Venturing Out

On Sunday the boys (Justin, Jason, Lane, Jacob and Uncle Tom) went to the Cubs game and the rest of us (Jerene, Mallorie, Karisa, mom, Pat, Grandma Vivian, me and MaKena) ventured into the city. The kids loved riding the train. Surprisingly they behaved well too! The guys got off the train a few stops before us and headed to the game. Once we got to the city we headed out and walked around looking at all the buildings. We decided to walk to the Sears tower and go up to the top. By the time we got done walking around the Sears Tower it was time to head back to catch the train. We were all really worn out from the busy weekend.

While in the city I got a text from Lane saying he reached up to catch a batting practice ball and knocked it down into Jason’s lap. Uncle Jason gave the ball to Jacob, he was one excited little boy! The game was a lot of fun for the guys. Before we knew it, it was Monday and we were back on the road to come home. The time went by so fast but sure had a lot of fun and I have a feeling we’ll be back real soon!

Uncle Tom and Jacob on the train.
Jason, Jerene and Karisa

Justin and Mallorie

Pat, Grandma Vivian and mom

Jerene, Karisa and Mallorie at the Sears Tower.

Me and MaKena

Grandma Vivian and Mallorie standing on the ledge at the Sears Tower.

Grandma Vivian and MaKena standing on the ledge. (No fear!!)

Me and MaKena

Mallorie, Jerene and Karisa.

Karisa, what a goofy girl. She was having fun on the train ride home!

MaKena and Karisa

Pat, Grandma Vivian, mom and MaKena

The Dance

After the wedding and some family pictures we headed over to the reception and dance. When we got there we all had assigned tables, which was nice. Jen, Jerene and I were the only adults at our table with our kids. The kids out numbered us and had a big advantage! Thankfully we were sitting close to the head table so our husbands could help us out a little. While we were visiting and eating appetizers, the little kids were out on the dance floor getting their grove on. They were so excited for the dance to start they couldn’t wait any longer. Before the dinner, they announced the wedding party and the bride and groom. There was a beautiful staircase in the reception room that they all came down. It was really neat. Jacob thought it was cool! The meal was delicious and the speeches were great. We shed; I guess I shed many tears. It’s hard to believe my baby brother is married.

Once the dance started, daddy couldn’t leave the dance floor. MaKena had her dancing shoes on and she was ready to go. She got to dance like a princess and daddy was her prince. She eventually crashed hard in daddy’s arms around 11. She had a very busy day, I was surprised she lasted that long. Jacob was busy shaking his little booty off and having a good time. None of us wanted the night to end. It was a fun day that went by way too fast. The entire trip to Chicago was a blast. We can’t wait to go back!

William (my cousin Karen's oldest) dancing with one of the flower girls (Laura's cousin Riley). Riley told us she was in love with that boy! How cute!!
Emma crashed before dinner. She was so tired.
Justin and Laura's first dance.
MaKena watching Justin and Laura with daddy.

From left to right: Mallorie, Emma, MaKena, Riley and William all watching Justin and Laura dance. They waited so nice for their turn to dance!

Mom and Justin dancing.

Princess MaKena and her prince (aka daddy) dancing.

She LOVED dancing with daddy.

Poor Lane was roasting by the time they were done dancing!

Uncle Steve and Jerene dancing. Jerene says she dances like this in her kitchen at home!!!

Jason, Mallorie, McKayla, Jacob, Karlee, Emma and Ryan dancing.

Jacob, McKayla and Mallorie getting creative with the glow sticks.

Grandma and Jacob doing a line dance.

MaKena passed out on daddy. She was tired.

Jason and Karlee

Karisa and MaKena sleeping at the dance.

The wedding

Justin and Laura’s wedding was at the hotel in a tent just off the lobby. Although I don’t know if I’d consider it a tent! It seemed more like a fancy large room and it had air conditioning, which was a good thing because it was extremely hot that day. Before the wedding we were all gathered down in the lobby visiting and waiting for the ceremony to start. I tried to get a good picture of the 3 younger flower girls but they wouldn’t sit still long enough. I think they were all excited for the big event.

Each of the flower girls (there were 5 total) were giving a flower basket and a pretty flower bracelet to wear. Karisa wanted flower pedals in her basket (thankfully Laura’s aunt didn’t put them in the baskets until they walked down the aisle) so she compromised and started ripping the flowers off her pretty bracelet and putting them in her basket. By the time the wedding started her bracelet was looking pretty plain! Then just before the wedding started Justin told all the little kids (Jacob, Mallorie, Riley, Emma, Karisa and MaKena) if they walked down the aisle they would get a sucker from him. Well the time came and Jacob walked down first and did great. Then Mallorie and Riley walked down and did great. Now was the big test! Emma, Karisa and MaKena started walking down the aisle. Karisa made it about 10 steps and turned around and ran back to Jerene. MaKena and Emma made it down to uncle Justin and were rewarded with their suckers. It was cute. (Karisa got a sucker too!)

Then Laura came. Boy, she looked beautiful. It was a very nice ceremony and before we knew it they were married and we were off the reception and dance.

MaKena with her Prince (daddy)!
Lane, MaKena and Jacob all dressed up for the wedding.

Jacob

MaKena, Emma and Karisa waiting for the wedding to start. Karisa is putting some of her flowers in her basket!

Jacob and Mallorie. (Karisa is pulling flowers off her bracelet!)

Laura and her dad.

Cinderella

For those of you who don’t know, MaKena is obsessed with princesses. I honestly think if she could become a princess she would.

For Justin and Laura’s wedding MaKena was one of the flower girls. So we decided to make an appointment to have her hair done for the big day. Emma had her appointment at the same time which worked out great. MaKena has never had a hair cut or anything done to her hair so I was a little nervous. I wasn’t sure if she’d sit still or freak out or what she’d do. I kept telling her that she was going to have her hair done like a princess and that seemed to make her excited. When we got to the salon she didn’t want to sit in the chair but I managed to get her up there. Then she didn’t want the cape on so the lady just put a towel around her shoulders. That eventually came off half way through the appointment. She sat in the chair like a big girl and she’d tell everyone, when they’d ask, that she was going to look like Cinderella. Thankfully Emma ended up sitting right next to MaKena so the girls could watch each other. Emma sat and ate an apple the entire time she was getting her hair done. You could tell she was in 7th heaven! I am very glad that I decided to make the appointment for MaKena because she looked so cute. Both girls did great. And they look so darn cute when they were done. They were so proud of their hair. It was cute.

MaKena sitting in the chair getting her hair done and holding on to her Cinderella book.
Getting lots of curls.

More curls. There's Emma in the chair behind MaKena, see her apple!

Spraying the pretty curls. MaKena was really checking herself out in the mirror.

Almost done. She's checking out to see what Emma looks like!

Just one more clip. Doesn't she look so cute??!!

Emma getting curls in her hair.

Emma checking out her hair in the mirror.

Mommy and MaKena.

MaKena and Emma, the finished product!! Aren't they cute?!!

Family fun in the pool

Our trip to Chicago was a blast. We left Fargo Wednesday night and drove as far as Eau Claire, WI. We finished the drive on Thursday and made it to Justin and Laura’s house around 5pm. A majority of us met at Justin’s for dinner with Laura’s parents. It was a lot of fun getting to visit and see the new house. We crashed that night at Justin’s house and got up the next morning and headed to the hotel. Once we got checked in we got the kids in the suits and headed to the pool. That was the place to be Friday afternoon! The entire family was splashing around and having fun. But we couldn’t stay too long as we had to get ready for the rehearsal and grooms dinner. The kids had a blast playing in the water. It was a little difficult getting them out and up to the room.

Jason and Karisa in the pool. Karisa wasn't a big fan at first but eventually she enjoyed the water. MaKena and daddy playing in the water.

Jacob and Mallorie.

Jacob floating in the water. I just love his eyes in this picture.

Mallorie, William, Karen and Josey hanging out in the pool. William loved the pool. He would jump in and get back out and do it all over again. I even threw him in the water several times and he kept coming back saying do it again!

Emma floating in the lady bug floaty.

Daddy, MaKena, Jason and Karisa hanging out in the pool.

MaKena and Emma sitting in the hot tub.