Whirlwind Weekend

What a weekend I had. Let me tell you about it...

Thursday night my Grandma Trish, Grandpa Steve, Aunt Steph and Uncle Klayton got to town. It was a low-key night of pizza for the adults and lots of playtime for me. Friday Mom and Dad had to go to work so I hung out with everybody else. Uncle Neil and Aunt Katie got here on a plane that brought them from Texas and we all went to lunch with Great Grandpa Larry.

Here is a picture of me playing with Aunt Steph during some of our down time Friday.

Friday night I had another sleepover at Grandma Jan and Grandpa Bob's while the aforementioned "everybody else" went to O'Gara's in St. Paul for Daddy's 30th birthday party. They tell me it was a great time. They were all really quiet the next day. They were really tired and Dad and Uncle Neil kept taking medicine for headaches.

Saturday was the really busy day. In the morning we had a birthday party for me. It was fantastic!! I especially loved the part where they sang the happy birthday song to me. But they very goodest bestest part was when Mommy gave me a cupcake. Not even just a little bit of hers-she gave me the WHOLE thing! I didn't mess around-I ate it all before anyone could take it away from me.

Here I am welcoming my guests...

And here I am playing ball with my cousin Jackson.

I gave Jackson lots of hugs at my birthday party. Did you know he came here from Texas, just like Aunt Katie and Uncle Neil. He came with his mom and dad. His dad is my dad's cousin, so really, that's makes us something like third cousins, but you know how the logistics of a large family tree make my head spin, so let's just leave it at cousin.

Mom helped me open my cards and gifts. People were so generous! Thanks everybody for the great gifts!

Dad pulled double duty and loaded both Jackson and me onto his lap.

Blue-Eyed Girls, me and Aunt Katie. I bet my cousin that's hanging out in her belly will have beautiful blue eyes just like us.

Grandma Trish got Mom and me some turtles to put in our garden this summer. If you're wondering why a baby would get turtles it's because I really liked the turtles in California and Mom really likes her garden. Get it?

{drumroll...} Here are the pictures of me and that glorious cupcake. I salivate to think of the delicacy. I can't wait until Thursday, my REAL birthday, when I get to bring cupcakes to daycare and do it all over again!!

Next us girls loaded up the car and headed over to Great Aunt Kris' house to have a baby shower for Aunt Katie. She got lots of presents to use on my new cousin that's coming in August. I'm so excited to meet her! I tried to talk to her this weekend...I sure hope she heard all the important things I was telling her. Mostly I was telling her about our supercool grandparents.

Aunt Katie got some great gifts at the shower. A lot of the stuff looked vaguely familiar to me.

Mom had Grandma Jan make a baby wrap for Katie. Mommy decided she should show Katie how to use it. It's been at least seven months since Mommy has put me in our baby wrap like this so she had a little trouble remembering what to do and didn't quite get it tight enough. Hopefully Aunt Katie has better luck when she uses it. Maybe Aunt Katie's sister can help her out. She's a mommy too and sometimes mommies just know these things.

Since I was too big for the demonstration, Jackson volunteered.

After that party the whole clan headed over to Great Aunt Sue and Great Uncle Lars' house for another shindig. I got to stay up late and audition for the band Daddy and Lars are starting when Daddy gets the guitar that Mommy is going to get him as a birthday present. I'm going to be the drummer because Mommy and Daddy got me the Parents Magazine Bee Bop Band.

Sunday was a little less busy. Uncle Klayton and Aunt Steph left really early to drive back to Omaha. Grandma, Mom and I took Aunt Katie and Uncle Neil to the airport so the airplane could take them back to Texas. I was sad to say goodbye to them. I've only gotten to see them three times. 1. When I was born. 2. At Steph and Klayton's wedding. 3. This weekend. I know I'm going to see them again in December when I go visit for Christmas and to meet my new cousin, but I don't know if I can wait that long.

Mom and I hung at home all day while Dad worked a trade show, Grandpa did church and visited the trade show (Dad and Grandpa both work in The Business) and Grandma and Grandpa went to an anniversary party for some friends of theirs.

Sunday night we went to dinner at McGovern's. I was there once when I was a wee baby. This is Grandma's favorite pictures from that night.

We came home after dinner and I got in a little bit more playtime before it was time for me to go to bed. I gave my Grandma and Grandpa goodbye loves and saw them off. I'll miss them lots and I can't wait until I get to see them again. We always have such a fun time.

Here are pictures of Daddy and I in the window waving bye-bye. I blew lots of kisses to Grandpa and Grandma to save up and take home with them.

Life is good people. Life is good.

Have a great week. I know I will-three days to my birthday!

Taylor McKenna