Elliott's Space: Holiday Wrap-Up Part II: The Midwest in Me

Elliott would like me to start the post with a photo of him with his Great Grandpa Manternach, who passed away on Saturday, January 21st. His obituary can be found here. Elliott is so happy he got to meet him, but sad that he won't get to know such a great man, and that we can't travel back to Iowa with Chris for his funeral this week. He will be missed by so many!

Elliott met his great grandpa on his first tour of the Midwest while I was interviewing in Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Chicago. Grandma Carren made him a hat and sweater to get him ready for the cold:

Elliott was ready for the snow, but the average temperature while we were in the Midwest was 50 degrees! It did dip down to 30 one day and he got to show off his snow suit.

Elliott was a super trooper on his first airport/airplane trip:

It was great to have Chris and Elliott accompany me on some of my interview trips, but I really think they were just there for the food. Once we arrived in the Midwest, they wasted no time in sampling the culinary delights the region has to offer: fried cheese curds in Wisconsin, deep dish pizza in Chicago, and pancakes everywhere! Elliott also learned of the consequences of the Midwest diet, and had to go on a prune cleanse when we got home. :)

Mmmmm...Cheese.....

Excited for sweet potato pancakes at the Hamburg in Iowa City:

After all that cheesiness, we were able to enjoy Christmas. The best present Chris and I received this year:

Santa tail. Tee hee:

Elliott was so excited about presents!

Actually, I lied. He really didn't care about much beyond the shiny paper and eating bows.

I was definitely more excited about presents than Elliott:

On Christmas Day we went to Elliott's great grandparent's house in Cascade, Iowa. Elliott got to meet about a few dozen aunts, uncles, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins, and 4th cousins (or whatever they're called). He loved all the family attention.

Elliott was so excited to spend 3 weeks with his Grandma Kate:

The Manternachs do not appreciate being photographed. I snuck one of these during the gift exchange:

Then I got this response when I asked people to "smile".

Fortunately, Elliott loves being photographed (or he at least loves the I phone). Elliott enjoying the warm Iowa weather:

"Where's the snow??? I was promised snow. Whaaa..."

No snow? Oh well, the view is pretty good from up here anyway:

More photos of Elliott meeting family:
Great Grandma Manternach:

Great Grandma Jones:

And hanging out with Grandpa Jim (Jones):

As you can tell by the following photos, Elliott was also pretty excited to drive to Des Moines, Iowa and meet up with his parents' friend Tony, who is doing his EM Residency in Omaha.

We ended the trip in Chicago, where I was interviewing at Northwestern. I loved the program, but I think that was influenced by the unseasonably warm weather (60 and sunny), and the free zoo!