Thanksgiving in Iowa

On Wednesday we left for our annual pilgrimage to Iowa for Thanksgiving weekend. This year was strange without Grandma Williams but Mark's mom pulled out all the recipes and was able to recreate the Thanksgiving traditions that we all love so much. She did a fantastic job. Grandma would have been proud! We hope you all had a fantastic holiday also!

Sleeping on the ride out. She insisted on having her hat on her head.

Being silly!

Riding the carousel at the Coral Ridge Mall--Grace refused to go on a horse.

Grace and Anna in their matching Thanksgiving dresses. Grace was great with Anna--playing peekaboo with her and helping with bottles and diaper changes. She also enjoyed having all of Anna's things there for her to use for her baby dolls. Grace's babies enjoyed Anna's activity mat and her car seat :-)

Trying to get a shot of the girls--Grace was being silly and got me laughing...we did not get any good formal shots but I love this candid shot!

"Mom, I am done posing!"

We had the extended family for Thanksgiving this year so we were at the Presbyterian Church for dinner. It worked out perfectly since Grace had their play room all to herself!

On Friday, we always head to Storm Lake for lunch and shopping.

Grandma in her element!

At Santa's Castle in Storm Lake, IA

Crazy animated poodles

The train display was by far Grace's favorite!

Grace was scared to visit Santa. He was very nice though. He came over and gave her a card to color and got her to give him a high five. This is the best we could do for a photo.

Playing dress up at the house

Back at the Coral Ridge mall on our way home. We LOVE that mall. They had Grace-sized tables and a Grace-sized restroom. She loved it! They also have an indoor ice skating rink which she was mesmerized by--I think we might have to get her to our ice rink sometime later this winter just to try it out (probably just in her boots).