Family Excursion

Over the weekend, we made the trip from Ludington to Chicago (a 5-6 hour drive with baby) to visit a few of my relatives. Most of whom I’ve seen recently and a few I haven’t seen in 6 years plus.

Oh, and the fun we had!

We stayed at my Aunt Carol (my mom's sister) and Uncle Norm's house. A place where a many, many family gatherings have taken place over the years and so I return with a family of my own.

LBD was thrilled with the company and toy selection.

The perfect hosts. Above is my Uncle Norm chilling champagne flutes and mixing the evening's signature cocktail. Never are you with an empty glass when he's around. On Saturday night, they held a dinner party with my Uncle Art, Aunt Linda, and my cousins Kurt and girlfriend Lorraine, Brian and girlfriend Janis, and Gail who all live in the area.

Family.

I love her.

After-dinner conversation.

Now on to the other side!

We were also able to visit my Aunt Judy (dad's sister) and her family Saturday afternoon, an hour away from where we were staying. The year I went to college, Aunt Judy started to write me a letter once a month no matter how delayed I was in responding, and has been writing me letters for 10 years now. I haven't seen her since the summer of 2005 when my grandfather passed away, so when I told her we were going to visit she was over the moon.

Even though it was February, the door was open, awaiting our arrival.

With a banner!

Table-scape by Aunt Judy. If you look to the left, resting in the Coca Cola bottle is a small tree branch she found that had fallen due to a strong wind. She felt it should be included in the table setting among the other carefully placed decorations. She also stamped the napkins with animal stamps I mailed her for Christmas a couple years ago. Everything she does is wholehearted.

On the way home we had to endure a winter storm and LBD cutting her two top teeth, but other than that she was a champ. It was horrendous weather on the way back, even for my Michigander husband who has seen the worst of the worst winter weather, so we had to stop and stay on a hotel.

Icey view from our hotel room.

Staying the night there wasn't so bad.

Before leaving the hotel, I was flipping through the channels and found Sesame Street was on PBS. As soon as Elmo appeared, like a moth to a flame, the baby immediately stopped playing with her toys and crawled over to watch.  The TV is rarely on in our home and when it is she's usually in bed. So, this was a special treat for the LBD boogie.

After checkout and driving a couple hours, we got back just in time to drop Will off at work.

6 hours late.

But don't worry... We used the baby as a red herring with the boss (aka grandpa).