A very Snowy Christmas

Neela had the right idea when she sang grace before Christmas Day dinner: "Oh the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me, the things I need, the sun, the rain and the snowflakes..."

Our Christmas 2009 did not turn out quite as planned. We left for Grandma and Papa Estochen's on Tuesday, December 22 with plans to stay until Christmas Eve night. Well... It was fun, but the massive snowstorm that hit the upper Midwest on December 23 churned for a few days - and the eye of that storm appeared to be centered right over the Brookings/Sioux Falls/Sioux City region. For those not familiar with the area, this is right where we needed to be driving to get from one grandparents' house to the other! As of Christmas night, we were still in Sioux City - still watching it snow and blow - and wondering when the State of South Dakota would decide to plow the interstate so people can drive anywhere. We weren't sure if it would be safe to drive with 3 kids even when they DO open the roads :-)

Brooke meets Aunt Renee & Uncle David for the first time - she was so happy!

In all of our Christmas PJ's

We made the most of our time in Sioux City - all of it at Grandma and Papa's house, because it was too icky to venture out anywhere! Brooke finally got to meet her Aunt Renee and Uncle David - she was all smiles for them. She also enjoyed all her new car seat toys for the car ride down - she kicked, and swung, and got the music going -- and smiled!

On Christmas Eve, we decided to help Papa outside. He had a surprise for us - new purple shovels! We went outside for about 10 minutes - Neela lasted longer than Kylie, and shoveled with him. Of course, earlier in the day, Papa was cleaning off the deck, and Kylie told him (through the patio door), "C'mon Papa, You can do it!" She kept cheering for him until he came back in. Kylie just is not as excited to play in the snow as her adventurous sister!

Neela shoveling with Papa

Neela was the one dressed warmly for the weather :-)

Snow is SOOOO Yummy!

Mommy & Aunt Renee took her in the backyard. Neela climbed "Mount Neela", and ate a LOT of snow! She did not want to come in - she wanted to make footprints, climb and slide on the 4 foot drift behind the house. Mommy finally made her come in and warm up - she was so excited to play in the snow!! She can't wait to do it again soon!

After we played in the snow, we decided to open presents! We got all kinds of neat stuff from Grandma, Papa, Aunt Renee, Uncle David and Uncle Chuckie.

Ready for presents

Chuckie & Brooke

Brooke's Gloworm

Our Dora Phones

Kylie's Pony

Neela's Pony

Say CHEESE!

AGAIN!

Almost all of the relatives still made it to Grandma and Papa's to celebrate on Christmas Eve. Even though we didn't make it to church, we did get all dressed up in our "pretty dresses". Big Grandma & Big Papa even got to talk with Big Papa's sister, Margaret, on the computer - and Big Papa showed off the girls (a little!).

Aunt Renee taught Neela how to sniff, swirl and sip - so they traded glasses for a minute!

On Christmas Day, Daddy & Papa helped shovel out a few cars in the street (the plows didn't do their road). Mommy went out to help once, and a little boy got out of the truck. She played with him - and Neela begged Grandma to let her out. Neela also announced to Daddy & Papa the next day that "Mommy got stuck". Mommy tried to turn the car around so she could load up some stuff when Papa & Daddy left. However, the traction control on the new van (which Mommy couldn't find the override for) and the ice under the snow in the street - were too much for Mommy to get back up the driveway...

The roads finally opened at 3:30 PM on December 26. Aunt Renee & Uncle David were some of the only people on the road that morning (their flight on Christmas Day was cancelled), and they said it was awful driving south. Mommy & Daddy made the decision to stay in Sioux City so we could make the whole drive to the other Grandma & Papa's in the daylight. That turned out to be a good decision -- in one 10 mile strip of road, they saw 4 rollovers. Of the entire 120 miles on I-29, they saw 31 cars in the ditch...

All dressed and ready for the car ride!

We had to stop for a potty break near Elkton, and Daddy almost went in the ditch turning into the gas station. Papa & Uncle Cory met us with the pick-up about 10 miles from the farm. They led us all the way home on the county roads - and the only really awful spot was the end of the driveway. We made it up the driveway!! Boy, were we excited to get out of the car again!!

Aunt Heidi and Uncle Cory waited for us to get to the farm - and helped us open presents almost right away! Then, we opened all of our other presents from Grandma & Papa, Angie, and Tony & Chelsea. We got new Dora backpacks to go with the Dora phones from Uncle Chuckie!!

Helping Papa open his chainsaw

Helping Grandma open cupcake supplies

We also got new sleds from Angie - and we needed them to go see Slick and his friends, and play in our playhouse outside.

We only stayed at Grandma & Papa's for 24 hours before heading home. We did manage to make it to the "BIG" Guggisberg Christmas at "Grandma" Karen's and "Grandpa" Roger's house -- even if we did have to drive slow to Canby! We had so much fun with cousin Mallory! We loved playing princess in her dresses!

Brooke had a GREAT first Christmas! She was so tired, she didn't even make it to the car ride home before falling asleep!