Iowa take 1

We arrived in Iowa the weekend before Christmas and were able to get together with the Cochran family in Newton.  Jarrett's aunt Tammy and Uncle Lee are some of the best hosts in the world and invite the entire family over to their place for an overnight Christmas gathering.

I know it is a TON of work for them, but man do the know how to host and put on a party.  This was the first time we made it back and the kids got to experience a Cochran Family Christmas.  They were definitely NOT disappointed.









Isabelle's favorite friend to play with was Cousin Kat.  Here Katherine is teaching Isabelle how to pucker up her lips.  No, not to kiss boys but to give lovely kisses to mommy and daddy!  Isabelle didn't want to let Kat out of her sight.  Isabelle begged Kat, "Kat you want to go play with me?"  over and over and over.  Kat was so wonderful keeping Belle happy.





Another wonderful thing about getting together at Lee and Tammy's for Christmas is that their house is a pretty much the perfect Christmas house.  Tammy spends weeks getting ready for Christmas, she transforms her house, Christmafies everything.  From the pictures on the wall, to the throw pillows.  There is a Christmas tree in every room (including the bathrooms) of the house and their house is huge.  Every aspect of the house is decked out.  Their house belongs in the magazine's pictures we put under our coffee table.  In fact, their house is put on tour during the holiday months for others to come through to admire its pure beauty.  Walking into their house is like walking into Christmas and it makes the holiday.  Tammy is my inspiration for Christmas and it is her house I picture each year as I decorate our house.

This is their new tree.  I believe it is at least 17-20  feet tall.  While I've never been to Rockefeller Plaza to see the NYC Christmas tree in person, I have seen Tammy and Lee's tree and I think its the best.

When you are at Lee and Tammy's another sure thing is exceptional food and drinks.  Here are the adults enjoying a tasty Christmas cheers!

Aunt Tammy and Uncle Lee made Christmas magical for the kids, she found perfect gifts to get our kids.  Such a kind thoughtful gesture.  Here Isabelle is about to open a singing Mickey Mouse.  She LOVES it! 

The boys had fun too.  They got lots of attention from the older girl cousins, and there were big guy cousins there to play football with.  In the above photo, Gabriel was making friends with Cousin Claire, Lyndsey and Shelby.  We were in the middle of the gift exchange and Gabriel decided it was best to be right in the middle of the action.

Here's a group shot of the cousins, their spouses and our boys.  It was so fun to see everyone and have time to get to catch up.  Most of the time when we visit we are always racing from one thing to the next, that actually having time to sit down and talk with everyone, it was relaxing and oh so enjoyable.

While everyone enjoyed getting together, it was obvious one person was missing.  This summer we lost Grandma Hazel and this year she spent Christmas in Heaven.  On our way to Lee and Tammy's house, Jarrett and I reminisced about prior Christmas' at Lee's and the memories of Grandma Hazel at them.  One year, Tammy had gotten a paraffin hand spa and while the men played cards, us ladies got manicures.  We distinctly remember Grandma Hazel coming out of Tammy's bathroom with her paraffin glove covered hands.  As she entered the kitchen she started dancing to the music and waving her hands back and forth with the beat.  Just thinking about those memories make us smile and miss her even more, all at the same time.

This year we definitely felt her absence and she was on our minds constantly as we celebrated.  Jarrett's parents sent gifts back with us to give to her siblings.  Here is a picture of Sharon's sister Annette opening the beautiful tree of remembrance ornament.

The card attached reads, "Just as a tree undergoes changes he as it grows from a seedling to maturity, our lives are full of unique and important people and moments that define us as individuals.  The tree of remembrance encourages us to treasure each of life's moments and cherish the memory of people and places that are near and dear to us- the children, the friends, the parents and the occasions that create the mosaic of our lives."

We miss Grandma Hazel and wish oh so much she was there to spend Christmas with us.  But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it would be that she would be very happy to see her family spending time together on Christmas.

And boy what a fun time we had.  Thanks again to Lee and Tammy for being such gracious, generous and wonderful hosts and for everyone else we got to see.  It was oh so much fun!

Until next time,
Angie