Greetings and Happy Wednesday everyone! I am back from what was a wonderful trip to Chicago! I had so much fun with my family, and it was one of my best business trips yet! Yea!
As I said last week, the timing of this trip was prompted by my niece's 1st birthday party! I could tell you all about it, but it's more fun to share photos! Here goes!
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| Shortly after I got to the party (I arrived fashionably late), they started opening presents. Anna had NO interest, though, and instead spent that time playing with her cousin's booster chair (the things that will entertain babies!) |
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| Anna's party had an owl theme! My brother, SIL, and mom made and decorated the cakes and cupcakes (Anna got her own smash cake, which isn't pictured here) |
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| Ooo, the cake it coming!! |
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| She dabbled in some frosting and cookie eating... |
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| And was pretty much a happy, clapping mess by the end |
The party was so much fun - she was a happy, bouncing, clapping baby that was happy to be passed from person to person (she is one easy going baby). I had fun visiting with my sister-in-law's family, who I have gotten to know very well through the years. Before we knew it, it was bed time. Despite the fact that I had gotten over 11 hours of sleep on Friday night, I was so exhausted on Saturday night, at one point I just laid on my dad's shoulder - which felt so nice to do as I don't get to see them very often.
The next morning
we Anna was up early, and I couldn't miss out on the fun so I came upstairs and played with her for bit before getting ready for church. As usual she was all smiles. She's a new walker so is totally rocking that 'drunken sailor sway'. So fun! Here are a few more pictures from Sunday!
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| Anna and I! |
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| Big brother Kolin and I cuddling on the couch |
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| Happy happy Anna, hanging out on my lap. Her smile just kills me! And we have the same eyes, I think! |
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| My parents with Kolin and Anna (Anna looks ready for a nap at this point!) |
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. Anyone who knows me well knows how important my nephews and niece are to me. They are the lights of my life! I am so glad I got to be part of her birthday celebration. I know she will not remember this event, but I always will. I definitely cherish all the time I got to spend with my family this weekend and it really restored my spirits and made me feel more like myself after a tough couple of weeks of being super sick.
Besides all the family fun, my business trip also went really well and I am returning to work today with a renewed energy and passion for my job. I needed this trip, really badly. After a rough patch in August with my boss leaving, I feel like things are turning around and moving in the right direction.
In closing, I will say that every time I come to Chicago, I feel this incredible magnetic pull. I am not sure whether I will give into that magnetic pull and explore moving to Chicago some day, as I am actually very happy in Minneapolis, but I know that no matter what, I will always make time for multiple trips to that fabulous city!
Is there a certain city or area, besides where you live, that you feel "drawn to"?
I love Chicago too and could definitely see myself living there- but I doubt a I ever will because if I was going to move away from family I would need better weather to convince me :)
ReplyDeleteYour nieces birthday looks awesome. I was just thinking recently that I'm not going to give my kids birthday parties until they are old enough to actually care but then seeing this I'm like ah... I probably will go back on that statement haha. (I'm not against birthdays i just sometimes brainstorm ways i can make motherhood not insane is all haha). Glad you had a great weekend and trip!
I have this pull toward Chicago too, which is odd since I've only been there once for two days and barely did any exploring (besides running the marathon...) but I just love it there. I could see myself living there, but I'm praying to not be moving anytime soon! haha
ReplyDeleteWell you know how much I love Chicago! It would be so fun to live there again one day, especially if you lived there too! One can dream, right? :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the pictures! Anna sure enjoyed her big day and it shows in the photos you took! The weather was perfect, too! I'm so glad you ended the trip with a good business experience!
ReplyDeleteAnna is so adorable! I love her smile. :)
ReplyDeleteChicago is one of those cities that's always intrigued me. I'm not sure I could handle the weather, though. I'm much more of a Southern girl. Hehe. I would love to visit there someday soon, though!
So glad that you were able to spend time with your family and see your niece for her birthday. It looks like you had a lot of fun :)
ReplyDeleteShe is such a beautiful baby! Love it. Glad the trip was restorative for you. Nothing like seeing family sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI love Florida and also LA. And NYC. I need to get back to NYC as it's been ages, and I'm hoping to get to Florida next year for a brief trip if at all possible. So many places I need to get to next year!
So fun! Mu niece had the same cupcakes and these at her 2nd party! Love that cake! What a cutie.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! Great pictures!!! Anna is so cute! I am so glad you and your parents were able to be there to share in the fun. Hope you continue to feel better!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!!! So fun you got to spend so much time with your family.
ReplyDeleteI feel really pulled to Vancouver and/or Victoria. I don't know if big city living is for me permanently but I hope that Eric and I have the opportunity to move down there for a few years before settling back in Kamloops or the interior. But who knows what the future will bring, I am really happy in Kamloops and could absolutely see myself staying here forever as well!
What a great looking cake and beyond precious photo of you and Miss Anna.
ReplyDeleteI def think you should consider Chicago, but like you said at the very least at least is not a far drive/ short flight away.
Awwww, it warms my heart that you have a little love affair with Chicago. And knowing you have family here means it SHOULD be a contender. ha. Also glad that you had so much fun with your family - I think you deserved that trip!
ReplyDeleteSweets and I swear we can't ever visit Denver. We've both been there separate from one another and know that it captures a lot of what we'd want in a "perfect" city (outdoorsiness combined with an urban center). But, it's missing one pretty major thing (family) and I think it will therefore always remain a possibility, but never become our reality.
Love your new haircut! And the owl theme is adorable. Little kids are the best.
ReplyDeleteAww, your nieces and nephews are the cutest. I can totally relate that they are the lights of your life... I feel the same about my niece and nephew <3
ReplyDeleteAs you might know already, I have a love affair with Boston. Favorite city in the world!
She is SO cute!!! I love that picture of her being excited for the cake :-)
ReplyDeleteI am completely drawn to Manhattan. If feels like home to me. I think I am a New Yorker at heart for sure.
OH my gosh I can't believe she's already one!!! These pictures are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if there's a city I'm called to - maybe one that's less expensive? Ha!
She is so cute. It seems like you were just there for her baptism. Was that really a year ago!?
ReplyDeleteAs for places to live... I actually love Chicago as well. I think it's the only city I would want to live in in the US that doesn't have an ocean next to it. Otherwise, I really like Cape Town and Sydney and Paris and Seattle and Portland and San Diego and Boston...there are more! However, my favorite is still San Francisco.
She is so cute and I totally agree that she has your eyes. I think she looks a bit like your mom too.
ReplyDeleteChicago is my second favorite city in America. If I thought I could survive a winter there I would definitely consider moving there. I think it's a place that's hard not to feel drawn too.
As you know, everytime I'm back in Copenhagen and then have to leave I always feel like I'm leaving a little piece of my heart behind and I adore London too. New York though is my one true love. I'm so glad that I've so many great experiences living in other places, but I know in my heart that I could never leave NYC (or the metro area) forever, it's too much a part of me.
So glad you had such a restoring family weekend! Sometimes we need those oh so much...and birthdays are always a good time. Your niece is adorable! I've always felt pulled to Charleston, SC for some reason and every time I explore it I could totally envision myself living there for a few years--never for a long period of time but just a few years.
ReplyDeleteEverything about this post activates my "cute" passions. That cake, wonderful. All wonderful. But oh! Anna is just TOO CUTE! She's such a little doll -- I can see why you adore her!
ReplyDeleteaww. such a sweet girl. isla had an owl cake too!
ReplyDeleteOMG Anna is adorable! And she's so big! I feel like my nephew isn't nearly that big yet & he turns one in less than a month. Oh my God how is that even possible. The first year just flies by. My nephew is the light of my life too so I totally understand how exciting this must have been for you! I'll probably cry next month at my nephews' party LOL.
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