A ridiculous number of pictures

Okay, where to begin. I guess it's been awhile since I posted and these pictures seem sort of old. And sort of not since we just got back from our crazy long trip. So anyway, yes, we got back Sunday night after being gone 4 weeks. We ended up in Indiana. Dave drive back Thursday to go to a conference and Aleah and I flew back on Sunday. I was SO nervous about flying alone with her and just knew she would scream for hours on end and the entire plane would rise up and unite in their hatred of me. Well, my friend and former roommate drove me to the Indy airport and when we got there we realized the plane was delayed - ended up leaving almost 2 hours later than scheduled. She was nice enough to hang out in the air port with us. So it was after 8 by the time our plane left. She ate really well on the first flight and seemed interested in everything, enjoyed looking out the window, didn't cry at all. I don't think the pressure bothered her at all. We also had 3 seats to ourselves which was pretty crazy nice. The first flight was just to Chicago and it was only a half hour or so so she didn't go to sleep. By the time she was good and tired, we were landing and the bright lights were on, people getting on and off the plane, etc. We didn't have to get off the plane - it was going right on to New Orleans. So she just laid there during all the commotion. Oh, and when we landed in Chicago, she was laying down and thought it was really funny and started laughing - all the jolting around and such. When the Chicago flight was boarding, it became apparent that we would not be so lucky as to have 3 seats to ourselves again (we flew Southwest and they don't assign seats - nice if you have a baby because no one in their right mind will sit beside you unless they have to). I kept watching piles of people come on the plane and thought great - so I eventually scooted her over so we were taking up all 3 seats. First a guy flying alone came along and asked if anyone was sitting there. I said no. He started getting ready to take up residence, but then must have spotted another empty seat and made great haste to that one. Then a youngish girl came along and asked if anyone was sitting there. I said no and she took the seat right next to me and pretty soon a guy joined her. They sat there all of about 2 minutes and then both got up and she (a very sweet young thing) said "He doesn't want to sit next to a baby." ha. So they found somewhere else to sit. In the end, a young girl flying alone sat with us and all was well. I held Aleah after that and she fussed a bit while we were ascending. I think it had more to do with being tired than her ears though. Soon she fell fast asleep and slept until right before we landed. At which point she looked out the window at all the fun lights and didn't utter a peep of disapproval. WHEW! Thanks for letting me bore you with that uneventful story. Aleah picked up a cold from her Red Lake cousins and was sick most of the time in Indiana. = ( We still had fun and got to see a lot of people. She is now feeling much better and has left her parents feeling rather gross. Anyway, we landed late Sunday night and I wasn't sure if I could walk unaided to meet Dave. I was so fried. I don't remember much or our ride home, and think I slept a lot of it. Aleah has been in crash mode and taking really long naps and such. no complaints here. Before Indiana, we were in Red Lake and then my family got together in International Falls New Years weekend. So, here's the pile of pics. That first one Jenni took and I doctored it up and I really like it. = )
Christmas Eve - our family that was in Red Lake got together before the church service. Here is my niece Erica with Aleah.
After the church service. She was a good sport about taking pictures even though she was rather fatigued.


Fun with iphoto. I think it looked cooler before it was resized and all.
We gave Aleah and my niece Hannah matching PJs. Aleah loved the paper.


Christmas Day. Keith and Jenni's boys opening gifts.
I really like this pic.
haha - scary. = P
"Aleah" opening a present

pokadot overload
After Christmas - working on cutting out blocks for a t-shirt quilt. I wanted to get it all done but only got it cut out.
Jenni took these of Aleah and Hannah. There were just too many good ones.


Weekend in International Falls - My niece Caitlyn's 10th birthday and nephew Josiah's 5th birthday.

The kids lined up to get presents from Grandpa and Grandma Dru

Dylan and Hannah
A stuffed bunny (that sings!= ) from Grandpa and Grandma Dru

A doll from Larissa
Caitlyn embroidered this for Aleah (sidenote- I had to tease her all weekend about her American swimsuit. Not sure how her dad let that one get by. haha)
Christmas dinner in Sheldon and Darla's church basement
Everyone kept saying how much she looks like her dad. hmmmmm... you can decide. = )

All the kidlets that were there - so this is the best picture I have and I finally have a kid to throw in the giant cousin pile and of course, her head isn't even visible. Check out the 3 boys on the left. How cute is that?
Not as good of picture but at least you can see Aleah's head in this one. And still not too bad, considering the sheer chaos of it all.
Now I shall proceed to bore you with pics of all my family members. Here's all the sibs.

Sheldon and Darla and kids and one in-law.
Keith and Jenni and kids
Mike and Helen - no kids there
Jeff and Wendy and kids
Matthew and Rhonda and girls
Derek and Elise and boys
yada yada
Dad and Dru
Traveling to Indiana. I should say - we subjected this child to multiple 16 - 18 hour days and she did amazingly well. Barely cried at all the whole time.

Okay, I think that's all for now. I'll be back to mourn the fact that Aleah is turing 8 months in a couple days and she shouldn't be that old yet and it's way too close to one. whaaaaaaaa...