An Honorary Yooper & the Celebration of 10 Years

As I mentioned in my previous post, Baby Life Week 6 was crazy busy.  It began with a visit from Mom & Dad, a baby shower and a family reunion.  Then the week continued with Eric and I working (Eric at his job and me taking care of Asher & researching childcare) during the day and interviewing childcare providers during the evening.  Then, on Thursday I spent the day packing to go up North (which I realized is MUCH harder with an infant...so much to pack and very small windows to do it in...thankfully there is an App for that, making it a little bit easier).  When Eric got home that evening, we loaded up the van and braved our first long road trip with Asher.  The ride went pretty well and we made it in decent time (stopping in Sheboygan for gas, food and a diaper change) with very little crying along the way.  That is where this post begins...

August 10, 2012:  After a long drive, we arrived in Nadeau near midnight on the 9th and were finally ready to get some sleep sometime after midnight.

Asher in is puppy outfit...you can't see the ears on his little hat.  I may be a dorky mom, but he looks cute!

When we woke up later that morning, we were greeted by Erika & Micah (Caleb was sleeping) who had gone up to Mom & Dad's a little earlier in the week.  Eric spent some time playing in the backyard with Micah, while Asher & I enjoyed a snuggle on the back deck.

Micah

Asher & I swinging.

At lunchtime, we headed out to introduce Asher to some of the family...

Asher meets Aunt Bonnie

Asher meets Aunt Carol (who didn't seem to want to give him up)  :)

Asher meets Taylor (my 2nd cousin).

Not only was this Asher's first day in the UP, making him an honorary Yooper, but it was also a very special day for Eric & I: Our 10th Anniversary.  10 years ago today I woke up in the same house looking forward to my wedding later that day.  It was an amazing day full of cherished memories, and I cannot believe that it was already 10 years ago.  Although it does seem like it was a long time ago it also is fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday.  We have gone through a lot in those years and every day, laugh, argument, snuggle, etc. has only made our love grow stronger.  We have truly been joined by God as one, and I am constantly thankful for the incredible husband that God has blessed me with.  For years, Eric and I talked about doing something special for our 10 year anniversary.  When times were good financially, we planned on a vacation to Europe.  After the economic problems of the past few years, we changed our plan to go to the Grand Canyon, but as you know in the Fall of last year God changed those plans by answering our prayers, giving us Asher this summer.  Thus, the Grand Canyon was no longer an option and our 10th anniversary was not celebrated in the way we had anticipated.  There was nothing extravagant, but it was still a day full of love and a day spent with my two favorite guys...I would not have had it any other way.

Me opening my anniversary gift.  Eric & I have been giving the traditional gifts every year of our marriage.  This year was aluminum or tin.  With a baby to care for and only 1 idea for a gift (which didn't work out), Eric didn't get anything but a card...but I swear I will get him something eventually.  I got a Willow Tree figurine wrapped in aluminum (of a Mom, Dad and Baby...really cute), and a gift card to TINseltown (our local movie theater)...which was very creative on Eric's part...I wish I had thought of it!

Eric & I did have to do something special on our own to celebrate our day, rather than hanging out at home with the family.  So, we left Asher in Mom & Dad's care and headed to Escanaba for a movie and dinner.  After the movie, we had to head over to Ludington Park, where we had gone for photos 10 years earlier.

Eric & I wanted to get a picture like the picture that was taken of us on our wedding day here, but we forgot our tripod. Eric took this challenge upon himself and set out to make a McGyver-like tripod to help us out...I am always amazed at the way that he can solve problems.  I probably would have just given up and taken a different picture.

The tripod: A piece of weathered metal on a metal rod held up by two large pieces of concrete.  He then had to add his jacket & flipflop on top to steady the camera surface...the fact that it stayed up long enough to take a picture was amazing because it was VERY windy.

This is the final picture compared to our wedding photo (wedding photo taken by Gregory's Photography http://www.gregorysphotoinc.com/)

Eric had to continue with tradition...I don't think we remembered to do it the day of the wedding.

Take 2.  It wasn't working very well in the dry sand.

After taking the pictures on the beach, we went over to the playground for a bit of fun...

August 11, 2012:  On Saturday, we spent a long & relaxing day at Mom & Dad's, and we enjoyed the company of some visitors.

Linda T. meets Asher

Kris E. meets Asher

Asher loves to look out the window.

August 12, 2012:  We started Sunday off by sleeping in before church.

Asher & I both sleeping on our sides (under Daddy's supervision).

I love how Asher folds his hands together while he sleeps.  He looks like he's praying.

At church, Asher was a big hit.  Everyone wanted to meet him.

Sherry C. meets Asher.

Ruth H. meets Asher.

After church, we had a Smith-Klingenmaier get-together back at home.  It was the first time that all of the Smiths except Joe and Klingenmaiers have been together in several years, and it was the first time ever that all of the little kids were together.  We had a great time catching up with one another and although I thought it would just be a few hours after church, the party went right into the evening.  We HAVE to do it again next year.  We had a great time and miss everyone already.

Laura S. meets Asher.

Beth S. meets Asher

Caleb the Astronaut.

Rachel K. holds Asher (finally) :)

Judy S. meets Asher.

After lunch, the kiddie pool was set up by the slide and everyone went into the back yard to watch the kids play.  They had a blast, and we had a blast watching them.

Elliot & Micah learning to share.

Matt, Elliot & Aunt Bonnie

Since it was the first time all of the kids have been together, we had to get a picture.  We thought it would be really hard to get them to take the photo, but it was surprisingly easy.

Grandma & Grandpa K. with their grandsons.

Everyone huddled around the picnic table for dessert...Klondike bars!

Lewis

Emma...hiding from all the kids?

August 13, 2012: After a great weekend up North it was time to go, but since we didn't want it all to end so quickly we kidnapped Mom and brought her back to Kenosha with us (she looks really upset doesn't she?)...

Asher with Emma & Mom snuggling in the backset.