Road trip to Aiken...Highs and Lows

On New Year's Day last year, we woke up on the airplane and started our new life in England.  It has been an interesting year full of adventures for us.  We missed our friends in Aiken, where we lived before moving to England.  On New Year's Day this year, we said our tearful goodbyes to family, and we made a road trip from St. Louis, Missouri to Aiken, South Carolina.  We broke up the 12 hour trip, and boy am I glad we did because it ended up being our most challenging road trip to date.

We rented a minivan which had so much storage space!  

We started the trip comfortable and happy.

Busch Stadium with the St. Louis Arch in the background

 Saying goodbye to the Arch as we cross over the Mississippi River into Illinois

Dylan still had a fever, and the poor boy was miserable.  Then the stomach bug hit us.  First Cora got sick, twice! That was lovely in her infant car seat.  Then, Amelia got sick.  I spent the first night in the hotel scrubbing car seats, blankies, and clothes in the tub.  We were anxious to see our friends in Aiken, and I was hopeful that the sickness would pass quickly so we could spend some time with friends over the next 3 days.  Long story short...Dylan's fever was off and on over the next 5 days, we ALL got the stomach bug (which was quick, thankfully) and Amelia started with the fever/flu as well.  I kept thinking the kids were over it, and then the aches and fever would return.  Thankfully, we got to meet up with some friends at the park and enjoy some fresh air when the kids were feeling a bit better.  I was blessed to stay healthy enough to spend time with some of the best friends a girl could pray for.  It was a MUCH needed girls' night out!  I wish we would've been able to spend more time with friends those 3 days, but I am thankful for the little time we did spend together.
 

Fun at the park with Megan, Charlie and Kyle

We didn't last long due to low energy, but it was fun while it lasted.

 Megan, Cora and Amelia

Cora loved all of the attention!

 

 Dinner at Moe's!  (Amelia didn't make it, but Dylan was there.)  

 

 

 Fun at the new library park with LOTS of friends!

Our favorite babysitter, Miss Stacey

 It was GREAT to see our friends!  The sunshine was nice as well!

 Dinner with friends...such a great night!  Too bad Eric didn't make it, and he came and got Amelia after 15 minutes because she was not well again.  I made her stop crying and smile for this picture with Megan and their matching shirts. :)  Abigail and Annaleigh were as sweet and cute as ever!
 

 Daly, Solomon, Dylan and Kyle

 

 

Kristi, Raquel, Caroline, Cora and Angie, Jill

Lorie Ann left before we took this picture.  She needed to get home to put up her feet!  Her sweet baby girl will be here soon!

A big thanks to Rich and Raquel for hosting a lovely evening!  A huge thanks to my friend Kristi, for risking getting sick to spend time with us those 3 days.  You know you have a good friend when, A: she gives you her Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag, B: she gives you her nursing bras and C: she spends time with you and your kids knowing they are sick, and she doesn't get mad when her daughter throws up the day after you leave.  Instead, she texts, "It was worth it."  I miss my dear friends! 

  

Gretchen's Special Day

Still catching up on my holiday posts...
After 10 days of nonstop holiday fun, birthday celebrations, reunions and time with cousins, we had the joy of celebrating Gretchen's baptism with our family.  I was so touched to play an important role in Gretchen's special day and in her future as well.  I was honored to be asked to be her Godmother.  Amelia, however, was not so happy.  She wanted to be Gretchen's Godmother, and she was very upset about it at first.  I told her she could help me, and she was content with that.

 Amelia, Cora and Dylan looking so cute!

Giving Grandpa Trost some love before the baptism

 Sweet Gretchen Catherine, the star of the day

I gave her this bonnet made of Irish linen.  It has her initials and birthdate on it, and it turns into a hanky for her wedding day. 

 She was perfect, and she did not mind the water on her forehead.  Look at her proud parents!

 A special blessing for daddy

What a darling family!

My adorable Goddaughter

The entire Hefley family!

The seven Hefley grandchildren

Conner, Dylan, Gretchen, Reed, Amelia, Cora and Lily

Grandpa and Nana Trost with the kids

All of us with Nana and Grandpa Trost

 My mom, Aunt Cathy, Aunt Terri and Grandma Reed

Lindsay and Carrie
We were missing Kate that day, but so happy that she and Tommy were home from the hospital and he was feeling better.

 How cute is Brooks?!!!!

My awesome sisters-in-law, Michelle and Becca

Party time!

Happy Lily

Samantha and Reed

 

Dylan and Dalton, my Godson
Don't let the halo fool you...he's a stinker, but I love him anyway!

And some last pictures from our final night in St. Louis.  We loved spending New Year's Eve with our cousins!  Poor Dylan had a fever, so he stayed with Nana and Grandpa for the night.  We also missed Brad, Kate, Grace, Graham and Tommy due to another trip to the E.R. for them :( 

 

It is never easy saying goodbye to our families.  After the kids spent so much time together and had so much fun with each other, I hate to go another 6 months without seeing them.  But time will pass quickly, and we will be back soon.  We are so very thankful to all of our family and friends for their support and encouragement.  Living so far away and missing out on so much time together with the ones you love is very hard.  A HUGE thank you to the grandparents for taking us in for 6 nights each and allowing the kids to take over your houses. We miss everyone already!     

Home for the Holidays

Yet another great year with wonderful holiday memories came and went so quickly.  We had not been back to the states since June, so we were VERY ready for our visit.  We put up our tree, hung the stockings and  baked Christmas cookies here, but it just was not Christmas until we were with our families.

I did most of my Christmas shopping online this year.  I had about one suitcase full of gifts for family from England, but I spread the gifts among clothes in all of the suitcases.  We also packed one medium suitcase inside of a large one to have an extra for our trip back to England.  I did not bring many clothes for the kids since I knew they would each be getting new clothes for Christmas.  Our car was PACKED on our way to the airport, and we wondered how we would fit on the way home with an extra suitcase.

The three kids were just about perfect for our 17 hour trip to Missouri.  Those passengers who gave us "the look" when they sat next to us with three small children were telling us how well behaved and quiet they were at the end of the 8 hour flight.  Thank God for the TV screens and lift-the-flap board books!     

Dylan brought Barnaby Bear from his class. Cora enjoyed a Baby Einstein video on our portable DVD player.

We were greeted at the airport around 4:00p.m. in St. Louis by both sets of grandparents and Great-Grandma Reed!  Tears of joy were flowing, and even though it was 10:00p.m. in England, the kids' excitement kept their energy going.  That evening, we had 7 cousins and several aunts and uncles come to greet us.  We had the joy of meeting my new niece, Gretchen, and our new cousin, Tommy.  I waited 3 months to have those sweet babies in my arms!  Cora was a bit overwhelmed with everyone, and preferred to stay with Mommy or Daddy.  After just a few days, she was waving and going to almost anyone.

It took the kids several days to adjust to the 6 hour time difference.  We had some 4:30 a.m. wake up calls (Nana got up with them most mornings), and some naps at all hours during the days.  Evenings were hard because that is when our families would get together, and my kids were exhausted.  But they were troopers, or WE were troopers putting up with their tiredness as we had at least one if not two gatherings to attend each day for the next two weeks.  

I have WAY too many pictures to post, so here are a few (ok, a LOT) of our favorite moments from our time in St. Louis...

Meeting my niece, Gretchen Catherine, for the very first time!  She is a doll!
Dylan and Grandpa Trost were ready to build Legos right away!

Hanging out with Gretchen and playing with Graham and Grace

Our picture with the "real" Santa  

 

That classic "Who is this man holding me?" cry from Cora.

Having fun with Grandpa Hefley

A family pic from Winter Wonderland

 Sweet Cora                                  Sweet Gretchen

  

Having SO much fun with Aunt Emily who flew in from Boston!


Dylan enjoyed riding his bike at Nana & Grandpa's house.


Fun with cousins (Lily, Grace, Amelia, Dylan)

Cheering on the Mizzou Tigers with Baby Gretchen

Ramona, Lily and Amelia playing Ring-Around the Rosie.  Lily saying "Cheese!"


Cora playing with Aunt Carrie     Grandpa and Uncle Dan helping Dylan with a puzzle.

Christmas Eve...time to open presents with Nana, Grandpa Trost and Aunt Emily

Christmas Eve at Great-Grandma Reed's house.  

Cora, Amelia and Gretchen in their matching dresses.

Christmas Eve family picture

Gigi and Grandpa Hefley with 5 of their 7 grandchildren.

Amelia + Samantha = Best Buds                      Lily is a Daddy's Girl!

Santa came!  Mac, Amelia, Sam, Dylan

We always have a wonderful time on Christmas Eve with all of the Reeds!

Lily wasn't sure what to think of Santa. Brooks, Grace, and Charlotte stayed back too.

 

Christmas morning at Nana and Grandpa's!!!!  Dylan was counting how many gifts they each had.

 

Cora loved her Cozy Coupe and the Johnny Jumper!

 

Dylan was in heaven with all of his new LEGO sets!

Amelia loved her new dolls and her new LeapPad games!

 

 Christmas Day at the soccer club with the Trost and Randazzo families.  

My parents, Gigi and Grandpa Hefley, with Cora on the field

 

My mom and I with the 5 Randazzo sisters.  They are as fun and talented as their cute headbands!

Aunt Trina, Aunt Nina, Aunt Jessie, Angie, Debbie (my mom), Elna (Eric's mom) and Aunt Maria

   

The Trost cousins who played the annual soccer game this year.  

There were about 33 players on the field this year.

 

The youngest generation of Trosts. 35 were there this year.

Yes, that is why we go to a soccer club for Christmas.  We have over 90 people!

The adults' table at Christmas dinner with the Hefleys on the 26th

 

The kids' table at Christmas dinner with the Hefleys

 

Who is excited to open presents?!

Opening gifts with the Hefleys...more presents!

 
 

Fun at the St. Louis ZOO with some more cousins that we didn't see on Christmas.
Joe Joe, Cora, Amelia, Dylan, Mikey and Abigail.  Maddie was in another stroller.

Joe Joe was great with the boys.  We loved meeting Maddie!  Another blonde hair and blue-eyed girl!

 

Here I am with my best friend, Erin, at our 20 year grade school reunion on the 27th.

Fun at the Magic House for Dylan's birthday on the 28th with Reed, Conner and Lily
 

 A little birthday party for Dylan, the big 6-year old.

Samantha, Amelia                            Conner, Dylan

 

Aunt Becca and Uncle Dan with the birthday boy

Uncle Ron and Gretchen
           

The pinata was a lot of fun!  Thanks, Uncle Dan, for holding the hockey stick!

Well, that's all for this post.  Up next...Gretchen's Baptism and our visit to South Carolina.  Then, a little blurb on our return back to England.  Thanks for reading!