first family roadtrip!… by Jessica

Jon & I have reached another milestone in parenting: roadtrippin’ with a baby.  And it was great!!  We left our driveway around 3:30 on Monday afternoon (June 20) to start the 1200 mile drive to Denton, TX for a family reunion on Jon’s dad’s side as well as a family wedding on his mom’s side.  We drove all night and arrive there around 12:30 the next day, approximately 22 hours after we left.  Going through the night was definitely a good call, because Levi slept most of the trip and didn’t seem to be phased at all once we got there.  There was definitely some screaming, particularly the last hour, but if it was socially acceptable for me to scream after 20 hours in the car, I would have as well.  We were able to stay at the home of my cousins Dave and Amy, even though they were on a family vacation in Hawaii.  Thank you Dave & Amy!  We had a great time swimming in your pool, soaking in your hot tub, and playing your piano! 

The rest of Tuesday we spent relaxing, and we relaxed all day Wednesday and then Wednesday evening we got to hang out with my sweet cousin Ann, who loved meeting Levi for the first time!

Levi got to go swimming for the first time… he LOVED it!

On Thursday we met up with the Thommarsons and Poseys at their hotel in Decatur before heading to the family reunion at “The Cabin”.  Levi got to meet all kinds of family – great aunts and uncles, his great grandparents, second cousins, etc, etc.  He loved being passed around and was quite a hit with everyone!

Levi with his Dad and Great-Grandmother (Jon's Grandmother Thommarson)

Levi with Jon's Aunt Nelda

Levi with Jon's cousin Adam

The family reunion was a great success.  I think everyone had a great time catching up and reconnecting.  I had met very few of the attendees, so it was really nice for me to get very immersed in my new family members.

On Friday night we got started on the wedding festivities.  Katy (the bride) is Jon’s cousin on his mom’s side, and she got married to Gene.  We were honored to attend the rehearsal dinner which was a wonderful time for the parents of the bride and groom to give some really sweet words of wisdom and encouragement to the bride and groom.  Saturday at noon the two love birds were joined in marriage in a sweet ceremony that really passed by way too quickly.  Sadly I didn’t get any pictures of the wedding or of Levi in his adorable dress shirt.  The whole event passed by so quickly!  After the wedding we spent the rest of the day with Jon’s Aunt Ann & Uncle Alan (parents of the bride), and then we got to spend all day Sunday with them as well.  I have spent a decent amount of time with them since we got married, and it was wonderful to deepen my relationships with them.  How blessed am I to really enjoy spending time with my in-laws and their extended family?!

We tried to get a good shot of Grammy and Do-Daddy (Jon’s parents) with all FIVE of their grandkids after the wedding, but we never managed to get one with them all sitting still.  This is the best one we got.

Five wiggly grand-kids!

On Monday we packed up the car and left for home.  We were tired and the trip took a bit longer on the way home, but it was uneventful and we made it home safe and sound on Tuesday afternoon.  We had a wonderful time together!