Ella is ready for Christmas. She got many thoughtful gifts from Grandma Dorothy and Great Grandma Dorothy last night. Check out her new shoes!

New Guilty Pleasure

The View - I like it. Hot Topics entertain me. I will miss you when I am back to work!

I live in the 5th Healthiest State!

Utah moved up in the rankings this year to #5 for healthiest state! Congrats Utah!

Holiday Candy

I love mint M&M's....they may sell them year round, but I only buy them at Christmas and they are fabulous!

Customer Service

I'm a big fan of customer service and it's hard to find lately! Being at home for the past 6 weeks, I actually answer all the calls that come into my house. Today I got a call from Delta Airlines to tell me my flight in January (I'm taking Ella to see her Iowa Grandparents during my week off) had been cancelled and they had moved me to the 7:05 flight. I replied with, "7:05 AM?". The lady was kind and moved me and Ella to the 9:45 AM flight after also giving me an option to take a Northwest flight at 8 something. Cheers to Delta and their excellent customer service - you will keep me flying with you!

Happy 75th Anniversary

You make Saturday morning college football and brunch more fun! The bloody mary has been around for 75 years today.