land of Cleves Part II: The Machados

So much to our delight and surprise the Machados decided to come down from Michigan and visit us in Cleveland. The land of Cleves is significantly closer to Schwartzcreek Michigan than St. Louis and so they decided to come for a visit while were closer. They came down Saturday night and hung with us, then came to church with us on Sunday, hung out through the afternoon before heading back. It was great to see them and give them a chance to hang with their god-daughter (Emma Jane), as well a chance for us to see our god-son (Samuel).

Always prim and proper, Marcos and Hannah pose with Emma Jane.

Meanwhile, their children sat entranced by a magical box that tells stories

Marcos and Hannah with Parker and Emma Jane

It has been eight months since Samuel has seen the girls, and yet he has found it no easier choose between them. (At least he has moved on from the smell their feet test)

It was wonderful seeing them. We had a great time.

Land of the Cleves Part I: The airport

Since we are naturally gluttin' for punishment, we decided to continue are streak of traveling while we can (AKA before classes start). And since it had been more than two years since we had made it to my home (Cleveland) we decided a trip to Cleveland was in order. Unfortunately we quickly came to the realization that driving all the way to Cleveland was just plain out for the girls. So we flew. Yes we braved an airplane. We were pretty nervous about it, but the girls did really well. It's a short flight and just when they were starting to get antsy we arrived.

most uncomfortable rocking chair ever!

"I'm supposed to be napping"

"I want to be napping"

Actually, the only negative thing about the whole plane experience was the boarding process. All my life I have watched as those with special needs or wee little babes get to preboard while the rest of us shlubs dutifully wait our turn. Often I have looked on with envy thinking, if only, if only I didn't have to fight for a spot in line, just to get a seat, if only I could leisurely board the plane with the special blue boarding pass and the status of being known as a "preboarder"

All too frequently over the years I have seen other, undeserving, people try and worm their way into the preboard group. But I have just patiently waited, for I knew a day would come, a day when I would have a wee one and the coveted blue boarding pass would finally be mine. But alas it was not to be, because while I have multiple wee ones the aviation industry no longer cares about my boarding plight. Our "special status" comes after the preboards, and after the the first group of 60 people...then...we can board. Curses! Foiled in my life long ambition. Turns out I am going to need to be in a wheel chair or on oxygen to get the coveted blue boarding pass....and here's the thing. While I looked forward with eager anticipation to the day when I would have wee ones, I do not look forward to a day when I am in a wheel chair and on oxygen.

Oh well, considering that was the only thing to go wrong getting there, I am sure you can tell, it went smoothly. Thanks be to God!

Chicago whirlwind wedding trip

Sooooo...a couple of weeks ago we braved a trip to Chicago.  What would cause us to brave such a harrowing trip with two wee babes?  Why, the nuptials of one of my dearest friends, Scott Sexton of course.  What made this wedding especially fun is that it was a "Tower Player" wedding, and they are always sure to be chalk full of stupid silliness, as indeed this one was.

We had been looking forward to this trip and dreading it for some time.  Looking forward to it because, we would be seeing friends we had not seen in a long time, and others we can never see enough of.  Not looking forward to it because traveling to the city of Chicago was sure to be filled with all sorts of baby tensions.

Turned out, due to the hard work of other people, we had nothing to worry about.  The trip was made possible due to the hard work of Nana, she came along with us just to help with the babies (now that is unconditional love).  Nana flew to St. Louis, so she could drive with us to Chicago and help in the car, and then watched the girls in the evenings when we were at the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, and on Saturday night while we were at the wedding and at the reception.  Leaving us free to....

...to enjoy ourselves...and, for me at any rate, to act like...um....well...this guy...

The trip also wouldn't have happened without the gracious kindness of Paul and Emily.  They, because they are amazing people, gave up their apartment and allowed us to take it over with our motley crew.  (Thanks Paul and Emily!!)

On the last day, a bunch of us got together to introduce each other to our kids.

All in all it was a great trip

"Hey Paul"

"Yes Emma Jane"

"Do we have to go home?  We've been having so much fun"
"Sorry Emma Jane...all good things come to an end"

PS Paul's Birthday is tomorrow (the 24th) say happy birthday!

PPS Marcos Machado's (Emma Jane's god-father) birthday is tomorrow, say happy birthday!

PPPS  Steve and Becky Gadlin's wedding anniversary is tomorrow, say happy anniversary!

overheard

EJ:  Hey Parker...look at this

Parker:  Oh, wow....I remember these.  Seems like just yesterday we were bouncing away in these seats and now we don't even fit in them any more.

EJ:  Parker...

P: yeah?

EJ: I think it was yesterday

P: My how time flies

Ej: Tell me about it.  I heard mom and dad talking about taking these into the basement.

P: wow....things keep changing around here.  Hey Emma Jane?

EJ: Yeah?

P: Do you feel a breeze? 

"Hide and Seek" or "Don't call DFS"

Turns out the girls are getting quick. I was out of the room for a minute. Okay...it is possible that I was out of the room for 62 seconds. I actually think it was closer to 47.5 seconds, but I will give you 62.23 seconds at the most. Anyway, I left the room Parker was on one side of it, when I walked back in there was Emma Jane clapping her hands, laughing and excited to see me, and there was no Parker. Now anyone who has gone through this type of experience knows exactly what happened next...I went into immediate cardiac arrest. After giving myself CPR I began looking around the room, but not moving. My first thought was that clearly aliens had taken my baby, but realizing this was highly unlikely, my second thought was that she must be in the room somewhere. There is only one way in the room and I didn't pass her in the hall way. This meant I had somehow gone selectively blind. I could see everything in the world except Parker. Further reflection led me to realize this was just silly...clearly Parker had the power to turn invisible....or teleport. In the off hand chance it was invisibility I was not going to step anywhere until I was certain that I was not stepping on Parker. As I carefully scanned the room for an invisible telported alien abducted baby, I was startled to hear a slapping sound coming from behind me. Spinning about I found ...Parker...under the couchy chair. Or rather, I should say I found Parker's smiling head, the rest of her body was hidden under the chair. She was grinning away and slapping the ground having a grand ole time. When she realized she had my attention she too began laughing. It appears the whole thing was a joke on dad. I had thought Emma Jane was clapping and laughing because she was happy to see me, but really she just thought Parker's joke was hilarious.

Silly monkeys

65 years and counting...part II

Just a couple more pictures from the anniversary party. This first one is grandma and grandpa with all their grandchildren. We're lined up from youngest to oldest (left to right). Yes...that makes me the oldest.

These next two are just some pictures of the girls having fun with their cousin William (Heather's son)

65 years... And counting!

Mary Jane and I spent last week with my family celebrating my grandparents' 65th anniversary! 65 years!

Wow.....

We've got a bunch of pictures, but there are more coming. What we don't have is a picture of all the family together. We took some, but I don't have a copy of it yet (hopefully someone will send it my way soon...)

In the mean time, here is a picture of my grandparents, my parents, my sister, her husband and baby, and of course the four of us.

This was the first time the girls met their cousin. It was fun seeing my sister and nephew.

Emma Jane loving her some great-grandma time

Parker loving herself some great-grandpa time