Weekend Recap

Yes it's Wednesday and I am just getting around to recapping the weekend, but it was such a GREAT long weekend that it took me a couple of days to regroup and recover.  Sorry it's going to be picture overload too...I want to remember everything :)

It started Thursday when my mom, dad, sister (Anne), brother in-law (Ryan) and niece (Claire) arrived in Arkansas.  They drove through the night and landed on our door step at about 6:30 am.  I didn't really except them to make it here so early so when I got the call that they were 30 minutes out, I jumped out of bed and scurried around the house to get a couple of last minute things done.  Addison was also very excited for their arrival and woke up an hour early to greet them...or maybe I woke her up because I started vacuuming at 6:15 in the morning -- oops!  We had a relaxing day, the girls went shopping and ran a few errands and the boys went to the lake for a quick ride on the boat.  John's mom also made it into town Thursday afternoon, so it was nice spending time with her and Bill as well.



It was great to reunite these two cuties!
So much has changed since they last saw each other over Christmas.

Friday morning started before dawn for John and Ryan as they headed out for a little fishing.  The rest of the crew slept in a little bit (well maybe not Claire) and waited for the rest of the crew to arrive.  Abbey, Kyle and Mallory made it in around 10:30 and then the fun really started.  We hung around the house Friday afternoon and enjoyed the beautiful weather on the back patio.

Of course, we had to get the girls dress alike and take lots of pictures.

Their aunties really spoil them and got them cute neon dresses
and new flip-flops...because what under 1 year old doesn't need her
very own pair of Old Navy flip-flops!
Also, notice that Abbey and Mallory decided to dress alike!

Saturday morning we split up and the boys went to the lake again and the girls went to the Farmer's Market and for a quick walk around the museum trails.

Addison fell asleep on the car ride so Claire got the short straw and had to go into the carrier.
But Auntie Abbey and Auntie Mallory were happy to carry her.

Claire got a little ride in Sam Walton's red truck outside the Walton 5-10 museum.

Lots to look at...

Probably her favorite things was the big fountain in the center of the Farmer's Market...
I think she could have played with the water all day!

We took a quick break from all the fun and Auntie Abbey read the girls a few books.

Claire needed to soak up all the beautiful Arkansas weather so she went for a quick
swim on the back patio in her little one-strap bathing suit -- so cute!

And then it was time for the main event...all of our wonderful family made the trek down to Arkansas because we had Addison baptized at our church on Saturday.  We kept the invitee list short and just immediate family because, well even that turned out to be large group and we took up 2 rows at church :)

My sister Abbey and her husband Kyle are Addison's Godparents.

A quick moment with her big cousin Landon before mass started.

Addison was baptized during the 5 o'clock mass on Saturday, May 19th.

One quick family shot...it had been since Christmas since we were all together.

Sunday morning came too quickly and we had to start saying our goodbyes...

• My mom, dad, Ryan and Claire headed back north mid-day on Sunday
• Mallory flew out Sunday evening
• Abbey and Kyle almost got to spend an extra night in Arkansas but luckily their plane finally left about 9 o'clock Sunday
• Anne left before dawn on Monday and headed south to the Dominican Republic for work
• John's mom and Bill headed north Tuesday morning

All in all it was an absolutely wonderful weekend, and I'm so glad that our family (both near and far) was able to share this special moment with us.