Iowa trip: Wedding

The reason we booked a trip to Iowa when we did was because John was in a good friends wedding up in Minnesota. This wedding combined two cultures as our friend Phil's bride is from India. So, they had some traditional Indian festivities as well as a Christian ceremony. Mostly I am just going to post a lot of pictures.  The wedding was full of events and we definitely learned that the Indian folks can run on little sleep :) They love to dance, read poems, ect and it was all very lovely, but after a 22 hour trip John and I were definitely a little sleepy throughout the celebration.
My parents were also up at my sisters in Rochester MN, where I stayed for most of the weekend of the wedding. We did get to enjoy a little family time winery outside of Rochester, and it was even sunny. And, they kept Hannah overnight for us so she could have a more relaxing 2 days than being at all the wedding festivities! This was the first time she was away for the night. I don't think she missed us!

I don't think I have any pictures of Abby and her lovely kids and I together, but it was SO great to spend time with her at the wedding festivities (both of our husbands were in the wedding)! Another couple that should just move to Switzerland :)
Johns time in the US ended quickly as the wedding got over late Sunday night and then he had to drive us 2 hours to my sisters, sleep a bit and drive 3 hours to Iowa to fly out at 11 am. Too short for a trip to the USA!
Anyways, enjoy the photos.

Phil and his nephew making their entrance on a white horse

30 minutes of dancing to a drummer and music, also part of Phil's entrance

 Christian ceremony

 The happily married couple

 John looking sharp, it was a beautiful location

 Bridal party dance, should have gotten a video!

Iowa: Pre Wedding

We had 4.5 days before we had to head from Iowa to Minnesota for the wedding that John was a part of.  It is an understatement to say that these few days were busy. We had quite the list of family and friends to see as these were the only days that John would have free because the rest of his time in the States was spent with wedding festivities. Thankfully Hannah started to sleep at least 10 hours at night by the 3rd night, and blessed us with a few 13 hour stretches, which allowed us to feel a little more rested!

The weather was a bit cold for the beginning of June, much like it was in Switzerland. But we still got to spend some time at the local parks swinging with Grandma! I am so thankful that my mom got to take off everyday except for 4 the entire 2.5 weeks we were home.
I still have some lifelong friends that live in my parents home town that we got to see several times that we were back. One of those times was to celebrate Nae Nae's 30th birthday! Her husband Nate pulled off a great surprise party for her and it was a great way to see these friends that I have had close to 20 years or more.

Nae was surprised... Happy 30th!

I realize now that I didn't take enough pictures of gatherings with friends when we were back! Anyhow, on Tuesday Grandma babysat Hannah for us so we could head down to Iowa City, the town we lived in for 5 years prior to moving to Switzerland. We were able to see all of the friends from our small group from our church that we were part of for about 4 years. It is so great to be able to have friends that you can be away from for a period of time and pick up right where you left off. We are looking forward to the day when some of these friends come to visit here in Switzerland!!

 

On Wednesday Grandma had to work so we all went down to Iowa City again to meet a few other friends for a picnic lunch. We tried our hardest to convince the Baumhovers to move here, but I think moving with 3 kiddos across the pond would be a lot of work!

These busy days with great friends reminded us again that it is the people that we miss, not the place. Friends that you have had for 5-25 years and family aren't replaceable!  But we realized that we really love Switzerland thus far as well!

Jet lag

I have a lot of catching up to do on here about our trip to Iowa/ Minnesota. But, for now just a quick update to say Hannah and I made it back to Switzerland safe and sound.
The trip going this direction across the pond is a bit faster, a bit under 20 hours which includes a 1.5 hour late flight into Zurich. As this was the first time flying alone with Hannah, I was glad that the trip was a few hours shorter! I was fairly anxious the few days prior to our trip back without Daddy. They key factor to my anxiety was not knowing how Hannah would do and she did great. She got some short naps in the airport in her stroller since she didn't sleep on the two shorter flights, ( too much to look at, very bright, noisy...) and these naps were enough to carry her through to bedtime on the long flight. Where there was only a total of 5-10 min of crying! Although we definitely use the paci for sleeping on the plane.
The only real bumps along the way were: 1. the stroller wheels popping from the air pressure and having to wheel around a stroller with flat wheels lugging a suitcase and trying to catch a train. 2. Having called in advance to be in the bassinet row only to double check at the desk and for them to tell you we were not there and there was nothing they could do. Tha I fully the gentleman next to us moved to an empty seat so we had two seats. Unfortunately they already checked the car seat so Hannah still had to sleep in my arms = a sore arm and no rest for momma as it was really uncomfortable. 3. Sitting for 1.5 hours in the plane waiting for the catering service to get their act together and get our food to the plane. Thankfully Hannah was having a fine time playing in the seat next to me!
Not sure I want to fly too many more times solo with kids that far, domestic flight sure, but international is a LONG day even with a good baby. And with more than little one seems just crazy.
Now onto the fun challenge of adjusting to this time zone. Going to the US Hannah was adjusted for the most part in 3 days, but she seems to have a harder time coming this way!
Will update more with pictures later!

Landed

Well we made it!
We started our journey out a little more tired than hoped for as Hannah didn't sleep well the night before our big trip. We lost her most favorite blanket this week and sleeping has been a little rougher than normal. After about 10 weeks of age when she was through with being swaddled we laid her down to sleep with this lovely knitted Pom Pom blanket. She would grab it, talk for awhile and sleep the whole night through! Yes we were blessed with a great sleeper. So when we lost the blanket the week of our travels we were not too happy!
Anyways, our friend who made the blanket had a back up waiting for us! Praise The Lord!
Our trip ended up being 3 flights a total of 13 hours flight time and 22 hours of total travel door to door. We got unlucky that all the flights were "full" so Hannah had to be on our laps and not in the car seat. Thankfully she did great! Fell asleep on my lap several times, was woken up about 8 times for security and getting on and off the plane, what a trooper!
Now to start the time zone acclimation, see family and friends, eat good beef, and try not to think about flying home by myself with Hannah!