Anyway, we left Wednesday evening to head to Jason's stomping grounds, farm grounds that is. We stayed with Grandma Rose and Papa Russ, which we always enjoy. We hadn't been to Missouri since this time last year since I was pregnant, and I'm anti-travel while in that condition. What was so great about this trip is that Elsie will really remember everyone this time, and everyone got to meet our sweet Claira. We made the trip there as well as the trip back in about 6 1/2 hours each, which is great time for us law-abiding, speed-limit following folks.
Grandma Rose with Claira
Papa Russ with Claira
I think Elsie ate more candy this past weekend than she has in a month! At one point, she asked for some jelly beans, and I told her she had to finish her cheez-its first. She was later found putting the Cheez-its from her bowl back into the box!
Elsie eating m&m's with Papa Walt.
Grandma Rose must've heard, "Let's play!" at least 80 times a day from Miss Elsie. They read stories, played Barbies, played games, and just about everything else Elsie could come up with. Grandma even brought out some jewelry for them to play dress up and she showed us some earrings that Jason had picked out for her when he was little. I'm so sad to say that I don't have a picture of them, but let's just say that they looked like shiny new hubcaps in Grandma's ears!
Elsie and Grandma Rose playing Hi-Ho Cherry-O. Elsie had to lay on the table "so I can reach."
Elsie trying on Grandma Teresa's glasses.
Daddy taking Elsie for her tractor ride.
Elsie playing Peek-a-boo.
Usually, we stay for church and lunch on Sunday before we make the trip home, but in an effort to promote sleeping children on the drive back, we decided to stick around longer. We were so glad we did since this gave us some time to play visit Aunt Christina and Uncle Brian's house to let the girls play with Emma, Jackson, and Chase. However, I'm not sure who had more fun...the kids, or Jason, who was busy building with Geotrax and playing tackle with Elsie and Jackson. (By the way Christina, I failed miserably at getting pictures of our kids together so upload those to snapfish soon, please! And, send me a link!)
Elsie coloring with Emma...she was her shadow for the day.
Claira, 5 months, and Chase, 3 1/2 months...looks like Claira might have some growing to do!
With all of the family we did get to see, we still missed out on seeing a few people so we hope to catch up with them in July for Eric's wedding. We miss everyone already and were sad to leave...we heard "I don't want to go home!" from Elsie multiple times the whole trip back, and she went on and on about having a sleepover with Emma and "Emma said I could stay at her house at night." She was not pleased to be informed, "not tonight."
Bye, bye farmland...
