Vacation - Part 1

We spent the first part of June on vacation in Chicago at Alex and Karin's wedding.  Jared was a groomsman and Clara was the flower girl.  Clara was very excited for her big part in the wedding.  She did a great job during rehearsal.

On the big day, Clara looked like a princess and couldn't wait for the ceremony to start.

But, when it came time to walk down the aisle, she chickened out and made me carry her.  While carrying her, I dropped some flower petals from her basket.  She yelled, "No," then ran back to pick them up.  Everyone laughed, so I guess it wasn't a total disaster.  

Charlie napped during the ceremony and was ready to party at the reception.  There was even a highchair at our dinner table just for Charlie.

As soon as the speeches were over and Clara got a few bites to eat, she was off to the dance floor.  She danced, and danced, and danced!

Charlie, on the other hand, couldn't stand all the excitement for too long.

Charlie, my parents, and I took the first bus back to the hotel.  Jared and Clara came on the next bus at nearly 11:00 p.m. CST (nearly midnight 'our time')!  

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Charlie's First Haircut

Just before we left for vacation, Charlie had his first haircut.

Before

During 

After 

He did a great job and looks so grown up now!

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Memorial Day Weekend

We had a very productive Memorial Day weekend.  Here's a list of things we did:

1. Prepped the front yard for planting the trailer load of plants that Jared picked up on Friday.  We stripped grass and raked while Clara napped.  Charlie and Elsi provided moral support from the shade under the porch.  Charlie was in his pack-n-play with a bug net. 

2. Clara woke up from her nap with a plan - the beach.  So, after the work was done, we headed to the beach to cool off with some friends.  This was our first beach trip this year and the water was surprisingly warm.  Clara went all in and loved it.  Charlie thought it was still too cold.  

3. Cooked chili dogs on the grill then s'mores on the campfire. 

4. Slept in a tent in our yard.  Well, some of us did.  Charlie decided there was too much going on, so he didn't want to go to bed.  He finally fell asleep in the tent, but woke up a few hours later and demanded to go inside.  It was a nice night to sleep outside, I don't know what he was complaining about.  Jared and Clara made it through the night in the tent. 

5. Took turns on the swing.  

6. Panted 27 plants in the front yard.

7. Left the room for a quick minute to put a couple things away.

8. Went back to the beach to cool off. Charlie went on his first boat ride.  He actually didn't mind wearing his life jacket.  Clara had fun too on the quick trip around the lake.

9. Left the camera at home during Charlie's first boat ride.

10. Woke up to Charlie standing up in his crib!

11. Had coffee and strawberry muffins on the porch while admiring the new landscaping.

12. Went to the local Memorial Day parade.

13. Adjusted Charlie's crib mattress to a lower position.  

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