Christmas 2011 Part IV: Michigan

On the evening of the 27th, after the Obermayer Christmas, we drove the 3-4 hours to my aunts house getting in around 11pm.  Summer made a nice transition from car seat to pack ' n play, and although she probably took about 2 hours to get back to sleep, she was quiet!  Paul and I got to catch up with my Aunt Lynda, Uncle John, Cousin Heather and husband Nick, and Cousin Laura and boyfriend Nealle.  This was such a blessing!  We don't get to see the Michigan folks (dad's side of the family) much because it is 10 hours from our home, and to catch up with them in person was such a treat!

The following day we drove the 1/2 hour to my Grandparents' house to see the rest of the Kirkwood clan.  It was so much fun to get caught up, swap stories and laughs, and hear the exciting news that my cousin Heather will have a boy just 7 weeks after we do!!!    After dinner we headed out to make the 10 hour trip back home, traveling through the night, as Paul had to be at work the next day.  Here are a few pictures.

Showing off our bumps!

The whole gang for dinner

Right before we left, Summer opened her stocking from GiGi-ma and GiGi-pa Kirkwood

The most special present was electronic books read by GiGi-ma and GiGi-pa.

On this one, as Summer turns the page, GiGi-ma's voice reads the story.

On this one, GiGi-pa's voice reads the story.  How special to have the voices forever saved on these books for Summer!

Our drive home was smooth.  Even though Summer woke up at our 1:50am gas stop and never went back to sleep (!) she was content to watch DVD's all the way until 4:30am when we arrived at home.  Then we all went to bed, and Paul got up to go to work two hours later!!!

That evening Paul fixed our oven, which broke the week before.  He somehow figured out what part to order, and it came while we were gone.  Here is the picture of the "bad" piece, and one of the "black boxes" was the bad part.  I am so impressed and thankful that he knows how to do this stuff!

Then, the next day we left for the final leg of our Christmas trip: Fergus Falls!