Bright Lights and Holiday Nights

We packed up our bags and put on our snowpants and headed to Bentleyville Monday night. It was the first trip ever for the three of us and we loved it. Henry's favorite parts were the light tunnels, the light trains, and the dancing reindeer (and his Grandma dancing up and down the brightly-lit walkways). 

Santa was NOT his favorite, but he was a good sport and didn't cry...just held his arms out the entire time in a "please pick me up now" pose. 

Tuesday morning it was off to Madison. Jon had to take some tests and do a bunch of other things, and Henry and I got to hang out with a bunch of friends...we are SO HAPPY we went along. It was a very smooth trip and it was so good to see all of our favorite Wisconsin people. 

The friends we stayed with have three school-aged kids who all needed to catch the bus to school in the morning and get off of the bus in the afternoon...which meant two trips to the bus stop in one day!! Henry loved this part of our trip the most I think: 

We also got to see "Hud the Bud," his new little brother, AND his mama...it was a Thursday morning just like old times (plus an infant). We had fun!!!

Then we got to see ANOTHER baby...our cousin Gabe! He was born just before we moved away from Madison so we couldn't believe how big he got in just six months. Henry thought it was fun to sit on the blanket with "BabyGabe"...

...and REALLY fun to teach him how to jump!!!

Finally we got to see Sweet Susannah...we met her and her parents for brunch on our way out of town. They colored their placemats, made coffee creamer towers (and knocked them over), ate homemade biscuits, and sipped their drinks through straws.

(We're secretly planning an arranged marriage by sending 

them to the same college so they fall in love.) 

Missing all of these people dearly, so it was fun to have some time with them in our old stompin' grounds. Home now and ready for phase two of the holiday season...