winter in Minnesota

We made it, and we're so relieved!  After a gruelling drive through blizzard white-outs on icy roads littered with spun-out cars, we arrived safely in Austin Saturday evening.  Owen cried from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (noon) to St. Ansgar, Iowa (6:30--although that's normally a 2 1/2 hour drive) whereupon he fell asleep for the last 25 miles.  Ellie worked hard at being patient, but I think all of our nerves were shot by the time we pulled into my parents' house.   We pulled in to find parents relieved not to be pacing anymore and a warm dinner spread.  Ellie and Owen leapt to life, we sipped our hot toddies and our hot curry soup and resolved to fly next year.  

It's absolutely breathtaking here.  The snow is sparkling in the sun, the trees are frosted -- Ellie and Owen are entranced.  It is a shock to the system to go from 70 degrees (21 celsius) to - 11 (-17 celsius), but the cold adds to the feeling of being cozy at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  The family is starting to gather . . . Emily and the girls arrive today with Auntie Cassie, who just flew in from Tanzania.  Coming tomorrow is our Tanzanian family -- Conrad and Upendo Kwayu with their new son, Quincy, and Anna Kwayu, Conrad's sister.  It's feeling like Christmas.  Next week we'll have our Willemsen Christmas in Pella, Iowa.  More soon!  

yawn

Here's Ellie at her Christmas pageant, showing a little Christmas fatigue. Hope you are all able to rest enough to enjoy the season--love from all of us.

Christmas is coming

And here are a few more of a small Christmas for the four of us as well as Ellie in her Christmas pageant (sorry it's fuzzy--no flash allowed). Notice that despite all my efforts at finding simple, educational and lasting Christmas gifts for Ellie, the Ariel DVD is clearly the winner. Wishing you the best!

thanksgiving

We're leaving balmy Memphis (70 degrees!) this afternoon to head to a very snowy Minnesota but I thought I'd post a few photos before we leave with the intention of writing more once we're safely in Austin. Here are some shots from Thanksgiving, when we were able to enjoy both sets of grandparents. We've always thought my dad (Grandpa Bobby) and Owen look alike, but it appears that they have similar looks while zoning out as well. Cheers!

Leaving fall

We've a lot to catch up on. Fall has come and gone, taking our leaves and our friends. Our good friends Sara, Javier and Alex moved to Raleigh but not before they spent a little time with us. Alex and Sara even got to live with us for a short time, so Alex got his last Ernie bike fix and was even able to borrow Ellie's princess dress. Here are a few snaps from this fall.

even more catching up with pictures

Finally--here are a few pictures, most from our quick jaunt up to see grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles in Austin, Minnesota this September. Because I can never get my pictures to post in an orderly fashion, just scroll down to see them all and don't miss the video of Owen laughing under the post "catching up". Love to you all!

more catching up with pictures