Visit with Grandma & Pop Pop

Grandma Linda & Pop Pop Saul came to visit for a couple of days before heading South for Christmas and the winter. There was a LOT of playing during the visit. Play, play, play was the theme! And it was a lot of fun for everyone. Nora even had her first trip to a local indoor playground. 

Since we were heading to Upstate NY to see my family for Christmas, we had our own celebration a little early in Illinois. This is the face that Linda and Saul got to see as Nora spied her gifts:

The bubble gum pink piano from Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Bill, Jake, and Mckenna was an immediate hit. Nora also enjoyed sitting in her very own chair playing with her Leap Frog Move and Groove toy. Another big hit of the day was the peanuts that were used to pack some of the gifts. :)

We can't wait to head to NY for the rest of our Christmas celebration!

Gramma Wells

Many months ago, I agreed to go to a conference in Connecticut for work. Jeff would also be at the conference so that would mean that Nora would be coming along, too.

As we got closer to the conference date, I started to doubt the confidence about managing this trip that I felt earlier. Nora had changed so much since I agreed to travel halfway across the country and spend 5 days in a hotel with a toddler. My mom lives just a couple hours away so she agreed to join us and help with Nora when I would be working. Great! Except that Nora had been going through a stage where there were very few people she was totally comfortable with. This made me really nervous! To help ease my concerns, my mom came out to Illinois to spend a weekend with Nora. Thankfully, it was a weekend that put my mind at ease a bit.

Taking a walk around the neighborhood.

So my mom and Fred (Gramma and Happy) made the trek to Connecticut armed with toys, snacks, and confidence. The hotel room provided fun play time with things like mirrored closet doors and the weather was nice enough to get out to a nearby park.

Pooped out after the park.

The trip also gave us a chance to introduce our sweet girl to so many of our friends. She was eager to give everyone she met fist and foot "booms" (bumps) and was quick to giggle with us all.

Although being at the conference wasn't stress-free (Nora was up for most of 3 of the nights we were in the hotel), it certainly was made easier by having Gramma and Happy there with us.

Gazebo Playtime

While in NY, we spent one afternoon with Gramma Wells, Happy, and Aunt Marge. We spent our time playing in the gazebo and enjoying lunch. Nora also spent much of her time flirting, giving away smiles and giggles, and showing off her self-feeding skills. Cheerios and fruit were the favorites of the day, along with crawling all over the place. And I mean all over the place! Nora was so active that I only got these two pictures!

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah

Nora was all smiles for her first Hanukkah. Here she is wearing a big grin and a bib from Grandma Linda. I think she's so happy because she knows that next year she gets to eat latkes and applesauce.

Linda and Saul paid a visit to spend some time with our little one. It was a day and a half of non-stop playing. Grandma brought Nora her very first Menorah and we lit it every night of Hanukkah. She loved looking at the flickering candles.

Grandparents

How lucky is Nora that she has all of her Grandparents in her life? Here they are....

Grandma Wells (August 2011)

Grandma Linda & Pop Pop Saul (August 2011)

Pop Pop Bendon (December 2011)

Grandpa Sheldon (November 2011)