Life Within the Cuckoo's Nest: Aunt Gena's Visit

My Aunt Gena lives in Florida, so we don't get to see her much. The good news is she makes a yearly visit (usually in the summer) and this time she got to meet Austin! I love all of my Aunts and Uncles and they are just as wonderful to Austin as they were to me as a child (and still are). Aunts Heidi and Gena stopped by our house twice over the past two weeks to talk, play, go out for lunch, and give Austin his birthday presents! He is one spoiled little boy! I loved sitting on the floor together, talking and catching up on life. Meanwhile, Austin ran around us playing and making messes. Gena was especially adorable with Austin (probably because she never gets to see him) and it was obvious that he loves her too.

Aunt Heidi and cousin Chandler showing Austin how to play with his new toys!

He hasn't quite figured out that the crane has a magnet and can pick up the blocks yet. For now he just runs around dragging the crane behind him.

Aunt Gena filming our little birthday party.

Thank you Heidi and Gena for the adorable gifts!

LOVES!!!

We wish Aunt Gena lived closer to us!

Someone wasn't cooperating very well for pictures....

The day before Gena went back home we had a big party! It was a BBQ, Karaoke, Pool Party and I can't remember a time when I had more fun with my family. There was a ton of food and loud music. Everywhere you turned there were people laughing, talking, singing, or swimming. I think Karaoke was the hit of the night. We are all close and nobody felt shy or stupid. There was a LOT of laughing going on because basically everybody made fools of themselves but it was hilarious and nobody was judging ;). While people were eating and singing inside, others were outside swimming. My Mom got Austin in his swimsuit and we took him out to the pool for a little while. He had a great time and was obsessed with chewing on the foam noodle. Have I mentioned that our son must have been a dog in another life? If you have been keeping up with us over the past year, you understand why that statement is so true!

As the night started getting late, I sadly had to bring Austin home. He was so sleepy but there was no way he was going to sleep with all the action going on! Josh had left earlier because he had to go to work the next morning. We said our goodbyes and gave Gena lots of loves since it will probably be another year before we get to party with her again :(. As I was driving home with a sleeping baby in the back seat I got some quiet time to ponder and think about things. Basically what I came up with is this: My family is crazy, but they are fun. My life hasn't been typical, but it has been an adventure. There have been times when I wished I had a more "normal" family and life, but where is the excitement in that? We are blessed. We are so blessed.

Uncle Brian and Aunt Amanda weren't able to make it to Austin's birthday party so he got to open his presents at their house! I think he was more interested in their dog though....

Brian BBQ'ing some good food!

Swimming with Grandma P. and Aunt Gena.

Even Great Grandma W. came outside to be a part of our little swimming party! Austin loved chewing on that foam noodle.

This little guy got pretty tired towards the end of the night. He has never stayed up that late before but we were having too much fun to want to go home!