Thurs. May 2, 2013 - visit to IL

 The girls checking out our very first flower...finally, signs of life!

 Playing with cousin Ryan

Aunt Amy, isn't that a kid's apron?

  Winnie and Jennifer, your instructors for the bridal shower

 Riley is ready to decorate some cupcakes

 Leaves

 A rose

 Our captive audience

 Leslie, the bride

 Of course she made a gorgeous cupcake

 Aunt Amy, Great Grandma Charlotte, Micaela and Mommy

 Mommy and her decorating girls

 Cousin Katie and Riley

 Micaela knows all the answers to the quiz about Leslie

 The REAL fun was running through all the tissue paper

 Leslie and her gifts

 Cousin Sophie being silly

 Tickling!

 Micaela and Katie

 Micaela getting a makeover from Aunt Winnie

 Hanging with Aunt Joanie

 Micaela, Mommy, Riley and Aunt Joanie

Running around the park with Grandma Cathy

 Getting a push from Aunt Shelia

 Hilary giving Micaela a ride

 Riley riding around with William

 Shelia, Amy, Dad and Peg

 Micaela loved playing in the gravel driveway

Micaela hanging with cousin Jaymes

 Riley and Micaela got a wagon tour from Aunt Amy and Uncle Kevin

Micaela had so much fun playing in the gravel she wanted to continue digging in the dirt

 Grandpa Charlie, Micaela, Riley and Grandma Shelley

 Playing with Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Leon

 Grandpa Leon is funny

 A bedtime story from Grandma Cheryl

 Micaela, Grandpa Leon, Grandma Cheryl and Riley

 One last story from Aunt Amy before we left

Daddy was very busy while we were away. He built 2 amazing raised beds, complete with soaker hoses and hoops on which to drape netting to keep out the critters

This week we had a girls trip to Illinois. On Friday we drove halfway and spent the night at Aunt Winnie's house in the Chicago suburbs. It was an easy drive to Grandma Cathy's house in Normal on Saturday. That afternoon the Aunts hosted a bridal shower for cousin Leslie, who is getting married in July. Winnie and I did a cupcake decorating tutorial, we took a quiz about Leslie and had a very fun, girly time. 

On Sunday we headed out to Grandpa Charlie's farmhouse for a mini family reunion. It was so great to see aunts, uncles and cousins that I haven't seen in years. Then Monday Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa Leon joined us for dinner and some playtime. The girls had a really fun time with them.

While we were gone Chad and Seamus enjoyed a little boys time. Chad was extremely busy, mixing dirt, compost and vermiculite for our new garden beds. He even installed soaker hoses and a critter-deterrent system, very important since cute little bunnies spend a lot of time in our yard (shooting them with a BB gun is not allowed in Grand Chute city limits; he checked). I can't wait to plant our garden!

Its been a long winter but being able to spend time with family and attend these events reminds me why we moved back to the midwest.