Visitors from Wisconsin

Sorry it's been so long since I have posted a message. We were busy spending time with family visitors from Wisconsin. At the end of July, Grandma Ruthie, Aunt Becky and Cousin Cordelia took the train over to see us. Jake was so excited to be going to the train station to pick them up. He got to see the big train roll in. Unfortunately a HUGE rainstorm started shortly after their arrival and they all got soaked while putting luggage into the car. WELCOME to Michigan!
The visit with all of them was wonderful. Casey and Cordelia (who are only 2 months apart) spent lots of time together sharing toys and checking each other out. We spent one day hanging around the house and the backyard. The next day we took a trip up to Rainforest Cafe for lunch. In my previous experience there Jake and Casey loved it so I was thinking it would be the same this time. I was wrong. After getting to our seats Jake was terrified of the animals. Ten minutes after sitting down the thunderstorm started. This immediately started cries from Jake and Casey. Cordelia missed it, as she was getting her diaper changed in the bathroom. Jake was too scared to go into his highchair and spent the next 30 minutes clinging on Daddy. He wouldn't look at anything, wouldn't drink his Chocolate Milk (HIS ALL TIME FAV!) or eat his hotdog. Casey did much better once the thunderstorm stopped. Even though it didn't go as planned we still had a nice lunch together. Afterwards Jake devoured his milk, hotdog and fries while sitting in his stroller in the mall (outside of the restaurant).

The next day Chris, Grandma Ruthie and Jake took a late morning/early afternoon boat ride on Lake St. Clair. Aunt Becky and I stayed home with the babies. I was told by Jake himself that it was an awesome day with Grandma and Daddy. I was also told that he sat by himself in the captains chair next to daddy while they drove on the water. Amazing! It won't be long and he will be captain of our boat.

At the end of the trip we did some swimming in our baby pool in the backyard. This was a favorite for Cordelia and Casey. They were both adorbale littly fishies. It was a nice visit and we are glad they came all the way to be with us. Thanks!





Our next visitors came just 2 days after Gma Ruthie, Aunt Becky and Cordelia left. Grandma Wes and Aunt Carli drove out to see us too. They arrived late on Wednesday evening (bad traffic in Chicago delayed them). Unfortunately Jake and Casey were sleeping so they had to wait until morning for their hugs and kisses. On Thursday morning we did some playtime in the house, but when we wanted to get outside the weather turned yucky and started raining. We decided to go shopping and have lunch.

Later that evening we had plans to all go to a concert in the park (it was during SterlingFest — a festival hosted by the City of Sterling Heights). Well the weather was still rainy, so after many views on the weather channel we decided to brave it out (hoping the rain would pass). Only Aunt Carli, Jake, myself and Daddy. Casey stayed home with Grandma. We got to the concert just in time to participate in the 5000 balloon launch. It was amazing to see all those balloons, and luckily the rain had stopped. The concert was awesome, Mega 80s was the band. We were singing and dancing to all the tunes. Jake too! Afterwards to took Jake to the carnival part of the festival so he could see all the lights on the rides. He was very anxious to get on some so we got him tickets. I was a little nervous leaving him on a ride by himself but he was having such a good time and after that first ride he was a pro. He continued on 5 more rides. We definately needed to come back the next day with Grandma and Casey for more.

And that is what we did, Friday from 11-2 we were at the festival. We enjoyed more rides (14 in total), food and the art/craft fair. Jake's best friend Griffin and his mommy (Christi) & daddy (Bruce) joined us at the festival for the fun. The boys rode all the rides (mulitple times). They even tempted the Aligator Rollercoaster. Jake held up for the entire ride, but Griffin broke down after the first lap run. But he hung on till the end and Christi came in and rescued him. There was one ride in particular (The Elephant Ride) that I remember vividly. Griffin and Jake rode on the same elephant. Griffin was manning the controls and Jake was sitting back, with both arms up on the backrest CHILLIN! It was adorable.

Grandma Wes, Aunt Carli and Casey took a walk down the craft fair. They came back having Casey dressed in a new outfit. A rainbow tie-dyed sun dress with a matching purse. So precious!

Thanks Aunt Carli and Grandma Wes for taking some time off and visiting with all us of.