Ah, Wisconsin ... Smell the Dairy-Air!

The title of this post is a bit of an inside joke between us and my sister and brother-in-law Jeff (and one which I'm certain they are very much over by now)! While I've found that much of Wisconsin does indeed have a certain aroma, I also think the people there - particularly Jeff's family - are incredibly nice. So to honor Midwest kindness I now pledge to retire that joke once and for all.

As you may have gathered, Bob, Owen and I traveled to Green Bay this weekend for our niece Mackenzie's baptism (I'm her proud God mother) and Samantha's 2nd birthday party.

The trip started off on the right foot when we walked on the plane and one of the flight attendants plucked Owen from my arms and started strolling around with him. He didn't seem to mind at all and I think he even helped shut an overhead bin or two! In talking with her a little later we discovered that her youngest son was adopted from Romania.

Owen was wonderful during both flights, happily playing peek-a-boo with fellow passengers, looking at his Farm Babies book, and sharing Dad's gingerbread cookie. On the way home he dozed off about two minutes prior to landing (after quality time on Dad's lap and spending a few minutes being fascinated by the lights of Baltimore outside the window) and stayed asleep through deplaning, getting luggage, boarding the bus to long term parking, driving home, and a diaper change! Overall he was a great little traveler.

On Saturday we joined Jeff's family for lunch and their traditional "GMOs" (I think it stands for Gary Mommaerts Olympics - basically some wacky games like seeing how far you can throw a wiffle ball with your non-dominant hand and playing "golf" with a soccer ball, baseball bat and five trees), then went to church for Mackenzie's baptism. The little angel slept through the entire ceremony, briefly waking only when the water was poured on her head! She looked so precious in her beautiful gown made by Jeff's mom and she is sooo sweet. Doesn't she look like the Gerber baby?

After the ceremony Jeff's extended family came to his parent's for dinner and we all ate too much and had a few Old Fashioneds (apparently another Mommaerts tradition - gotta love this family!). Owen, Samantha and Mackenzie enjoyed the day and I loved watching all three of them on the couch "reading".

The next morning my Dad, Jeff and Bob went to the Packer Hall of Fame, and in the afternoon we gathered with friends and family to celebrate Sam's 2nd birthday at Jeff and Kris' house. Samantha loved being the center of attention and all of her gifts, especially her pink cowboy hat and tricycle from Aunt Lori and Uncle Dan. Owen got his first wagon rider and discovered he loves watermelon and cantaloupe.

On Monday we took the kids to a local playground where Owen enjoyed the swing, a water mister, and a game picturing, what else ... food (that's a cookie). Then the Mechems packed up and drove back to Milwaukee for the end of a wonderful weekend and our flight home.

Thanks Jeff, Kris and the entire Mommaerts family for such warm and welcoming hospitality - we had a great time!