ConGRADulations, Aunt Trina!!

I know "conGRADulations" is kind of cheesy, we're super proud of Summa-Cum-Laude-Music-Education-Aunt-Katie!!! Last month we flew up to Ohio and then drove to Michigan for Katie's graduation from Hillsdale. It was a quick weekend, but we packed a lot in and had a great time!
It all began at 3am Friday morning when we left for the airport. Even though mom and dad were a little bleary eyed, Evelyn thought life couldn't get better. Bright lights, lots of people, interesting sights and sounds - the airport was fascinating to her. :)
She listened very carefully to the stewardess as this was her first time flying. She was especially intrigued with the 3 exits that our plane had.

After a while the plane noise really started to get to her so Daddy loaned her his noise eliminating head phones. She enjoyed listening to some good Mumford & Sons or something like that. Regardless of what was playing, she was *quite* pleased and felt *quite* grown up.
On the second leg of our trip we had an empty seat by us so Evie got to sit in her car seat. This helped all 3 of us get some sleep. :) Overall Evelyn was a great traveler. :)
Once we arrived in Hudson we spent the rest of the day playing with aunts, grandparents and great grandparents.

Early Saturday we headed up to Hillsdale for the Main Event. We first had a small lunch party in Waterman (the house I also lived in for 3 years and where Katie has lived the last 3). Aunt Katie gave Evelyn a very special gift - a pink elephant piggy bank. Evelyn was soooo excited, especially after Papop and Great-Grandad and Grandpa donated some coins to make in jingle. :)
Sisters! So sad it's blurry. :(


While we waited for the ceremony to start Nathan, Caroline, Evie and I went for a walk in the Arb. It was fun to be back at our alma mater and recall so many fun memories. :)

The Ceremony!!
 
We all loved seeing Trina graduate, but this is what Evie thought by the end:
After another fun day Sunday, we flew back to Virginia.

It was a packed and wonderful weekend. Congrats, Katie!!! Can't wait to see what adventures are ahead for you in Lancaster!

Outside Baby

So Evelyn loves to be outside. She starts to squirm and kick whenever I open the front door. Walks, sitting in the grass playing... anything. Lately she has discovered three more things that she loves to do outside.

1: Biking! Evie's friend, Calvin, is loaning her his bike trailer. Calvin is too big for it now and uses a real bike seat (one of these days we need to take Evie and Calvin biking together... Stephanie.... :)). The trailer is just the right size for us to buckle in Evelyn's car seat. We've used it a couple times already and she loves it! Nathan and I are also glad that we can still enjoy biking and don't have to put the bikes away until she's older. Here she is all ready to go... and her when we got back (sound asleep :)). Rachel E. - notice that she took her favorite fruit basket along with her for her first ride. ;)
2. Camping! Over Memorial Day weekend we went camping with several other families from our church. It was a great weekend of sunshine (and downpours ;)), boating, games, swimming, s'mores and fellowship. I've discovered though that when you're doing active things with a baby, you don't end up taking many pictures because you're taking care of the wonderful little baby the whole time. So, we didn't get many of camping, but the ones we did get typify the weekend. :)
Evie was quite enamored with the tent. This is how our morning went starting around 5am - Evelyn fascinated by the red tent and mommy (and daddy starting around 7am ;)) trying not to faint with exhaustion.
Amy (3) and Evie also got some good one-on-one time together. ;) Amy loves Evie and Evie adores Amy. It works out well. :) We were about to get up on Saturday morning when I noticed this little shadow running around and around the tent. Then I heard Amy's little voice saying "but I want to go see Mr. Nathan, Ms Jeni and baby Evvvvvvieeeeee!" It was a fun way to wake up. :)
Evelyn also got to use her handy seat that snaps on to a table. She loved being up with us and a part of everything!
3. Swimming! The temperature has been in the triple digits here lately. Yesterday she and I headed to the store to invest ($3) in a baby pool. She and I both spent some time just soaking in the cool water. :)
She wasn't so sure about the pool at first and had to hold on to her towel and her paci for reassurance:
But then she got into it and loved crawling around (yes, she did even crawl forwards herself!!) and playing with her toys.
Not so sure about accidentally splashing herself in the face...
But she recovered... :)
Thanks for checking in on little Evie!

The New Game

Our brown couch is now underneath our front windows. Evelyn's new favorite thing is to stand at the back of it and look out the window. The outside world is just so exciting to her. Here are some pictures of her in her jam jams on her new favorite perch playing her new favorite game - peek-a-boo with one of us through the window. :)


From the other side:

Great Grandparents

Nathan and I are so thankful that Evie got to meet all three sets of great-grandparents this spring and spend quite a bit of time with each of them. Our grandparents are all so wonderful and supportive and they make equally as amazing great-grandparents. We loved introducing the newest (prior to Drew's arrival this week! :)) addition to the family. :)

Nathan's grandparents - Great Grandma & Grandma Mortier - came out from Oregon for a month this spring. They stayed with Nathan's parents and there was much visiting back and forth. We spent 10 days out in Oregon with them last summer when I was starting my third trimester and Evie was just a little bump. We were pleased to introduce them to a very active Evelyn who is no longer just a little bump! :) Here are some pictures of our time together.

  
We spent time with my mom's parents, Nana Ruth and Papop, over Easter and for Katie's graduation. Nana Ruth is the Ruth that Jennifer Ruth and Evelyn Ruth are named after. :) Since Nana and Papop live in Mississippi, we loved getting to see them twice this spring! Hopefully we'll be able to share more fun Evelyn times again soon! Evie thought Papop was just the funniest person she had ever met! You should have heard them laughing together!

Great-Grammy and Great-Granddad, my dad's parents, were the first to meet Evelyn as they usually join us for Christmas at my parents. Evie loved spending snuggle time with them! She was quite excited when she got to see them two times this spring as well, at Easter and Katie's graduation. We're so thankful that Grammy and Granddad live in Ohio so when we go back to my parents, we can usually see them too! Grammy, the bunny that holds a prominent position in many of these pictures is still a favorite with Evie! :)

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Mortier, Nana Ruth & Papop and Grammy & Granddad for being such amazing grandparents and great-grandparents. We love you all so much!!