Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

We flew home to Rapid City, SD on December 16th to visit family for Jeff's Christmas break. June got to meet Grandpa Joe, Uncle Tanner, and Aunt Regan for the first time at the airport.

Grandpa Joe, Uncle Tanner, and Aunt Regan with June

June also got to meet Papa for the first time when he got home from work that afternoon.

June and Papa

That night, my mom was nice enough to host a welcome party for June so that any family and friends who wanted to meet her could do so. This was nice for us so we didn't need to feel so busy running around trying to see everyone the first couple of days we were home.

June with Aunt Regan

The Vahrenkamps, Drewitz, and Frieds

June and Great-Aunt DeVee

June and Grandpa Joe

Regan and I

June and her friend, Ainsley (they are about 7 weeks apart)

Jeff and Ainsley

We spent the first week home with the Vahrenkamps. Jada had lots of fun playing with baby June and June loved the attention.

Jada and June playing

Janae, Jada, and June Playing with Charlie


Jada and June chilling out


Nana and her Babies

Just Hanging Out

Playing in the Johny-Jump-Up

Taking a bath in the bumbo (fyi: they float)

What would a trip home be without watching Regan play sports. We got to watch her play soccer and basketball! We didn't get to watch any volleyball but the last picture shown here was from one of her practices. She had a volleyball pole fall on her head. Yikes!

Meeting Uncle Aaron

Meeting Uncle Tyler

How does an Alabaman baby stay warm in icy South Dakota?

Playing with Grandma

Notice June is dressed to play along

Regan's Goose Egg

And of course we must visit friends! They all wanted to meet June too. Sorry I didn't get pictures of everyone. June doesn't always cooperate and Mom doesn't always remember the camera.

Meeting Merrick!

And Eric!

Mommy and June

Christmas Eve day! We got to spend Christmas Eve with the Vahrenkamps. We went to the candle light service at Fellowship Bible Church, came home and took some family pictures, watched Jada open her presents, and had an evening of fun and fellowship.

Santa Baby

Family Christmas Picture!

Keeping June happy while in between pictures

Nana and Papa and their grand-babies

Christmas Day we woke up at the Odegaard's and had the joy of including the Kainz family in our activities. We spent the day socializing, playing card games, taking family pictures, and all the kids (minus June) climbed M-Hill.

June and Cousin Andres

Playing with Uncle Tyler and Cousin Andres

Grandma and Grandpa with June (their only grand-baby...for now)

The Odegaard Clan

Sam, Regan, Jeff, Aaron, and June

Hiking M-Hill

Great-Grandma Odegaard with June and I

Cousin Liliana and June

Four Generations of Odegaards

The day after Christmas was the Vahrenkamp family Christmas. We took a trip down to Chadron to meet all the extended family. I had a fun afternoon playing Bananagrams with family and June loved the attention everyone gave her. I always enjoy our trips down to Nebraska. They are such a fun group to hang out with. June also got to meet Grandma Vahrenkamp for the first time which was fun because we had both June Vahrenkamp's together. Sorry there aren't more pictures. I guess the camera man got a little lazy.

Grandpa and Grandma Vahrenkamp, Nana, and June

Cousin Kris and June

The last week, Jeff went back to Alabama and June and I got to hang out with my family. Everyone went back to school so it was a little quieter, but Grandma had surgery on her thumb. Now recovering from surgery is no fun, but I was still happy to have her home with me a few more days before we left. June also learned how to suck her thumb in that last week. The little stinker hasn't given it up yet. We will have to work on that!

Uncle Tanner playing with June

Always the center of attention!

Four generations of Yorks!

Great-Grandpa York and June

June playing with one of her Christmas gifts (she loves this thing)

All tuckered out after a long three weeks of visiting family
June sucking her thumb

It really is hard being so far away from family, but it makes us really make it worth it while we are back home. It was so much fun to see June with all our family and how much she loves them. We have such a happy baby and loving families which makes for an awesome trip.

June in the airport

I should say that it was an awesome trip up until the flight home. Me being silly, I missed our flight in Denver so we had to wait an extra four hours and go through Houston instead of a direct flight. Let's just say that June let me and everyone else on the plane know that she was done with this flying stuff. I would still say that she did great traveling overall and I was glad that people on the flights were so helpful and didn't show their anger although I'm sure they had some. As bad as it was it won't keep me from flying back again to visit family.