It's October! Wait... it's October?! Time flies when you're having fun, that's for sure! And we kicked off our October with a trip to Illinois to meet...
... our sweet little 8-week-old niece, Emerson Rae Mlakar! Isn't she precious?
The drive to Illinois was about 6 1/2 hours total (including our stops), so it was a bit of a haul - especially for Katelyn who is quite active and doesn't necessarily like to be restrained. But she was a good little traveler - we sang songs and read lots of books Green Eggs and Ham. And of course the trip was well worth it to meet our newest family member!
On our way we stopped in Guttenberg, IA, to take in some of the scenic fall colors along the Mississippi River. Michael thought it was a requirement to speak German while in Guttenberg, so he kept asking Katelyn to repeat "guten morgen" (good morning), which came out more like "{inaudible} mowg-in." It was cute!
We finally made it to Cassie and Jason's on Friday evening. Katelyn had fun getting a look at the sleeping "be-be"...
It was obvious that Michael still has the touch. Emerson fell fast asleep in his arms in no time!
Look at these bright beautiful blues! We're wondering if they'll stay this color or not since eye color can change throughout the first year of life.
Emerson is a wonderful baby; super content and easy going. I don't think we heard her cry a single time! Just that adorable little fussing/grunting/squirming that babies do when they need your attention. Truly an angel by all accounts!
On Saturday morning we took a walk around the neighborhood. It was a little brisk, but the sun warmed us up!
For lunch we went to a winery. Yes, a winery with a 2-month old baby and a 1 1/2 year old toddler. And we made that decision before any wine was consumed. We were feeling brave and the place had a relaxed, come-as-you-are vibe.
The owners are named Ron and Kathy Kathi. I think it's a sign that my parents should open one, too. Here's everyone checking out the menu.
The girls did well! Katelyn helped us with our BBQ pork sandwiches and since she couldn't wash it down with wine, the server brought her a cookie instead. :)
That afternoon, Katelyn (and let's face it, Michael) had fun with Jason's "toys" - a golf cart and an ATV!
The ATV is actually Cassie's dad's - he won it by hitting a hole-in-one at a golf tournament over the summer. How cool is that?! Katelyn's probably thinking, "how fast can this puppy go?"
And gearing up for a spin in the golf cart...
After the ride up the street, Katelyn kept signing and saying "again" over and over. Guess she liked it!
And what's a golf cart without any clubs? Emerson was kind enough to share her Callaways with Katelyn :) Papa Ron will be especially appreciative of this one...
Taking a peek at baby Em...
We made a quick stop a pumpkin sale and came home with four "puck ins" or sometimes Katelyn just calls them "ohn-sch" (for orange).
Katelyn has a thing for holding hands lately and she wanted to give Emerson a little love. Can you even imagine how much fun these two cuties will have in the years ahead?
Grandma Debbie made the visit on Saturday night and she got to spend some time with her two granddaughters!
Sunday morning came too fast and it was time for us to head home :( It was so much fun to finally get to meet Emerson in person. She is just perfect! And it was great to catch up with Jason, Cassie, and Debbie!
Thank you, Jason and Cass, for your hospitality! It's an incredible honor and joy to welcome a new baby into the family!
2 comments:
Katelyn, your cousin Emerson is a cutie, just like you. You'll have to show her how to drive the golf cart next summer!!
What a fun weekend meeting your new, adorable cousin Emerson! Katelyn, you look pretty comfortable with a golf club in your hands and Papa Ron was impressed with your foot placement. :)
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