Monday, June 23, 2008

Our trip to San Antonio

Last week we returned home from a great 2 week trip to see family and a few friends in San Antonio.
The kids did beautifully in the car. We left at 6:30 in the morning and arrived at the Judisch household at 2:30 in the afternoon. Lillian only cried for a total of 15 minutes!

Grammie and Grandpa meeting Lillian for the first time

This was our first time meeting Cambria; who is only 5 days younger than Lillian.
They are being called the "twin cousins". (Cambria is the one on the left with all the hair!)
Checking each other out.
We went to the zoo with Mom and Dad J. and the May family.
Big kids on the lions.
Aidan on the big lion.
Flamingos.
Bears?
It was very hot and we did not get to see many animals. So, we went back to the Judisch house for dinner and swimming.

Evelyn and her bangs...that she cut herself...AGAIN!
Madeline jumping in.
We had a nice time just hanging out around the house relaxing and enjoying each other's company.
Grandpa coloring with the girls.
Grammie pushing Aidan and Evelyn on the swing.
All 10 grankids!
Top Left: Grandpa, Carson, Valie, Grammie
Bottom Left: Avery holding Cambria, Ian, Aidan, Moira, Evelyn, Madeline holding Lillian.
We also had the opportunity to go out to the Macaroni Grill with just the adults and the two babies. Grammie and Grandpa holding their two new grand babies at the resturant.
While we were there, Valie turned 3!

We got to go to her party at Inflatable World where the kids had a blast bouncing...

and sliding, for hours!
The second week there we moved over to the Hawthorn house. We started off that week by throwing my mom a surprise retirement party at Mamma's Cafe.
Some of her friends throughout her years of teaching came.

Of course, family was there too!
My mom has had an amazing career as a special education teacher for 31 years. We were thrilled to honor her with this party.

Over with the Hawthorn clan, we had the joy of meeting another cousin for the first time.
This is Melissa and Jonathan's baby Avery (yes another Avery!) with Lillian. She is 3 months older than Lillian.
Head to head.
It was fun to catch up with everyone.
Gran with the girls.

Grandaddy with Lillian and the play gym that every Hawthorn grandchild has played with.
One night Elizabeth and Jonathan stayed over for a slumber party.
Here are the kids watching "Enchanted".
They became inspired by the movie and danced along.
Madeline and Jonathan.

Elizabeth and Evelyn.

Bedtime.

We got to go to Lucia's first birthday party while we were there too!
I think we had more fun than she did...it was a bit much for her...
but Julie did an awesome job on the cake!
We were also able to meet up with our friends the Greens!
We went to their house for a delicious dinner and the next day, Stephanie brought the kids over to swim.
Evelyn, Madeline, and Emma.

Garfield, Stephanie, and Elizabeth.

We did a lot of swimming at the Hawthorn's.
Elizabeth and Madeline.

The group...Lillian did not like the water...

Aidan and Neal.

Lillian decided it was time to impress everyone with her great skills and started supporting her head up very, very well for a 6 week old baby.


She continued to amaze up by rolling over from her tummy to her back...again, at 6 weeks old!
In addition, she won everybody's hearts with her winning, dimply smile.



The trip back home also went very well. We again left at 6:30 in the morning and arrived in Norman at 2:30 in the afternoon. Lillian did not cry once! It was hard to leave our friends and family in San Antonio...in fact we extended our stay an extra day, and would've stayed longer if we could! However, we are thankful for our parents' graciousness in opening up their homes and feeding 6 more people.
We had a blast!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

10 Years!

Yesterday, Neal and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary! I can't believe it has been so long. We were reminiscing over our marriage last night, the good, the bad, and the ugly times. Through it all, God has preserved us and blessed us more than we ever imagined He would. Most of all, I have been blessed with a man who fears God and who loves me unconditionally.

To celebrate we went to an art exhibit opening, "Tradition in Transition, Russian Icons in the age of the Romanovs" located at the University art museum. It was very interesting and quite fancy with wine and cheese offered in the gallery before entering. Afterwards, we went out for dinner. We had a wonderful time together. For pictures go to Neal's blog.