Back home for the holidays!

My apologies to the Hellenbrand clan for not having as many pictures of them--I lost my camera for the first 2 days of our visit. But rest assured, a good time was had by all at both locations (even if the transit between was a little rough).

We're here.

After a crazy, at times uproariously funny and at times frustrating trip, Eden, my mom and I arrived safe and sound. Some brand-new stranger anxiety and a major, major meltdown later, Eden is finally sleeping soundly. It's great to see everybody, but nobody ever said it would be easy.

Let the holidays begin!

image by redstamp.com

Today is Matt's birthday and his mom's. Happy birthday, guys!

My mom also arrived today.

Thus, we're officially kicking off our holiday season.

My mom is here to help out with Eden while Matt's on his annual business trip next week. (Last year Eden, the size of a tadpole, and I went along. The year before I did not.) So Matt will fly out to San Diego on Friday, then my mom and Eden and I are flying back to Cedar Rapids on Saturday. Matt will join us from San Diego on Tuesday and we'll have Thanskgiving dinner with my family. On Wednesday, we're headed up to Wisconsin to have Thanksgiving and Christmas with Matt's family. Then Matt, Eden, and I will fly back home Friday night. Got all that? And of course, there will be a number of meet-and-greets while we're back in the midwest--not the least of which will be Eden meeting three of her four aunts for the first time!

It will be interesting, to say the least, to travel with Eden. She hates being in the car and has difficulty eating and getting to sleep when there are interesting new people around. We're looking forward to going back and seeing everybody, though! Should be an adventure no matter what.

Other holidays in November:
My mom's birthday (November 23)
Pam's birthday (November 30)
Our Restonversary(November 30 I believe)
Our Pamiversary (earlier this week--November 15)

What a fine and festive month it will be.