Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Connell & Mommy's Winter Adventure

Connell and I got home Sunday night from a trip to Milwaukee to visit with my family. We had a wonderful time, but it's good to be home! Traveling with a toddler...enough said! Let me first explain why we chose to travel to Milwaukee during such a cold season...The ladies in my Mom's side of the family have a yearly tradition called "Secret Pals." They've been doing it for a LONG time. Each December they hold the big Christmas/Reveal party and then you draw the name of the secret pal you'll have for the next year. I have been participating for the last 5 or 6 years, and my Mom and I try to attend as many of the Christmas parties as possible. We went in '06 when I was 5 months pregnant with Connell. Let's just say, his presence was a little bigger at this party. To my knowledge, I think he is the only MALE that's ever been to a Secret Pal Party. It's great fun, and it's an opportunity to visit with family we see only a time or two a year. My grandmother is now in a nursing home, so I never pass up a chance to see her, and I know she loves to see Connell (and me!).
I was very nervous to fly by myself with Connell. He was hard enough to handle when either Tim or my Mom fly with me. But I decided to be brave. My Mom flew into Milwaukee Thursday afternoon and Connell and I flew up that evening. He did much better on the plane than I anticipated. That $10 I spent on the Elmo magnadoodle...best $10 ever spent!!!! Of course I made sure he never saw it, until we boarded the plane. Awesome!
All in all, it was a great weekend. We visited with family, opened a few 'early' presents, and tried to stay warm in the snow and cold. It was 8 degrees Friday morning!
Here are some pictures from our winter adventure...

Connell getting a little practice opening gifts

Ready to go party w/the ladies!

Connell & Great Aunt Marge

Helping Great Grandma open her gift

We also celebrated my Grandma's 85th Birthday!

Entertaining....

Bundled up and playing with Grandma

Feel a draft?!?!?!?

Little Cheesehead!

Self-portrait on the plane coming home

Big boy! We were lucky to have an empty seat next to us for the trip home:)

Midwest Airlines serves hot chocolate chip cookies and they are YUMMY - can't you tell!!!!

So glad to see Daddy!











2 comments:

Unknown said...

So cute! I love the pics! Connell has silly boy written all over him!

Anonymous said...

sorry we missed you guys. the photo on the plane with cookies is sooooooo cute.

oh, and we got your x-mas card - cute photos ;-)