Memorial Weekend

And we're back!!  Whew, after a crazy, fantastic, fun, memorable, and frustrating (thanks to United airlines) trip, we are back home safe and sound.  We loved our time in Missouri with friends and family, but we are happy to be reunited as a family again.  I am going to attempt to get caught up on the blog with all our fun times in Missouri, but please be patient with me as I try to do that and get back into the routine here at home:)

Chris and I arrived in Missouri for Memorial weekend and our first stop was my parents' cabin in Theodosia, MO.  All my family (minus my brother and sister Christine) were there, and for some it was their first time meeting Mitchell.  It would also be Mitchell's first time on a boat.  We didn't let him swim this time since the water was still too cold, but he did love being on the boat.  And, it was Mitchell's first birthday party.  Our nephew, Colton, turned four on May 21st, and we decided to have a combined birthday party for him and Mitchell that weekend.  Colton picked the theme: Candy.  Haha, he said candy is his favorite.  So, my sister Nicole (Colton's mom) went all out; notice the picture below with the Candyland game board under the cupcakes.  It was really neat to have all of Mitchell's cousins there to help celebrate his first year.

The party crowd!  Haha, can you tell the sun was in their eyes (hence, why Mitchell's eyes are closed)?
From left to right, around the table: Jillian, Farah, Kathryn, DJ, Mitchell, Connor, Rylan, David, Colton, and Bodie.

It is amazing how all the kids swarm around the birthday boy when he is opening his presents:)  The birthday boys would take turns, each opening one gift and then giving the other a turn.  And all the kids would just move back and forth, swarming each kid when it was his turn to open gifts.  It was really cute.  Mitchell says "thank you everyone" for all of his great gifts.

Family photo:)  Mitchell's first trip out on the boat.

Mitchell really loved the boat!  Haha, notice my photo bomb in the background:)

Just enjoying the ride:)

Of course after you play hard, you need to sleep hard.  I think a combo of the sun and wind and excitement knocked this kid out cold:)

And here are Grandpa and Grandma with all of their grandkids.
From left to right:  David (Karen's son), Mitchell, Farah (Tanya's daughter), Kathryn (Christine's), Mason (Karen's), Grandpa, Colton (Nicole's), Patsy (Gpa and Gma's puppy), Grandma, Jillian (Dave's oldest), DJ (Dave's), Connor (Tanya's), Rhett (Nicole's), Bodie (Tanya's youngest), and Rylan (Nicole's oldest).

On Memorial Day, Meemaw came to pick us up to head back to Springfield.  But before we left, we decided to take one last ride on the boat.