Good Grief!

Can you believe that I haven't blogged for two months - most of you are saying, "Yeah, I've been looking at the same pictures that long!" Hopefully I haven't lost anyone's attention.

I was out of contact for two months, but not bored. We've been a busy family with all the holiday festivities. We had a great Thanksgiving at our house with Dad's family (grandpa, grandma, Jason, Lauren and Liv), Mom made all the food and I think everyone survived. We had a Christmas celebration with Daddy's folks in Colorado Springs in which I got some cool gifts. Then we had a little birthday party for Dad and then went to Iowa for two weeks to have Christmas with Mom's family. While in Iowa I experienced a real Iowa snow storm, -34 degree weather (not including wind chill), Christmas with the whole clan and New Year's with almost the whole clan.

I can't begin to tell you all the things I've been enjoying over the last while... so I will show you some highlights via pictures:

My favorite room in the house is the bathroom - I can't get enough of Q-tips!

I've been sportin' more ponytails lately as my hair continues to grow.

Liv and I get to play a bit amongst the Thanksgiving fun.

I love Grandpa and Grandma's new house in Colorado Springs - this is me there for a Christmas party.

I just thought I looked pretty cute posing by gma and gpa's railing.

This is me and Grandpa and Grandma after a full day of Christmas hoopla.

A new favorite pastime of mine - they make such great noise on the wood floor.

We celebrated Daddy's 33rd birthday, we had some friends over as well for dinner and cake.

While in Iowa, I got to meet some of Mom's high school friends, Mike and Gina. Here I got to pose in front of the Christmas tree with their daughter Kylie.

They also have a little boy, his name is Carter - I wish he'd let go of my jammies!

I got to see what it's like to go to school with Grandpa and Grandma one day. This is me and Mom having lunch... we sat with my cousins Max and Maggie for a while too.

This is where grandma works... I like her computer... Look closely at her monitor and you'll know why.

Grandpa's pretty comfy... there are several pictures like this from our Iowa trip.

I was supposed to have my picture taken by this snowman with all the snow, but I don't like the cold enough to pose for that picture.

Here's grandpa clearing the snow - again - from the driveway. They had to clear the snow several times since they got around 20 inches of snow while we were there.

Dad and my cousins really like to play legos... here is one of the masterpieces that Michael made. It's a medieval battle.

Dad, Marty and Max worked on a space station while we were all cooped up inside because of all the snow.

This is Main Street in Orange City, IA all decked out for Christmas. Mom, Dad, Grandpa and Julie went for a walk in a the winter wonerland.

Here we are in Okoboji celebrating Christmas. Here's me, Mom and Julie enjoying the gift exchange.

Some of the clan braved the cold in Okoboji to do some sledding - I had a little cold, so I'll have to wait until next year to experience that. Left to right are: Erin, Joni, Maggie, Julie and Ethan.

Here's a great picture of Maddie having fun on the short hill.

Here Aunt Joni got a turn going down as Maddie and Julie observe her technique.

I love to play "roll Daddy!" So do my cousins, Maddie and Erin turns out.

Lego City! Dad, Max, Marty, Maggie, Maddie, Michael, and Aunt Julie occupied quite a bit of time during our week in Okoboji creating this masterpiece.

There's a great pool at the resort in Okoboji and I got to enjoy it a few times.

Oooh... the water is fine!

Five on a couch, right Barry?

We got to celebrate Michael's 14th birthday while in Okoboji. Just a tidbit for you, he's 6'2"

Hope you all enjoyed as many blessings with family and friends as we did.

Now we are home and need to start getting back to normal... whatever that may be.
I hope you all feel caught up.
Til next time,
Lydia