Graduation/ Ordination/ Baptism Trip

Last week we were blessed to be able to travel across the country for several big events.  Only my mom and Tony's parents were able to come out when Monica was born so this was also an opportunity for her to meet Grandpa and most of the rest of the family.  There will be more posts about this once I get the pics and videos from everyone else!

Big girl on the plane! 

Tuesday we flew to Chicago.  On the flight Monica leaked from her diaper so I had the pleasure of changing her on top of the toilet in a tiny and dirty airplane bathroom.  I just kept thinking, if this was my second or third child I wouldn't think anything of it.  In Chicago Monica was able to meet several Great Aunts and Uncles.  We even got massages (thanks, Uncle Dave) and ate lots of good food.  The pool at our hotel was closed so I actually went running both days we were there which was about two times more than I really expected to.  Monica rolled from front to back and actually reached for and 'played' with a toy that her Tia Dora had gotten her.

With Great Uncle Dave on his birthday

With Tia Dora, otherwise known as the baby whisperer

With Great Uncle Mark

Mark and Monica holding hands



With Grandma and Grandpa

Friday I took Monica to visit St. Thomas More School (where I used to teach music).  She got to meet 200+ of my former 'children.'  They had all grown so much!  Friday evening was my brother Mike's graduation from the University of Washington with a degree in BioEngineering.  We are super proud of him and glad he decided he wanted to go to the departmental graduation Friday night instead of the marathon graduation on Saturday.  He must be smart enough to graduate then.  :o) 

All dressed up and no place to go

The applause at the graduation startled her every time

Mike graduating

The piece of paper proves he's a smarty pants

Celebration dinner with relatives and our south street family

Saturday, Tony and I went to (now) Fr. Bryan Ochs ordination to the priesthood.  I'll post pics of that seperately if I get permission.  The new Archbishop for the diocease said in his homily to the ordinates, "Don't forget Love."  That has stuck with me.  Saturday afternoon, all of Tony's family came into town and we just hung out and let everyone have some time with Monica.  That night, Nana Pam babysat so a group of us could go out to a piano bar called Chopstix.  It was a fun night of parents on the loose.

Monica "playing" the guitar on Uncle Chris's phone.  She's a musical genius already.

Hanging out with the Godfather.

Sorry the pictures with Nana and Papa are blurry.  Blame my husband because he didn't leave the camera on the right settings.  Or blame me for not changing the settings before taking pictures.

Sunday we went to church at our old parish, out to lunch and then to the baptism at my friend Fr. Matthew Oakland's parish.  Fr. Matthew and Monica share the same birthday and she was baptized on the 1st anniversary of his ordination!  Monica decided she needed a nap right in the middle of the baptism and fussed a bit.  She ended up falling asleep during the picture taking at the end.  We had a nice reception in the backyard of a friend's house (THANK YOU) and then went out to dinner with the family.

Dressing Monica in the over 100 year old, five generation baptismal gown she had the pleasure of wearing, drooling and chewing on.

She still smells like the Chrism Oil.  I love the holy baby smell.  Yes, I've bathed her since Sunday.

Shawn and Chris after going to several Azteca restaurants before finding the one we were at.  Oops!  We had a similar mix up for Mass earlier in the day with groups at two different parishes.

At the Baptism celebration dinner. 

Monday most relatives departed and Tony and I went to hang out with friends one on one.  To end our trip, Val (Monica's godmother) cooked us a nice meal.  Tuesday morning we flew back to NY (no delays) and the only mishap was that our carseat did not make it to Albany.  I had a weird feeling about the carseat and totally called its absense in Chicago- you can ask Tony.  They gave us a loaner and we got ours back today.

Some special time with Uncle Mikey

Now we are trying to adjust back to east coast time and I'm thinking I'll get unpacked, umm, next week.  Tony's right back to the grind, working the night shift.  I am so grateful for the time, however short, that we had with everyone.  We were honored by the presence of so many friends at Monica's baptism.  We miss EVERYONE and are so grateful for your friendship.  Thanks for making it a great trip!