The Lisa Link: Oliver, Our Trip to Kentucky, and Jack's Birthday

Well, we're mid-way through February, and it's COLD. Yesterday we went to Cornell to visit Grandma Jane and tell her about our recent trip to Kentucky, where it was warmer but not quite as warm as we would have liked :). It even snowed while we were there.

My mother-in-law, Jane

Susan and her baby Oliver

Jane had her little front porch all decorated for Valentine's Day. She served us a yummy warm lunch and some of her kids stopped by while we were there... first Sally, and then Brent and Kristen. There were lots of pictures of new great grandchildren to admire and fuss over. Jane's grandchildren are starting their own families, now, and she is proud and happy that they are turning out to be such loving parents who really value and care for their little ones. That's in no small part due to her and Bud's warm and generous exchanges with children over the years. It was fun to go to Cornell yesterday and think about that. I really am lucky to have married into such a nice family.

We made it to Kentucky after a full day of power-driving. Susan had already been on maternity leave two weeks, with another ten weeks of paid leave ahead of her (nice). So her and Jay'd had a little time to get their caring-for-a-new-baby routine down, but were still kind of tired. Newborn babies are tiny little warm bundles who sleep a lot, but of course they require lots of feeding and wake up as soon as they are laid in a crib. Of course, Oliver didn't need to be laid down in a crib while we were there. There was lots of happy bickering over who got to hold him next.

My husband Jon and his new grandson

New baby smell-!! Mmmmm....

Daddy Jay

"My mom knit this hat?? No way-!!"

Another relaxed and natural mother (I remember using that phrase to describe Lisa M)

Auntie Leila

Uncle Michael-??

And, of course, Auntie Em

We ate out a few times and had one nice meal at home-- which Jay and I fixed together-- all 8 of us eating meatloaf and potatoes by candlelight in the newly cleared out formal dining room. Last time we were there it was full of boxes from their kitchen remodel, but the remodel is almost complete and the boxes are gone. Their new floor, appliances, fixtures, and cupboards are installed, and all that needs doing now are the counter tops (Jay's going to pour concrete counter tops) and the window frame needs to go back up. But the kitchen already looks very nice, and it was a pleasure to use.

Little Oliver is wonderful. He was a bit premature so still has a fine downy covering of light blonde hair. He doesn't have eyelashes, yet, but has bright dark blue eyes and is perfect in every way.

While we were there Jay's parents came by and visited. It was over a two hour trip for them because they live in West Virginia, and they kindly brought David with them so we would have a chance to see him, too. Sharon and I have been getting to know one each other in a "pen pal" sort of way (if you can think of Facebook that way, which I believe you can). We fussed over Oliver and I had fun showing her the souveniers I'd just gotten (remember, Susan and Jay live within easy walking distance of several extremely cool antique stores). We had dinner at THE BEST Chinese restaurant with them and Jay's brother Wes & girlfriend.

Grandma Sharon J.

Sistahs

Yes-!! The grandparent convention was conducted

Perfectly sweet.

"Whatchu talking about, Grandma?"

I kissed those cheeks.

With David

David and Oliver.

My souveneirs from Kentucky trip! A cobalt blue glass head (with 1920's-style bob) and vintage wall art

After we left Kentucky and were on our way back, we passed Jonathan, Alicia, and Jack. They were on their way TO Kentucky, to visit after us. Susan's Mom and Logan joined David, Jonathan, Jack, and Alicia as the next round of visitors.

On the road

Alicia looks like a Madonna here. Lovely.

Cousins

So proud of my stepkids

Peas in a pod

Precious moments

We had just seen Jackson not long before, at his fourth birthday party. It was a fun ninja turtle-themed gathering at Jonathan and Alicia's duplex in Eau Claire. Alicia's parents and her kids, Gabe and Ayla, were part of the festivities. Alicia went to a lot of trouble arranging fruit and vegetables plates into ninja turtle faces. Our pizza looked like a ninja turtle face, and so did the party balloons (green balloons with masks over the top). Jack "ate up" the attention and fun and of course was showered in presents.

Ninja turtle back pack

Jackson, 4 years old

Birthday party

I will close with some pictures of my two girls-- some pictures from Emma's basketball experiences and one of Leila's new hair cut (with help from a curling iron).