We spent the first two weeks of August visiting my family in Indiana and Michigan. The girls experienced their first flight when we flew from Savannah to Indianapolis. Here we are waiting in the airport while our plane was delayed about an hour. They we fairly patient and enjoyed looking at all of the people and things around them.
Both girls flew "infant in arms" and luckily the plane was mostly empty. We could not all sit together in one row because of the limited oxygen masks so Matthew and I sat across the aisle from each other. Here I am with Leonie.
The safety procedures booklet and barf bags were especially fun.
Despite missing a nap and the flight delay, we were able to keep the girls entertained fairly well. They would get a little cranky but once we pulled out a new toy or swapped laps they were content again. Here's Elsie enjoying one of the empty seats.
Leonie was amused for quite a while by taking a series of selfie portraits on daddy's phone. She's getting pretty good!
Once we landed my parents picked us up with my Aunt and Uncle's van and drove us about 2.5 hours north near Angola, Indiana. There we set up camp at my Grandma and Grandpa's house. It was a perfect set up as we had the whole upstairs to ourselves. Here with are with Grandpa for an updated four generation photo.
Most of the time at Gigi and Grandpa's was spent playing with the girls. They absolutely loved all of the attention!
One of their favorite things right now is walking with assistance. Luckily, there were many willing victims - I mean volunteers! Here's Leonie with my Uncle Bill.
Some friends bought the girls cowgirl outfits. Isn't Elsie adorable?
Grandma and Grumps thoroughly enjoyed spending lots and lots of time with their grandbabies.
Partway through the week we packed up and headed up to Michigan to visit more family and friends. Here we stayed at my Aunt Denise and Uncle Stan's house. They are getting ready to move so most of their furniture is already gone. This gave the girls a big empty house to wander all around in! They also enjoyed all of their meals while traveling in their perfect highchairs. We got so many compliments on these, thanks Emily!
No trip to Michigan is complete without going out to breakfast with the Bertch crew. This is a Saturday morning family tradition that has been going on for as long as I can remember. Whoever is in town meets for breakfast every week to catch up on all of the family gossip. With some family members moving around we no longer go to our "usual" restaurant but we still had a full table!
For the members that couldn't make it to breakfast, we had a reunion Sunday night at another Aunt and Uncle's house. I believe that 32 aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandma were able to stop by. This was the first time that most of them met our babies and it was wonderful to see everyone! Here the girls enjoy another meal in their chairs.
Visiting with Aunt Mel.
Four generations on the other side, with Grandma Bertch (known as Big Grandma to all of the great grandbabies). Elsie on the left.
Our last adventure in Michigan took us to the Kalamazoo county fair. I spent a week every summer here as a kid and hadn't been back since. It looked a little smaller but mostly the same! None of my friends' kids were showing animals when we visited so we toured the exhibits and animal barns and reminisced. It started down-pouring about a half hour after we arrived and we ended up stuck in the pig barn! The girls didn't mind.
When the rain let up for a few minutes we dashed to one of the show barns and had a quick little snack with my friends until it was time to go home. Do we look a little soggy?
While in Michigan Matthew and Dad also went golfing with my brother, Matthew and I went out on a "date night" to a ballroom dance at a restaurant that ended up being less than spectacular, we met another friend for ice cream at an adorable ice cream parlor that we used to ride our bikes to, and we drove by my old house. It was a great, short trip down memory lane!
We headed back to Indiana on Tuesday for more family time and some birthday celebrations. Here we are playing Clue after the girls have gone to bed.
We visited the Johnson family farm where my Grandfather grew up but my Aunt Sandy and Uncle John live now and my mom and her other sisters camp when they come to visit. I spent lots of time here as a kid too and especially remember spending hours climbing this perfect tree. Maybe next time we visit the girls will be big enough to climb it too!
Another impromptu family portrait with Elsie's new favorite toy, a stuffed bunny from Aunt Sandy.
We celebrated some of the August birthdays including Uncle John and my Grandpa (who turned 88!). Dad and I made Grandpa this sundial with the 3D printer for his birthday. It shows the numbers of the time of day within the shadow. Can you read the time? (Hint, it's upside down)
The girls got so many gifts from the family too, including clothes, toys, and books.
They are still mostly more interested in the wrapping materials but did help us open gifts too.
The perfect little backpacks from Aunt Chris and Rosie.
As a special birthday treat they each got a little taste of homemade ice cream too. Elsie didn't like it and spit it out, but Leonie loved it! (despite her facial expression here).
We enjoyed the beautiful weather by taking the new bubble wands out during a windy day.
We even read some of the new books while outside.
Elsie and my Aunt Cindy.
Leonie in an explorer pose. Does this remind you of anyone?
On our last full day in Indiana we drove over to South Bend to visit Matthew's high school friend who lives in Chicago with this wife and two daughters. We had a great lunch and catch up with Scott, Claire, Nora, and Molly.
A farewell photo with Grumps and Grandma before our return flight. (Elsie on the left) The girls miss you already!
Finally, another selfie from Leonie on the return flight. This flight was a little busier but was on time. Luckily, most of the people sitting around us were happy to help entertain the girls. It could have been worse but we are glad to be home!
