Spring Break

Whew!! We just returned from a great spring break trip to South Dakota. Gone for nine days, driving 21 hours total and it was all worth it. The first leg of our trip took us to an overnighter at hotel Patterson, the most accomidating place I know of. We arrived late but stayed up even later visiting. Elijah, of course, did not sleep in and the look on his face in the morning when he saw his cousin 'Siah was priceless. While Elijah was excited to see his cousin, he was even more thrilled to be on his way to Grampa's. He has a tractor you know (its really a riding lawn mower but don't tell Elijah). The 6 hour trip went well thanks to the generousity of a coworker who loaned us their travel DVD player.

Our time in the Black Hills was great. Elijah had a super time playing at gramma and grampa's and Chris and I had a great time catching up with family. We even got to see some college friends that we hadn't seen in years!

After four days we headed out of the snowy hills east to Sioux Falls. Again, the joy on 'Siah's face when he got off the school bus was enough to warm my heart for months. The tornado began immediately and did not end for another five days. Grandma Barb and Grandpa Tim, AKA Grandpa Barb :-), lavished so much love on all of us it was just amazing. They gave 'Siah and Elijah a bath, at the SAME time and still had the energy to offer to babysit for a night so the Mom's and Dad's could go on a double date.

We went old school for our date, bowling! I was pitiful in the first round. 63 points was all I could muster after three straight rounds of gutter balls. I did forge a comeback in the second game when I figured out that I should lead with my right foot.

Easter was another fabulous day with new friends and a visit from Granny. What a blessing it was to spend the day with family and friends! Elijah went to Sunday school and proudly returned proclaiming, "Mom, Jesus is alive!" We drove home Sunday night and after a day of no nap and non-stop playing Elijah was at his wits end. Again the DVD player saved the day. In the middle movie number two, he finally passed out, even though both Mom and Dad were jabbering away to Auntie Melissa on the phone.

All in all it was a fabulous break. Thank you to all of you who hosted, fed, cleaned up after, played with, ate with and talked to us.