Bringing the Gredlers to KS

First of all, there was a very special event that took place on October 23. Eliana Joy was born to Tim and Carissa...and I am so happy about that! I got to go out to VA and see her now for the first time...and bring her and her siblings...and her mama back to Kansas for Christmas! (Tim flew out a little bit later due to work...and he'll drive back with them.)

I flew out on Thursday. On Friday, we ate breakfast at The Little Grill (yum!) and in the afternoon we watched the Christmas program at the bigger kids school. Wow, they really do alot of entertaining (both students and teachers!). That evening, Darren joined us for supper and I got to hold Eliana in between times as much as possible. She is such a good baby!!

Saturday morning, we left bright and early to head to Kansas. Carissa has obviously traveled with children, she has a system..and it works. Those kids did so well! As in unbelievable..I think I'm still in shock that Eliana didn't cry a ONCE that was outside of being hungry that we stopped and then was fine for another 3 hours. The older kids were all SOOOOO excited that they were getting to go to Kansas.

Crazy coincidence...Brent and Alyssa's family were traveling to PA for her family Christmas the same day we were driving to KS. We had called about 10 minutes prior to this picture...and realized we were that close to each other. A pit stop at this parking lot next to the interstate...and we got to see each other! It was Maddox's 12th Birthday :)

We ended up driving straight through...per everyone's request! We got home around 1:45 am on  Sunday, and were ready for some sleep. 

I was glad I got to go!!

Celebrate the Gredlers [Monday]

Monday morning, we got our things around and packed up.

Had our last minute play times, snuggle times. Carissa and Mom made brunch for all us, Tim's parents and brother, and Mitch.

Before going to the airport we went to Bethlehem. We went to the steel factory..it looked like a scene from a movie. The steel that was made at this location was used nationwide....The Golden Gate Bridge, George Washington Bridge, The Supreme Court Building, and I think it said over 85% of the New York City buildings. I found it kind of interesting. Hard to imagine what those families that had workers that endured this kind of labor daily must have went through.

Then we went down just a block or so in town...checked out some unique shops and the oldest bookstore in the country. It was fun.

We headed to the airport...and our time in PA came to an end.

We had several fun-filled days and good times playing. So glad we could celebrate with the Gredlers...all 5 of them!!

Another two flights to home that went smooth...

and then Daddy picked us up at the airport! We were all glad to see him :)

Celebrate the Gredlers [Sunday]

 Sunday was the big BIG day! Adoption Party Day!

Mia, Gia, and Jace were going to get dedicated at church in the morning...and the party was scheduled for the afternoon. We woke up to rain Sunday morning...the freezing kind. Prior to knowing church was actually cancelled because of it, Carissa and Tim's family were on the turnpike. One car of others that were staying at the hotel had left, but were able to turn around. While watching the news, it was BAD out there...like 60 car pile up on the turnpike, with one dead kind of bad.
We went downstairs and made the most of the morning by playing games in the lobby.

I had to get a picture with this handsome fella....he was 3 months old on this day!

When the temperature was just above freezing closer to noon, we headed to church (the turnpike was still closed even then).

The party was from 2-4.
Tootsie the clown was quite the treat. She made balloons for the kids and then put on a show. Noah and Christian were both very intrigued with her. Christian had told her first thing about Uncle Mitch (I have no idea why)...and so Uncle Mitch became a favorite target for Tootsie to talk about!
There was lots of laughter and fun all afternoon!

Here is two different clips of Tootsie and Christian...he was chosen to help her.

Their pastor gave a special blessing during the party.

An overview of the guests...lots of people to support and celebrate their family!

They had veggies and dip, crackers, and fruit, and a popcorn machine...oh, and cake!
 Christian was a big fan.

They had a photo "booth" area..with props which all the guests were supposed to get their picture taken and write a special note to the kids.

Mom made this quilt wallhanging...

After the party, we came back to Tim and Carissa's...had lasagna, read bedtime stories, and went to bed!

Such a fun day!

So glad we could be there to celebrate with them.

Celebrate the Gredlers [Saturday]

Saturday was a big day...

In the morning, we started off with donuts that Grandpa picked up.

After we finished getting our things packed up (as we were going to stay in a hotel tonight)..we headed to the jump house.

Three very excited passengers on the way.

There were 5 or more large inflatable jump things for the kids to jump on. Noah was definitely not big enough to go solo...but that was a fun excuse for us to accompany him on the slide and other areas. The bigger kids were way too busy going from area to area to hardly get a picture of them. Other than Gia and Christian nearly giving me a heart attack (they had gone to an area where there was a TV and no one knew they were there..aka they were lost to us, but they didn't consider themselves lost at all!), it was a very fun time.

Following the jump house, we went to eat at Pudge's. It is a hole-in-the-wall sort of diner...with AMAZING food. They are known for their Philly cheesesteaks. I got a chicken cheesesteak...SO good. It was huge! And I nearly finished it all. They had excellent waitresses too. 

We all went to the church to start getting ready for the party on Sunday. 

Mitch and I worked on getting the fish bowls ready. He flew in late Friday evening. 

Carissa worked on the cake. The kids took naps there, before we headed to the hotel to swim!

A very random picture..

Dad and I walked through the cemetery a bit at their church. There were some OLD gravestones. This lady was born in 1774..died in 1865! 

We got the hotel..swam for awhile...ate pizza with everyone (more friends and their family came)...then some swam a bit more!

A full day, with more celebrating to come!

Celebrate the Gredlers [Thursday & Friday]

The very anticipated adoption of Mia, Gia, and Jace has finally come!! Actually, it was final January 9..but the celebration was the 18th. These three children have been living with Carissa and Tim for just over two years, and we love having three more cousins officially added to the family.

Early Thursday morning (like 3:30 am...EARLY), we got up and around, picked up Dad and headed to the airport. Ben couldn't take off work...so the boys, Grandpa, and I headed to PA to join Grandma at Tim and Carissa's house. We had our hands full, literally, but it went really well.

The flights both went smooth, and the three little travelers handled it wonderfully!

We got in around 1 pm, greeted with a sign made and held by Jace and everything! Carissa took us out to a restaurant that they had eaten at following the adoption hearing. It was tasty.

We arrived at their home and the boys didn't waste any time getting busy playing. Christian and Jace are just 3 months apart in age.

The girls came home from school...they were quite excited to have us there as well.

Mom worked on cutting out fabric to make bunting for the adoption party, and made cinnamon rolls.

After supper, we went to Inside Scoop...and had a very special treat. 

The Volcano = 14 different flavors of icecream and 8 different toppings....a whole lotta goodness!

Everyone had reached their limit on what they could handle...

this little man was still going. (Granted he took tiny bits, and if he didn't like something he'd shake his head no..and move on to nibble at another section.) He left the store with just a onesie wrapped in a blanket due to the amount of icecream ALL over his clothes :)

Bedtime snuggles with Grandpa.

Friday morning we ate cinnamon rolls for breakfast. 

Carissa gave Noah a new look..

Mom, Carissa, and I (and Jonah) went to get a few things from Michaels...

and I picked up an antibiotic for Noah (poor guy coughed and coughed during the night..the same crud Christian has had and needed antibiotics for). Carissa picked up Mia and Gia and they went to get beta fish for the party....they are so pretty.

During the afternoon, I worked on making the bunting. 

Carissa made the gingerbread houses (they were used in decorating the cake).

Tim, Christian, Jace, and Mia worked on squeezing lemons to make lemonade for the party.

Jace, Gia, and Christian in their outfits.

They all certainly had lots of playing to do...oh how they can play!

That evening for supper we went to a place in Bethlehem. It was good food...and it was probably a blessing it was so loud in there..a certain 2 year old was not pleased by the time we got our food. We had a quick time for gifts (some for Tim's birthday coming up on the 26th, and a couple gifts to celebrate the adoption) when we got back to their house. Grandpa told a bedtime story...and off to bed they went.