The Girls go to Illinois

I know I am extremely late blogging about this, but better late than never, right?. Hadley had winter break in February, so I decided that the girls and I should pack up and head to Illinois. I was worried flying with both girls by myself, especially since Malia is a runner, but it went so well.

Waiting on our first flight in the Burlington Airport

I had just gotten my new Kindle Fire, and it did an amazing job keeping Hadley entertained on the flights. Malia was content to sit on my lap and color or talk to all of the people around us. It was also nice that she slept the entire second leg of the trip which was a three hour flight.

When we arrived in St. Louis, we were greeted by my mom and my brothers Donavan and Shawn. At this point Malia was over traveling, and to be truthful so was I, but we still had a two hour drive to my parent’s house. Uncle Shawn had bought the girls a DVD of Elmo’s World to watch on the drive, which kept Hadley entertained. Malia is still rear-facing, so she spent some time looking over her shoulder trying to see “Melmo.”

Trying to watch Elmo's World

As we didn’t rent a car this time, this trip was very laid back with most of our time spent at Mom/Grandma’s house. Hadley loved all of the attention and the fact that there were so many people to play Candy Land with her. Malia still doesn’t really like anyone other than me, but she still had fun watching the action and laughing at everyone. She especially liked Donavan’s dog Jinx. She loved feeding him and making sure he had all of his toys.

Looking at Grandma's giant fish

Getting spoiled by Grandma with pudding

Feeding Jinx

More spoiling by Grandma.  Later she expected me to hold the toy for her.  That did not happen.

Petting Uncle Donavan's horse

Walking to the barn with Uncle Shawn

In front of Uncle Donavan's tractor

Trying to catch the horses tail

Wearing Grandpa's shoes

Candy Land with Uncle Donavan and telling him a story

Lazy coloring

Laying on Uncle Donavan

Trying to teach Grandpa how to use my Kindle Fire

At the park

Swinging

More swinging

"Driving" the train at the park

Candy Land with Grandma and Grandpa

Unfortunately we didn’t get to spend nearly as much time with Grandma Sheila, Grandpa Bruce, and everyone else on Gideon’s side of the family as we would have liked. We did get to spend an afternoon with them. Hadley loved playing with her cousins. The weather was beautiful and she got to play outside on the swing set. She also played Candy Land with all of her cousins. Malia wasn’t feeling well, so she was a little grumpy, but I think she still had fun.

The Dinosaur Train cape and hat from Grandma Sheila

With their cousins Lance, Frank, and Jordan

More Candy Land with Lance and Jordan

Trying to pick up the fish

Playing at Grandma Sheila's

Because we had an early flight out of St. Louis, we decided to spend the day in St. Louis and then the night in a hotel. My mom, the girls, and I went to the St. Louis Science Center.  We only had a few hours, but it was fun and a blast from the past for me.

Trying to catch the tornado

Directing the wind

Musical hopscotch

Playing under the arch we built

Scooping up the beads

There is a walkway that goes across the highway.  Malia was looking through the floor at the cars.

When Malia saw Grandma she ran down the slope into her arms

Passed out at the airport in Chicago

I’m not sure when our next trip to Illinois will be, but I know we will all have fun when we do visit again and that we will miss everyone until we get to see them again. Just last night Hadley told me that she misses Grandma.