Airplanes, Football, Cold, Food, & Family!

We had been planning to go to Iowa for Thanksgiving since the Summer. Also after looking at the BYU football schedule and realizing they would be playing Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana that weekend before we figured it would be the perfect opportunity to go to both the game and then drive to Iowa to spend the rest of our Thanksgiving break.  When we booked our tickets back in August I don't think we put much thought that into that the game was at the end of November and it would most likely be FREEZING COLD-- and sitting in the freezing cold weather with two kids, 2 and under for 3-4 hours isn't the smartest of ideas.  So when November game around and we realized that the temperatures were going to be below freezing plus the windchill, there was no turning back (well I guess if we wanted to pay 200 dollars plus any difference per ticket it would cost to change our plans then there was turning back)-- but we weren't about to do that. We were going to make this work!  Another thing we didn't think through very well was that taking a red eye flight with 2 very small children isn't ideal. So needless to say our trip started a little interesting.  We did make it to Vegas just fine- Lincoln was super excited to be going on a plane so he was happy most of the time so at least there was that(this was his first airplane trip where he got his own seat).

 Norah wasn't too sure about this all. :)

The problem was that he wanted nothing to do with sleeping.  Our plane was supposed to leave Vegas at midnight but it ended up being delayed a couple of hours.  We finally got on our plane and flew to Chicago. Lincoln did finally sleep for a couple of hours during this flight.  Luckily we didn't have a layover much at all in Chicago because of our flight delay and was able to get right on the next flight that took us to South Bend. At this point it was about 10 am and we had really each only slept 2-3 hours total that night.  The game was at 3 pm so we had some time to get our rental, eat, head to the Michigan state line to get another state checked off my list, and then check out Notre Dames campus and Game Day atmosphere.

 It was a neat campus, with such rich tradition. We saw 'TouchDownJesus', The player walk, The band performing before the game- and walking to the stadium.

 I would have loved to explore a lot more and see all of what Notre Dame has to offer but it was so darn cold! We had layers of clothes and still chilled to the bone. Adam then met up with a friend (Robby Packard) to go to the game and instead of going to the game I took the kids to the big mall in hopes of trying to find some warm entertainment for us to do for 3 hours. I was hoping things would go well, but I do have to admit that Lincoln had a HUGE meltdown inside Barnes and Noble when we first got into the mall.  When strangers come up to you asking if there is anything they can do to help, you know that you look like a mess.  Lets just say that me carrying Norah in her carseat, along with the big diaper bag, and trying to keep a TIRED 2 year old from running wild in the mall isn't an easy task- especially when the mall doesnt have any 2 seater car strollers left.  It really was a nightmare for a few minutes until I got Linc calmed down and bribed him with frozen yogurt. Things got better from there and we found the kids play area where he made some new friends, and then for the last hour he was content watching "Planes" on the ipad.

  As crazy as the afternoon was, I was sure glad that we had decided to not go to the game--- Not only did BYU lose but Adam was frozen solid. After the game I was supposed to go and pick Adam up. Sounds easy enough but when you are in a tiny town and everyone is leaving the football stadium area and you are trying to go toward, leaves you in a bit of a predicament.  There were so many roads closed so the GPS was trying to tell me to go somewhere when in fact I couldn't because they had closed the roads.  After a major headache, a few tears(on my part- I blame the lack of sleep), a dead phone for Adam, and meeting friendly strangers that let Adam borrow their phone and then give him a ride to me we were reunited. Let's just say I haven't been happier to see Adam in a long time and I was sure glad that at this point Lincoln and Norah had decided to finally fall asleep in the car.  At this point it was 8 or so and we were hungry so we grabbed a little ceasars hot and ready pizza and headed to our hotel, which was still a couple of hours away near Chicago. The rest of the  drive was uneventful (yet long) and once we arrived at the hotel we were tired so we finally got to sleep- at least for a few hours before we had to wake up and be on the road again to get to Iowa City(which was 3 hours away) at 11 to go to church at our old ward. We were so glad that we made the choice to go to our old ward because we got to see a lot of our old friends!  Being back in Iowa City was such a great feeling. Although I def. had moments in Iowa City that I didnt love living there, I have so many great memories there as well. I can honestly say that if it weren't so cold there, I could be happy living there. It is such a great place.  The rest of Sunday we spent lounging and sleeping at the hotel. A much needed break from all the go-go-going we had been doing the last 48 hours.  Monday morning our plans were slightly changed when I ended up in the ER (which is a whole other story)-- I am okay and when evening came Penny and Steve had made it to Iowa and we all headed out to Mechanicsville to visit Grandpa and Grandma Weber! We have missed seeing them, so it was so good to see them again after 2 years.  Tuesday we went to the mall and got some Iowa T-shirts, then Adam went to University of Iowa's wrestling PRACTICE. Yes it was just practice but I think it was one of the highlights of the whole trip. I am pretty sure that he would have gone everyday if I would have allowed it.

 We then met up with our friends, Abe and Erin Sheffield at a yummy burger place, "STELLA." We love the Sheffields and it was great seeing them!
Wed. we visited Aunt Carol, Chet, went to Hale for supper with Grandpa and Grandma,

 Aunt Carol giving Lincoln his early Christmas Present!  He loved it!

Grandpa Willie, Betty, and Norah at Hale Supper Club.

 and then we met up in Anamosa and had a little get together with a bunch of the Ellisons.  It was a busy but fun day catching up with family that we haven't seen for a few years.

Thurs- In the morning we made a quick visit to the Gleasons- who I use to babysit.  So fun to see the kids growing up to be such great kids.  After visiting them we headed to Riverside Casino to go and have Thanksgiving dinner at their buffet. It was def. a first for me to have Thanksgiving dinner at a casino buffet but really it was quite nice.  No stress of having to prepare anything, no dishes to clean, and a bunch of different foods to try... The food was good--- def not homemade but overall it was a great Thanksgiving and fun to be able to spend it with Grandpa Willie, Grandma Betty, Penny, Steve, Adam, Lincoln, and Norah!

After supper we headed back to Mechanicsville and visited, Aunt Sherry/Uncle Lynn, and then Aunt Sophie.

And a quick stop at the Mount Vernon Cemetery to check on g-g-g grandpa Ellison.

Friday we went and visited Aunt Carol one last time and then headed to the airport. Lincoln loved flying even more this time because he could actually see outside because it wasn't the middle of the night.
We had such a great time in Iowa.  Lincoln loved being spoiled by all of his family.      

During the month of November we also made a Thankful Chain of things that we were thankful. I would ask Lincoln what he was thankful and these were all his responses.
-Big Machines
-Dada
-Norah
-Little pumpkins
-Pears
-Mommy
-Tables and Helicopters
-Big trucks
-Big books
-Nana and Grandma
-Dogs
-Treats
-Seahorses in the water; especially pink ones
-Chocolate and chocolate milk
-Airplanes
-Pumpkins
-Lucky charms and cheerios
-Purple trees
-Duckies: big and little ones
-Rain
-Buttons