lots of love in this family

this weekend we celebrated papaw and nana pagel's  30th wedding anniversary.

it was so much fun to surprise them with pictures they hadn't seen in a while.   it was a special evening for two very special people.

 

happy anniversary we love you!

kansas city here we come...

so after we survived the first birthday extravaganza...  i (mama) took you on your second flight outside of texas.

this time destination = kansas city, missouri.

why?!? you may ask, well because...

a.)  it's been way to long since mama has been and seen her sister.

b.)  so we could finally get our hands on meet your new little cousin Jude.
c.)  wish aunt kindle a happy birthday!

d.)  why not?!?

so with one rather large suitcase (luckily right at 49 lbs),  a stroller and a big bag of everything to keep you entertained, we said our goodbyes to daddy.  i'll spare you with all the travel details, cut right to the chase, and tell you, you received compliments from everyone who sat near us on the plane.  yes buddy, partly because you are quite handsome but also because you were asleep for most of the flight.   i think that translates as "oh my!  what a good little boy you have!" 

we were so happy to be picked up by your aunt kindle and all your cousins (because our flight came in a little early, they got to skip a little bit of school.  i think we were all happy about that!)

we enjoyed our time there so much! we shopped together and met up with friends that mama has definitely  missed! kindle and kent's new house is simply beautiful and well you, jack, fell for the stairs or shall i say "down" the stairs.  (daddy is so proud lately you are aware of a drop in front of you when you are walking.  well, sadly,  i think i know why.) but hey, we survived and yet you were still amused by them.  let's just say mama felt safer in the basement.  all one level, hidden stairs and everything we needed.

such cute boys!

okay so as much as we enjoyed our stay there, on the last day i realized how different it was to travel to my sisters as a "mama."  with her newest addition and me chasing my own around, where were our opportunities to take pictures!?!  hence  all our pictures before we got on the flight home.

this one taken by isaac :)  

we were so sad to leave kansas city and kindle's beautiful family but happy to see daddy at home.  it helps to know the holidays are just around the corner :)

oh the places you'll go...

Well we made it.  We took you on your first. flight. ever.  And we survived!   We  flew to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit cousins that you had never met. (Skype does not count as an official meeting.)

The flight there was so great!  You fell asleep on the first leg, and played the entire time on the other.

When we arrived at the airport we were so happy to see Chad and Mike waiting to pick us up.  Unfortunately, the luggage didn't make it with us to the Charlotte airport..  

It decided to arrive the next evening at the house instead.

You weren't to worried about that, since you were too busy enjoying playing all day in your pajamas with your cousins. . .

. . .while also meeting your other cousin, Jack the dog.

We enjoyed spending our afternoon's outside.

And our evenings were spent sharing laughs and hanging out on their beautiful back porch.

Jack, you had a date night with Mendy and all your cousins, while your mama and daddy snuck out to have dinner with Chad, Dana and Mike.

We all had our share of "Puddin." that week.  This is just one of the many.

Us girls had a little too much fun talking about decor and Mendy's overwhelming samples of paint. :)

(But hey... I did finally decide on a color for our dining room, thanks to her!)

Chad hosted a night of "Minute To Win It" games for the cousins.  This will definitely have to be played again!  It was just so much fun!

We, of course, all were able to go to Mass together, and that is always so special!

The Winland clan said goodbye before we did, and boy was that hard to watch.  I just knew our time was coming soon too!

The following day Chad and Mendy let us borrow their car so we could venture off and see a little of Virginia.  We met daddy's old college buddy, shared lunch, laughs and a little dessert. 

Overall,  it was such a wonderful visit.  Your daddy and I were so glad we made the trip.  One we will never forget!  

We know it is so important to stay as close as possible with family even when distance makes it harder.   We just hope and pray it isn't too long before we see them again!  

love you little travelin man.