Family

Now that we have started to get caught up on some much needed sleep (Buggy has slept until almost noon for two days straight!) and laundry (four loads down, two to go), I've finally posted some pictures from our exciting Illinois adventure.  And by adventure, I mean, exhausting plane delays and too many hours spent on runways and airports, visiting relatives amongst tornado debris, and trying to visit all our family in two short days (between naps...if Hailey managed to take one that day!)  Yes, it was by no means relaxing, but absolutely worth the trouble.  We truly are blessed to have so many grandparents, great grandparents and great-great grandparents around to enjoy our sweet Hailey-Bug. 

Out of all of that visiting, our favorite part of the trip was seeing my cousin Erin get married.  I've never cried so much before in my life!  (even at my own wedding!)  We're so happy for her and her new husband Matt.  The ceremony was absolutely beautiful, but I couldn't get any pictures because I had to keep Hailey from making a mad dash down the aisle, or trying to pull over the unity candle.  So, here are some pictures from the reception. 

Hailey, Mommy and Great Grandma Eileen.

Hailey's Mommy and Daddy. 

I guess we were having a little too much fun at the reception and forgot to change Hailey's diaper!  She decided to use her Daddy as a back up Pampers.

Hailey slept in the bathroom at the hotel because she's a noisy little sleeper and keeps her Daddy up.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilkey.  The morning after the big fiesta!

If you know anything about my family, it's that we love to get together and EAT!

After the wedding, we headed to my cousin Heidi's house/farm/pool/playland and had a great time with Mitchell and Kaitlyn. 

We even got to play in their Burger King playland! 

Kailtyn looking very cute.

Mitch, posing for the camera.

Kaitlyn was a great playmate for Hailey.

After the big family breakfast, we all got together again for a big family pool party!  This was Buggy's first time in a big pool, so I wasn't surprised when she screamed her little head off at first!  Her cousin Rachel came over to cheer her up.

And then her cousins Kaitlyn and Piper came over to play with her and she felt much better. 

We had a lot of fun pushing Hailey around in the pool!  We're ready for our trip to Florida in a few days!  Get that pool ready Grandmama and Grandaddy!

Buggy playing airplane with Daddy.  It always makes Mommy nervous!

Every house we went to on our trip had either a puppy or a kitty.  Needless to say, Hailey had a blast!

Kaitlyn let Hailey play with all of her old baby toys. I think she might have more toys than Buggy! Shocker!

Granny Nanny built a really cool fort with Mitch and Kaitlyn.

Then Doug and I played in it too!  It was super sweet and we brought snacks in there and told spooky stories and hid from monsters!

Kaitlyn got hold of my camera and snapped a few random pictures of Buggy.  I don't think she appreciated the free photo shoot!

Hailey with Kaitlyn (and Piper who's hidden) at the yummy Joe's Pizza dinner.  (Which was after the family breakfast, and pool party/cookout.  Are you seeing a trend here?  We like to eat!)

The whole gang dining on some delicious square pizza and fried pickles!

Buggy walking with Daddy after dinner and her majorly explosive diaper situation! 

Granny Nanny with her $70 worth of pizza's that she ordered from the WRONG pizza place!   We ate pizza for five days straight!  Time to get some glasses Granny Nanny!

The next morning we woke up and went to visit the animals on Heidi's farm.  Hailey loved the chickens and peacocks.

She wasn't too sure what to think about the cows.

Kailtlyn and Mitch showed us how to milk them.

And then we jumped around in the trampoline until it was time to drive to Streator.

Great Grandma Eileen didn't let Hailey out of her sight!  And I don't think Buggy minded one bit!

We slept in Grandma's "Doll Room" and Hailey just loved the cardboard cutout of her Great Grandma and Grandpa on their wedding day!

Granny Nanny kept Hailey entertained by playing with all my old toys that were in Grandma's basement!

Then we went to visit Hailey's cousin Chloe.  It was really cute watching them play together!

But Hailey was NOT a fan of her Granny holding someone other than her!

Me and Hailey, my cousin Elizabeth and Chloe and Great Grandma Gardner.

We also went to visit Hailey's Great Grandpa Bob and introduced him to Hailey.  We told him that we love him and miss him very much.

Of course, no trip to Streator is complete without a visit to Great Grandpa Ben!  Of course he thought Buggy was "just elegant!"  Then she smashed a snow globe on their brand new rug!

Hailey with her Great Great Grandma Virginia!

Yes, all that running around was pretty exhausting, but pictures like this one and memories that we now have, make it all worth it! 

"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing."