It's been a whirlwind couple of weeks! Within the past few weeks, we've driven from Florida to Michigan, back to Georgia. We've spent at least 34 hours in the car, on our road trips (11 hours to MI, 6 hours to FL and back again).
After a few days at the beach over the Memorial Day weekend, we drove up to Michigan for a Carey reunion! Doug has three siblings: Joe lives in Phoenix, Kathy lives in Vegas, and Tracy lives in Rochester Hills. It had been at least five years since all of the siblings and their spouses were together.
The Carey Clan
With each of the four kids in different states, it's no small feat to get everyone together in the same place at the same time. Uncle Bill, Aunt Jackie and (cousin) Mike Schuler were all able to come for a weekend, too! So, SEVENTEEN people were able to crash at the Carey casa, over the weekend! The Careys are always the most gracious of hosts. It was great for all of the cousins: Sydney, Payton, Trinity, Madeline and Ava to play together. We will cherish these memories forever! We had a great time and enjoyed catching up with everyone.
Grandma and Grandpa Carey
The siblings: Doug, Joe, Tracy and Kathy
The "Original" Carey Clan
Grandma, Grandpa and the Carey grandkids
Top row: Trinity, Madeline, Ava
Bottom row: Sydney and Payton
The men: Doug, Jeff (Kathy's husband), Grandpa, Payton, Joe
The ladies: Kathy, Shelly, Grandma, Kristy, Trinity, Tracy
In front: Ava, Sydney and Madeline
Joe's family: Trinity, Joe, Kristy and Madeline
Kathy's family: Kathy, Jeff, Sydney, Payton
Uncle Bill and Bosley
Aunt Jackie and a sleeping Maddie Grace
Mitch, I mean Mike...
Maddie (who never cries, with exception to this photo) and Tracy's boyfriend Tom
A Happy Couple: Kathy and Jeff at Pizza Hut
Doug, Ava, Grandma and Madeline at Pizza Hut
The Crew
Payton enjoying some pizza
Grandma and Ava love the balloon animals
Kathy and Jeff cooked / hosted "Mexican night", we went to Pizza Hut for balloon animals one night (thanks to Joe and Kristy) and Doug and I cooked / hosted "Italian night" (complete with The Godfather Soundtrack). One night the Schulers treated with steaks. We were also able to celebrate Sydney's 9th birthday with her. It was fun for all. The weather was beautiful most of the week, with temperatures in the high 80's and sunshine abounding. We went to the Rochester Park one day. We tried (once again) to fly a kite, but there wasn't quite enough wind to let the kite fly. Better luck next time. We played plenty of "Blongo-ball" (aka redneck horseshoes) in the backyard. The kiddos actually got to spend some time in a blow-up pool in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard one afternoon, too. Trinity is a fish! She is fearless around water and dogs!
Kathy, Jeff and Madeline
Enjoying some sunshine in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard
Grandma and Sydney goofin' before Sydney's 9th birthday party
Sydney and Ava having balloon fun
Happy Birthday, Sydney!
The Rocker Chick
Fun Family Photos
Joe and Doug playing "Blongo-ball"
Shelly, Kristy and Maddie playing "blongo-ball"
The first few days, Ava was not a happy girl. I felt so bad when I FINALLY looked at her gums, only to find that her first-year MOLARS had popped through. :( Her teeth seem to be coming in fast and furious these days. She had a fever of 101.5 on Sunday morning, due to teething. Poor thing. Mike also brought Bosley, his french bulldog, for the weekend. Ava likes "doggies", but only from afar! Once Bosley headed back to PA, Ava felt free to venture around Grandma and Grandpa Carey's on her own. She really enjoyed playing with all of her cousins: taking a bath with Trinity, crawling through the tunnel with Sydney, playing at the park with Payton and crying when Mommy held Maddie (can we say jealous?) :-)
Trinity shows Ava the ropes, or should I say "rings"...
A happy girl
Cousin fun (notice Trinity is wearing Sydney's shoes)
Madeline, Shelly and Ava: Waking up
Madeline and her Mommy
We stayed with Grandma Pam and Grandpa Bill for the rest of the week, enjoying time with them. We were also able to go to Daymian's 10th birthday party at the Rochester Park. It was the perfect day for a fun party! Ava really enjoyed Grandma Pam's "Dora-mobile" and liked to hear music when she pushed the button, and then dance to it. She's a dancin' queen! When she dances now, she likes to spin in a circle with her hands in the air, shaking her head and upper body from side to side. She perfected going up and down one step, practicing over and over, wherever she was during the week. She now says "yaaay!".
A sleeping baby and one of her fans, Grandma Pam
Jordan, Daymian and friends at his 10th birthday party
Enjoying the nice weather and some pizza
Shelly, Ava, Aunt Sherry, Doug, Grandma Dolly and Grandpa Dean
Ava and Jordan feed the ducks
Daddy, Ava and Jordan at the park
Grandpa Dean showing Ava the world from a different perspective
Aunt Sherry and Ava
Grandpa Dean gives Daymian a big birthday hug
Daymian playing football with some friends
Daddy and Ava
Jordan, Aunt Sherry and Ava walking through the creek
Daymian's Spiderman 3 cake
Our family at the park
Hangin' out at the party
Ava taking a break
She also learned how to use a fork effectively. When feeding strawberries to Ava while in her high chair, she liked to stab the strawberries with a fork (right-handed :-) and eat them. We would clap for her accomplishment. When she stabbed "air" and put the fork in her mouth, she would solicit us for applause and clap for herself, even if she didn't eat a strawberry. Nice try, kiddo!
Ava seemed to learn quite a bit just by watching her older cousins. Trinity has a DEFINITE shoe fetish, which I think Ava picked-up... Now I find Ava trying on my sandals, as well as Doug's. It was too funny to watch how well Trinity walked in my sandals: down steps, in the grass, through the kitchen, etc. It was hard to lose her, hearing her clickety-clacking around in my heels :-) In the picture below of Aunt Tracy and Maddie, look in the background to see how well Trinity walks in heels, namely mine!
Madeline and Aunt Tracy
Grandma Dolly also taught Ava how to bat her eyelashes! I'm not sure how this came to be, but it was hysterical to watch. Ava will sit there and bat her eyelashes five or six times (back at you), if you bat your eyelashes at her. Diva-in-training, I guess you could say! (Unfortunately we didn't get the video on our regular digital camera, so I don't think I can post the eyelash-batting video...)
Ava has been an absolute angel on our long car rides. I was surprised at how well she did, truthfully. We are SO thankful for that! We're glad to be sleeping in our own bed again, but miss the amazing fun and hugs we received throughout the past week.
Sending long-distance hugs your way!
All you need is
Love,
Shelly, Doug and Ava
Ava and Daddy feeding the ducks at the park
