Trip to Idaho

Samuel did so well on his first flight - sleeping or eating the whole way and no fussing - we were lucky to have short connections and only half full planes to give us more room and keep the carseat with us.

Thursday night we had a big dinner at Grandma Vander Stelt's house and Samuel got to meet all of his cousins and aunts and uncles.  The kids are excited to have a cousin, but he is too small to play with them so I'm sure the appeal will increase when he is able to move around with them.  Anna kept saying, "Me carry him" - she wanted to carry the baby but I think we will wait until she is older!  Brady was also fascinated with the baby and would look and poke at him.

Ethan, Maddie (holding Sam), Braden, and Anna

Samuel also hung out one afternoon with Jack Groen, son of Jesse and Alyssa.  Samuel is one day older than Jack.

We also stopped by to see Great Grandpa and Grandma Vander Stelt on two different days to hang out.  Samuel is the 40th Great Grandchild for them and the number keeps climbing!  God's blessings to my family are amazing!

Lastly, we also got to hang out with my friends, Sarah Wolfe and her daughter Grace, as well as Jolena and Drew and their son Franklin (we forgot to get a picture!)

We did also manage to get a family picture when we were all at my parent's on Sunday after church.  It was so fun to spend time in Idaho and see family and share our new addition.

Robert and Brooke, Henry and Robin, Bradley and Katie holding Sam, Sara and Jason holding Braden, and Ethan, Anna and Maddie in the front

In addition to all the above, we did some other fun things.  Friday night, Bradley and I went on a double date with Robert and Brooke to PF Changs and then the Idaho Steelheads ice hockey game while grandma babysat.  Bradley also hung out with my brother and dad at the Boise gun show and even got to sample some moose jerky from my brother's latest kill.  We also got to meet a MASS of extended family and friends at church on Sunday and see all of my cousins and aunts and uncles.  It was a full weekend with lots of activity and I believe we once again escaped all the germs in time - We seem to be fleeing sick kids each visit!  Someday soon, that will be us with the sick kids everyone is fleeing :)




I will say we left Minnesota in the fall and high 60 degree weather and returned to winter and the aftermath of the first big snowstorm.  Winter is here and Samuel will have to wait for his first official Minnesota snow!