And away we go....

Thumbs up ~ time to get on the plane

Alyssa set up her very own picnic, complete with a pink checkered tablecloth (AKA blankie)

Alyssa and I were off for our first solo plane ride. We left for Reno for Uncle Matt's college graduation. Andy had to work and 2 weeks before Christmas was not the time to purchase airline tickets for a family of 4! So, Jaden and Andy stayed home and Alyssa and I went on a short trip together. She was so excited to be going on another airplane! It was so cute.....she was sitting on the plane anxiously waiting for her apple juice she so politely ordered, and in the meantime she put out her pink checkered blankie on the tray table for a tablecloth. She said she had made a picnic table for her snack!

We arrived in Reno, and much to our dismay, it was freezing! All bundled up, and to Matt's house we went. We enjoyed many festivities that weekend including, ice skating, pizza balls, touring UNR, seeing Santa at the mall, graduation of course, first time at a Bask restauraunt and snow!

Alyssa had been asking for so long if she could ever go ice skating, so we thought it would be the perfect chance to try it in Reno. There was an ice skating rink in the middle of town that was open in the evenings. We got all bundled up and headed into town. She had fun walking around the ground in her ice skates, but wasn't thrilled to be on the ice. "But it's too hard, mommy. I can't stand up. It's too slippery for me!" After about 2 times around with Uncle Matt holding her, she was done. All undressed, skates returned and ready to head to the car. Oh well, at least she can say she tried!

Graduation of course, was graduation. I really think someone should reinvent the whole ceremony to make it just a little bit more lively! Alyssa was a bit overtired, bored and hungry, so the already dull ceremony was a bit hard for her to sit through. After graduation we dined at a Bask restauraunt. It was a family style restuaraunt that was delicious!

The day we flew out to come home, it was snowing pretty hard all morning. I think if our flight was any later, we would have been snowed in. We got out and arrived home safely and the next day Uncle Matt said there were 8 inches of snow overnight!

We had a blast in Reno, and Alyssa can't wait until she gets to go on the airplane again!

Alyssa drinking her cocoa and enjoying the sites of Reno

Uncle Matt and Amber

Alyssa with the bears at Black Bear Diner

Papa, Uncle Matt and grandma after graduation

Grandma by the water, Uncle Matt and Grandpa by the water

Alyssa having fun at the pizza balls restaurant

Alyssa trying out ice skating

Alyssa and mama by the Christmas tree