Gramps & Grandma time

One of the other fun things about getting to go to BJ & Sarah's wedding this past weekend was getting to see Gramps and Grandma.  We flew into Milwaukee on Thursday, June 16th and got to enjoy dinner and a night of hanging out with my parents, before driving together to the wedding the next day.  Here are a few of the highlights from Hosea's time with Gramps and Grandma.

Greeting Grandma & Gramps at the airport with a smile and his mad walking skills

Checking out Gramps' recent oral surgery results during dinner

Strolling to the park with Gramps - Gramps makes every ride MORE fun!

Going down the slide with Grandma's help (he is very close to being able to do it alone)

LOVE!

Cuddles from Gramps

Going down the slide with Mama is a hair-raising experience

Asleep in his carseat on the drive to the wedding - always an epic event!

Stopped for lunch at Culver's - a Midwest tradition!  Hosea charmed everyone in the restaurant.

Hilarious video of true Gramps' style (below).  Gramps is ALWAYS trying to capture pictures of Hosea on his camera and/or cell phone...here he is working really hard to capture the moment AND keep Hosea safe.

Saying goodbye to Grandma at the Milwaukee Airport - heading back to DC

Uncle Beej AND Auntie Sarah

This last weekend we celebrated the wedding of my brother BJ and his amazing bride, Sarah - our new sister and Hosea's new Auntie.  The wedding weekend was spectacular.  It was held at a Northwoods Conference Center in Watersmeet, MI (on the Upper Peninsula) - a gem in the middle of the woods.  The wedding started at 5 PM Friday, June 17 and ended at 3 PM on Sunday, June 19.  BJ and Sarah put so much work into making the wedding weekend special for their guests.  It was so organized, which I loved!!!  :) 
Friday night was a time to get settled in the rooms BJ & Sarah assigned, read over the thorough itinerary for the weekend, play games, enjoy snacks, and hang out with one another as guests arrived.  Saturday we enjoyed a delicious breakfast and then they they had all sorts of outdoor activities planned that you could sign up for (hiking, kayaking, creative art in the woods, a run/walk around Wolf Lake), each with a person designated to run/lead it.  After the morning activities we had lunch together and then, all guests participated in an Olympics that BJ and Sarah had planned.  Every guest was placed on a team of four and they rotated between four stations (wiffle ball, boccee ball, Frisbee golf, and bean bag toss).  There were sixteen teams, each with their own color of bandana, four at each of the stations.  Can you believe it?!  So organized and so fun!!!  My parents hosted a picnic/BBQ outside, near the lake, on Saturday night.  It started to sprinkle while we were eating, but we still enjoyed ourselves.  The rain got a bit harder as we finished our meal, so the bonfire, worship, and smores planned for the evening were canceled.  That was no problem because everyone just moved inside and continued their conversations in the cozy conference center, with many gathering to worship in the "control tower" (a room with 360 degree windows).  Sunday morning was getting ready for the wedding, enjoying a continental breakfast, and celebrating the vows of BJ & Sarah.  Their ceremony was so meaningful, as Sarah's father married them, and they involved all of their immediate family members in the readings and worship time.  BJ & Sarah are so genuine and their love for the Lord and for one another oozed out of them.  It was beautiful!  After they were hitched, we took a bunch of pictures (also totally organized...everyone was assigned a time slot to appear for pictures, when they arrived on Friday night), and then moved into the dining hall, which was beautifully decorated with white table cloths and centerpieces of branches, woodchips, daisies, wildflowers, pinecones, stumps, etc.  Sarah and her family have some amazing creative skills. We had a delicious brunch and lovely desserts.  Immediate family gave their blessings and BJ & Sarah played a trivia game.  Then, they were off for their honeymoon.
BJ & Sarah have such dear friends and family.  The weekend couldn't have been more "them."  It was an honor to get to spend so much time with BJ & Sarah & all of the people they care about.  We were so busy having fun, that we didn't take as many pictures as we would have liked.  Here is a small sampling. 

Just after arriving at the conference center, viewing the weekend itinerary - this is how happy I get about well organized events!

Northwoods Conference Center in Watersmeet, MI

The bride and groom to be...they did everything to make the weekend perfect for all attending.

View of the pond and the lake from the conference center

Getting some time with the brother and sister-in-law to be

BJ & Sarah greeting everyone and explaining the plans for the weekend.  They were amazing hosts!

Jed helped lead the kayaking/canoeing activity on Saturday morning

The love birds enjoy a canoe ride.

Beautiful lady...inside and out.

BJ & Jed preparing for the Olympics

Time for the Olympics...and a family photo

BJ giving instructions about the Olympics

The wiffle ball home run derby

Hosea explored the dirt during the Olympics

Saturday night BBQ/picnic out on the dock

My brother's former roommate, Brady - Hosea loved him...I think the feeling was mutual

Burgers and 'dogs on the grill...what could be better in the summertime?!

Friends enjoying the view, the food, and one another

Rain brought the wedding ceremony indoors, but we still had a beautiful setting with views of the lake

The glowing groom standing at the entrance to the chapel area as people were filing in.

Gorgeous couple saying their vows

We captured one family photo on the wedding day.

Hosea giving some sweet smiles to Gramps and Grandma

BJ & Sarah signing the marriage certificate - it's legal!  I was honored to add my signature as a witness.

One of Sarah's friends created a "paint by numbers" of a tree and its roots.  All the guests had a chance to fill in a portion of the painting throughout the weekend.  Such a cool idea!  It turned out amazing!

Florida is hot in June

From June 4-11 we were in Kissimmee, FL (just outside of Orlando) with Cousin Deb and Cousin Cam.  The end of May, a cousin of Jed and Deb's thoughtfully called and offered us a week at her timeshare in Kissimmee, as she wasn't planning to use it this year.  Jed's aunt had enough frequent flyer miles to pay for all of our plane tickets from DC to Orlando, so in a matter of hours we had a vacation all set up.  What generosity!  Such an amazing blessing! 
We had a really wonderful time with Deb and Cam.  The only bummer of our trip was that Hosea was sick with a fever for the first 4 days of our time.  Having a baby with a fever in Florida heat and humidity isn't too fun, especially when you want to take advantage of all the fun things to do there.  Hosea's sickness was confusing because he was surprisingly happy and didn't have any other cold symptoms, even with a 103.9 fever!  Obviously, his body was just fighting a virus.  We are so thankful to the Lord for healing Hosea's body.  The way God has created our immune systems and given them the ability to fight sickness continues to amaze me. 
Despite Hosea's sickness, we were still able to enjoy the pool at our timeshare, an afternoon at a Farmer's Market in Celebration, a day at Discovery Cove (an amazing place...if you go to Orlando, you should go there), a picnic at a local park, a day at Disney World, some time perusing a thrift store, and a few hours at Sea World.  Pictures are the best way for you to see the fun we had...and admire our son, who is such a little cutie! 

On the plane headed to Florida!

Our timeshare for the week

Cousin Deb rented an amazing mini-van so we'd have plenty of space

Our sweet little bear...can you believe how happy he is with a high fever?!

On Sunday we attended St. John's Episcopal Church...they have a steel drum orchestra - youth, from about 10 to 20 yrs old.  They played the song, "Days of Elijah" = AMAZING!

Cousin Deb & Cousin Cam - on our way to the Farmer's Market in Celebration, FL

Sweet little boy, even with a fever and no nap

Our cute boys in their Speedo float suits

Peacocks were all over the property at Oak Plantation - spotted these two on our way to the pool

The two loves of my life!

Family time in the kiddie-wading pool

Entering Discovery Cove - check out their website...such a cool place!

Check out the sweet stroller Discovery Cove gave us so we could manuever in the sand

Sweet picture of Cam and his Mama

How cute is this underwater shot of Cam with the fish?!

Daddy drinking an Arnold Palmer and chillin with the sleepin baby while Mama snorkles

 

Mama is ready to snorkle



Family shot under water

Family shot above water - Hosea was not happy about wearing his baby lifevest

All of us on the lazy river

Feeding the exotic birds in the aviary...so fun!

Wading and swimming among the sting ray (stingers have been removed...don't worry!)

Up close and personal with the sting ray...thoughts of Steve Irwin ran through my mind (I miss you, Crocodile Hunter!)

Gorgeous day to picnic at Cypress Grove Park

Jed and I cook/make/puree all of Hosea's baby food.  Hence, he is spoiled and desires superior flavor. He was not too fond of the canned food we tried to feed him in Florida - not much entered his mouth (see video that follows).



Disney World: where dreams come true...if you don't have agoraphobia or masklophobia.




Hosea is speechless, taking in his first magical parade and character show.



We enjoyed a delicious, air-conditioned, Italian lunch at Tony's (of Lady & the Tramp) Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom

Getting in the "Lady & the Tramp" spirit

The Dumbo ride

Hosea was so tired after his Disney day

We visited Sea World just long enough to take in a Shamu show and a roller coaster, before heading to the airport

Our flight home was delayed, giving the boys even more time to squirm around and jump all over the seats.