A Different Kind of Family Fun Weekend

The last couple weekends we've focused on trying to fit in all of those summer bucket list items we're usually scrambling to do this time of year, once the majority of the travel weekends have passed and we finally have a little breathing room.  This year's been a weird one, because even once travel lacrosse ended, I had three showers to attend, and now we have two weddings coming up.  We still haven't fit in Jacob's birthday party, which is KILLING me, but we did manage to get in some mini golf, pre-Kindergarten Carter time, and a trip to the drive-in.

This past weekend was a different type of family fun weekend, as it focused more on extended family than our little foursome.  It was one of those weekends where I came home energized and just completely content after some classic family time.  Of course, then I woke up this morning still feeling full and bloated and probably dehydrated and sleep-deprived.  While that energy wore off quickly, it was still a good weekend.

Friday was pretty low key.  I was determined to get in a run on a gorgeous night, so we rushed through dinner as much as possible and I went out for a hard-fought but pleasant run.  I was tired for most of it, but I was enjoying the evening so much that I pushed through for an extra mile or so.  I was less than a quarter-mile from home and took a detour around another block!  I walked part of it, but it was still probably close to 3/4 mile more running.  The boys were suddenly eager for outside time when I got home, and as I chilled on the porch watching Jacob shoot hoops and Carter run around, I got about 10 mosquito bites.  Darn it.  They're brutal, too.  But it was a nice night and an uneventful bedtime.

Saturday we were aiming to get on the road by 11ish, but it ended up a little later.  We wanted to go to Buffalo, grab some lunch, and visit the outlet mall in Niagara Falls to pick up some stuff for Jacob.  He's outgrown his golf shirts and wanted to look at sneakers, and in the end we got some good deals on a few things for him--though no shoes.  Boo.  I was also oddly excited about finding the exact pair of jeans I've been wanting (super skinny jeans in a lighter wash, no distressing) for $12 at the Old Navy outlet.  The highlight of that store for me--besides the great find--was a discussion with a sales clerk who tried to recommend high-waisted jeans to me, and I emphatically told him no because I lived through them the first time around and it did not go well then, either.  He laughed and realized we must be close in age (he was 45), and then admitted it's a tough fit.  Turning 40 isn't ideal, but being able to know a crappy fashion trend when you see it come back is a nice perk of age!

We were there a lot later than planned, which ended up messing up our plan to go to the Bisons game with my parents, but the good news was that it meant we got to spend more time with my brother, niece, and nephew, who were in town!  The kids played in the yard and were actually mostly well-behaved together.  I even unearthed my parents' old Family Feud board game for Jacob, who's been obsessed with that game lately.  One more thing home with us, but I think he'll enjoy it--and it's much more PG than the digital version he's been trying to play!  Because of the full house, the four of us holed up in the basement for the night.  There's a finished rec room down there, and for whatever reason, Jacob and I were on the air mattress and Carter and Craig each took sleeping bags on the floor.  Craig totally had other options, but he chose that one.  Despite the air mattress being comfortable (same one I slept on in our basement when it was 90 degrees in the house when I was pregnant with Jacob), Jacob and I both had trouble sleeping.  Luckily adrenaline pushed me though in the morning!

Sunday was a big day--my cousin's baby girl's baptism!  Emmy is the sweetest thing, and the whole family was really pumped up to celebrate her properly!  We started out at the church, which was the church I grew up in and got married in.  My parents left a number of years ago, and it's basically been hanging on by a thread for a long time.  The school closed a few years ago, which still breaks my heart, and it was very hard sitting in a mostly empty, very large church where no one except baptism attendees seemed to be younger than 40.  Once upon a time that church was full for one service and probably half to 2/3 full for another.  A once-full Sunday School is basically down to nothing, and an entire school building sits empty.  They've lost a pastor or two since the longtime pastor I grew up with was forced out (long story), and as much as it was familiar, so much felt foreign.  But it was good to see some familiar faces, and the baptism was lovely.  Emmy was so content!

We had some time after church to hang out and eat some lunch at home, and then my mom and Jacob and I took a walk to an open house down the street.  It's a smaller house and I think my mom just wanted to check if it was a downsizing option.  It was pretty small and probably not ideal, but it was fun to see anyway because it had a great yard and an endless basement!  They also cut a laundry chute into the bottom of one side of their master bath vanity...genius!

We headed off to the party after that.  It was a gorgeous day--warm in the sun, but generally really nice.  My aunt and uncle hosted at the family homestead (their current house that was my grandparents'), and we had a really great time.  There was lots of tasty food and great company!  Uncle Jeff always likes to get the kids hopping for scratch-offs (I know, but it makes them braver to try new things!), and our kids actually did quite well upon scratching!  There was a kid obstacle course, and Jacob beat everyone with a 13-second time!  I was eventually goaded into doing it, and I set the adult record with 15.9 seconds or something in that realm.  Not too shabby!  Gained some cred with my kid, if nothing else!  Later on Jacob and I also had a very competitive game of Kan-Jam, which was invented right in my hometown by a teacher at my high school!

I have to share a picture of the cake because it was gorgeous (and huge)!  The same cake maker did our wedding cake, and not only is her work amazing, but it is so good!  Our frozen topper tasted as good a year later as it did on that day!

The kids had a fun time together, which was nice, and after a long day I finally got some time with the guest of honor!

OK, well, my mom had her first...

She was a bit fussy--maybe from the busy day or usual baby stuff--and it took a bit for her to get a little rest.  Kate tried to help with that...

But every few minutes, Emmy would wake back up...

Finally I got to hold her, and off she went...

I mean....c'mon.  Pure sweetness.

Craig took this picture of me with her, and it was so cute how she had her fingers entwined in my necklace...

When it was time for us to go, Kate took her back, and I couldn't resist capturing the cheeks!

Oh, and in the middle of all of this, we discovered that my dad, his two brothers, and one of his sisters have the same birthmark on the back of their neck that their father did.  We're not sure about my uncle that passed away many years ago, or why my one aunt is the only one without it, but it was fascinating!

Carter and Max had one last hurrah on the hammock as we were saying goodbye...

And then we were off.  I was full of food, but content after a very good weekend of family time.  But this morning when I woke up, I still felt full.  Ick.  I think it was a combination of too much food, a little alcohol (only two beers and a shot of schnapps), the heat, and a previous rough night of sleep.  A couple bottles of water in the middle and a decent night of sleep last night were no match, apparently.  It made for a long day, but I'm feeling mostly back to normal now.  It was a great weekend, though, and another good one is ahead!