My cousin, Drew, married an amazing girl (and an amazing family) this past weekend. Katie is from Nebraska which = roadtrip!! Note: our last “family trip” was in a RV that lasted about 32 hours round trip (Greenville, SC to Hot Springs, Arkansas) which included lots of sleeping, movie watching, hanging out, freedom to pee at any moment, snacking, games, internet, did I mention sleep? etc. Sounds a little like luxury when you consider the newest variable in this journey: my child. The entire Gourley Gang loaded up 10 bags, 6 adults, and 1 toddler to celebrate the union with Drew and Katie in Omaha, Nebraska. You’d think the adult/toddler ratio would have the adults coming out on top. After a wonderful weekend, with lots of love, happiness, and new memories with Drew, Katie, and the entire Berky family, I am humbly admitting that there is some crap that I just can’t control.
Pictures are in no particular order. Evidently I am letting go of controling that also :)
Semi-under-control at rehearsal dinner. Thank GOD for my Auntie Anne, her amazing prep work included Lightning McQueen who talked, and lit up. Sent straight from Heaven, I tell ya.
This is the slope the ramp he found at the hotel. This is also the only time he actually "walked" down the ramp, holding the rail as instructed. If you noticed the door behind him, you might have also guessed that it does open and does knock down 1 1/2 year olds that like to play outside it.
Aunt Mandi, mommy's miracle :) She was so wonderful and probably worked just as hard as we did to make sure things went "smoothly". Thank you sista!!
The boys golf outing...wonder who the photographer was of the "thumbs up" picture?? :)
Visiting with Tutu -makes every second worth it. We love you, Tu, and can't WAIT to see you soon!
YES! The airplane was just as exciting as I'd dreamed and hoped it would be for my little guy! He loved it...and literally chanted and sang the entire time. Our first night home he asked me after prayer, "Go airpane with Unc Norm again?" Yes, honey, you can probably go on an airplane with Uncle Norm again. And only Uncle Norm. ;)
Visiting the cockpit for the first time!
Layover in Chicago - 3 hours of airplanes, ice cream, distraction, and "cheers"!
I love this picture, and love my Tutu!!!
The Quartet + 1 played throughout the wedding dinner.
Thankfully, this crew didn't mind a little air piano via Winn. This was the moment I realized I needed to let it go. ;)
Breakfast with Unc Norm, CHEERS!
Adventures around Omaha with Aunt Mandi. Not just a "walk in the park", I assure you of that :)
I love this boy so very much! And love my family for loving him as much as I do! Thank you all for being patient with us. We had a BLAST!!!
Drew and Bryan are like brothers to me, so in the planning of this trip I was hell-bent that my child would be well behaved enough for me to enjoy and celebrate this special day with my cousin (and yes, for all you “toddler parent veterans” I did explore/beg the option of boarding my child with his wonderful, Cookie…at which I was quickly dismissed). After a wonderful and humbling weekend I am here to admit that I have don’t have near as much control over situations as I thought. I’m also slowly realizing that it comes with the toddler territory??
Was my child Satan’s spawn? Absolutely not. Was he a toddler? Absolutely. Am I still proud of him? Without a doubt. He did the best he could, considering he had a double ear infection, had never flown before, changed time zones, and had been away from his consistent environment 5 days prior to the trip. Reflecting on it, I wish I would have relaxed more about how “well behaved” my 19 month old was. My family was wonderful, my sister-in-law was a life saver, brother was his usual “rock solid” and supportive self, husband was patient with me while I tried to make things as “in control” as possible. My lesson: JUST LET GO. There is no way I’ll ever be able to live up to unreasonable expectations (that are often set forth by myself) if I continue this annoying trend. I am going to miss a lot of wonderful/horrifying memories along the way that I may or may not want to miss.
I loved understanding love a little more this weekend. Drew and Katie’s new love, mine and Chap’s patient love, and my love for my little boy – unconditional and always!
Was my child Satan’s spawn? Absolutely not. Was he a toddler? Absolutely. Am I still proud of him? Without a doubt. He did the best he could, considering he had a double ear infection, had never flown before, changed time zones, and had been away from his consistent environment 5 days prior to the trip. Reflecting on it, I wish I would have relaxed more about how “well behaved” my 19 month old was. My family was wonderful, my sister-in-law was a life saver, brother was his usual “rock solid” and supportive self, husband was patient with me while I tried to make things as “in control” as possible. My lesson: JUST LET GO. There is no way I’ll ever be able to live up to unreasonable expectations (that are often set forth by myself) if I continue this annoying trend. I am going to miss a lot of wonderful/horrifying memories along the way that I may or may not want to miss.
I loved understanding love a little more this weekend. Drew and Katie’s new love, mine and Chap’s patient love, and my love for my little boy – unconditional and always!
Thank you, Drew and Katie, for including us in your amazing weekend! We had SO much fun celebrating your new beginning! Chap and I could see how much you loved each other and it truly made us remember the love we have for each other...even when patient is thin :)
Pictures are in no particular order. Evidently I am letting go of controling that also :)
At the rehearsal dinner - he might have had a medium sized meltdown because he couldn't see the choo-choo train that he witnessed as he was walking in. Trust me, there were many tactics tried...but none that could penetrate the "MY TRAIN" episode.
Semi-under-control at rehearsal dinner. Thank GOD for my Auntie Anne, her amazing prep work included Lightning McQueen who talked, and lit up. Sent straight from Heaven, I tell ya.
This is the slope the ramp he found at the hotel. This is also the only time he actually "walked" down the ramp, holding the rail as instructed. If you noticed the door behind him, you might have also guessed that it does open and does knock down 1 1/2 year olds that like to play outside it.
Aunt Mandi, mommy's miracle :) She was so wonderful and probably worked just as hard as we did to make sure things went "smoothly". Thank you sista!!
The boys golf outing...wonder who the photographer was of the "thumbs up" picture?? :)
Visiting with Tutu -makes every second worth it. We love you, Tu, and can't WAIT to see you soon!
YES! The airplane was just as exciting as I'd dreamed and hoped it would be for my little guy! He loved it...and literally chanted and sang the entire time. Our first night home he asked me after prayer, "Go airpane with Unc Norm again?" Yes, honey, you can probably go on an airplane with Uncle Norm again. And only Uncle Norm. ;)
Visiting the cockpit for the first time!
Layover in Chicago - 3 hours of airplanes, ice cream, distraction, and "cheers"!
I love this picture, and love my Tutu!!!
The Quartet + 1 played throughout the wedding dinner.Thankfully, this crew didn't mind a little air piano via Winn. This was the moment I realized I needed to let it go. ;)
Breakfast with Unc Norm, CHEERS!
Adventures around Omaha with Aunt Mandi. Not just a "walk in the park", I assure you of that :)
I love this boy so very much! And love my family for loving him as much as I do! Thank you all for being patient with us. We had a BLAST!!!
4 comments:
I am so glad the trip went well. The fact that everyone traveled there and came back whole is an accomplishment. LOVE all the pictures, love you guys, thanks for the post.
I can't imagine what it would be like to take that trip with a toddler. It looks like you guys pulled it off with great success as I see lots of smiling faces and one handsome little boy!
In all our travels with Savannah (the girl has been racking up frequents flier miles since she was 5 weeks old) the most important thing I've learned is to just relax and go with the flow. Try to not set any expectations except to return home all in one piece. I gave up long ago on trying to maintain a schedule and routine. She always stays up way too late with the grandparents and always eats way too little when eating out. And don't get me started on the lack of naps! Just go with it. At the end of the trip I'm always amazed at how easily she transitions back regardless of time zones and everything else. I often don't give her enough credit. She really is becoming quite the traveller/vacationer :)
What a valuable life lesson little Winn taught you! He's a pretty awesome kid! And if I were him, I wouldn't have been very well-behaved...that's one helluva situation what with the ear infections and all!
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