A week full of "firsts"

We had a very busy week and weekend. Monday afternoon Auntie Jackie, cousin Bohdi, and Grandma came down to Iowa to visit and meet Morgan for the first time. We did lots of playing and even attempted a Target shopping excursion, which ultimately ended with Grandma in the checkout line and both kids and their moms out in the parking lot.

 Morgan made her first trip back to LaCrosse on Thursday afternoon. Daddy packed the car and we piled in like the Griswold Family ...Daddy was in the driver's seat, Tehya sat shotgun, Morgan sat in the middle of the backseat with Mommy on one side and Taylor on the other. The three hour drive that it usually takes Brad and I has now turned into a four hour adventure with stops along the way for feedings, diaper changes, crying, and the soothing sound machine as the background noise which seems to have replaced the radio. Oh how things have changed :) Overall the drive went pretty well despite the rough start. We left our house about 1 1/2 hours later than planned because I thought packing could wait until that day while Morgan and I were home and Brad was at work...learned my lesson with that one. We left the house with a sleeping child, made a couple stops before getting on the interstate, and as we pulled onto I-35, Morgan was wide awake and crying. We pulled off the first exit ramp in Ankeny about 2 miles up the road and the crying stopped, so we got right back on and continued our trip to LaCrosse...too funny.


Auntie Kimmy and Uncle Joey made the trip all the way from Denver for this special weekend so Morgan was able to finally meet them for the first time and loved every minute with them!

Saturday was a busy day that began with the Kish family picture. As you will notice in the picture below, we had a screaming child in one shot (that was due to poor planning by mommy as we were too close to feeding time) and a sleeping child in the second shot...amazing what a full belly can do.

The next stop for the day was heading up to Grandpa Chuck & Grandma Marilyn's house to meet them for the first time. We spent some time cuddling with them.

Then it was on to cousin Justin's 2nd birthday party. Morgan spent most of this stop sound asleep even with all the excitement going on for the Thomas the Train themed party.

Last but not least...our final stop was to Grandpa Ho Ho's Pumpkin Pickin' Party! Morgan met many cousins, aunts, uncles, cousins, Great Grandma Eldridge, and Great Grandpa Sid! We went on a hayride, walked through a corn maze, and went down to pick out the special pumpkin that Grandpa Ho Ho planted for Morgan when she was better known as Baby H.

Four Generations

We like to call this one "shop til you drop"...notice her very first purse from Aunt Roxi :)

We had a wonderful weekend of many "firsts" for Morgan and couldn't be more blessed to have such wonderful family and friends in our lives! It will be a while before another road trip is attempted, but overall, it went well and it was quite the adventure.

Saying "see ya later" to Grandma & Papa