Family-Filled Weekend

Heads up - this is a long one!

Our busy weekend started on Friday, as Cailyn was home from Judy's and I had both girls with me. I invited Paula to join us on a little trip down to Crown Center since it was too hot to do much of anything outdoors, especially with an infant. Scott, Betty, and AJ - in town for his baptism - joined us for lunch at the Crayola Cafe. It was something I thought Cailyn would enjoy and she did seem to have fun until she joined the two other sleeping babies and fell asleep on Nana's lap!

Cailyn and her Crayola Cafe cup

I guess all the coloring was exhausting!

From there we headed to Oak Park Mall (also air conditioned!) and had our first Build-A-Bear experience. She picked out a traditional-looking washable teddy bear with a pink, blue, and green top (her three most identifiable colors) and jeans with peace symbols. Unfortunately the entire experience took a bit too long for a 2-year-old and we exited with many tears...not because she had to leave all the animals, but because she wanted to stay fixed to the computer where you enter the bear's information! A trip to the carousel and the smiles returned. My tired little girl was literally asleep in the car before I pulled out of the parking spot!

Washing her bear after it received its stuffing

A happy girl hugging her new friend, at home later that night

Much fun on the carousel

Saturday was a bit more relaxed as we joined the rest of the family in town for the baptism. Dick and Susan provided lunch - the infamous Chico's Tacos were again "imported" from El Paso, TX to satisfy the locals' cravings. We prepared our paper taco boats with the small, greasy, rolled tacos, then smothered them in the watery but all-important red sauce and finally covered it with plenty of their cheese. Simple but satisfying!

Me and my nephew

AJ in the bouncy seat - a serious little guy

After an afternoon of catching up and relaxing (i.e. letting the tacos settle), we had a great Japanese feast at Hikari. Again, our little Cailyn fell asleep on Nana's nap, after being spooked by the chef and his use of fire. The results of day 2 without a nap. Kinley continued to be a little angel and AJ is a great baby too!

Sunday we celebrated AJ's baptism at the church where Chris and Betty grew up and Paula still attends. He did great during the ceremony and looked pretty snazzy in his little blue suit.
Afterwards we headed back to Paula's for brunch and attempted to get the three cousins to pose for a picture. Actually about 100, with all the cameras on them! They did great!

THANKS to Dick and Susan, Betty, Scott, and AJ for the trip to KC to meet baby Kinley! We look forward to many more weekends together. You all are so special to us!!!