May 1 - 13: Our Last Trip Back to the States

We headed home in early May to celebrate milestone birthdays for both of JJ's grandmas.  Nana turned 99 and Grandma Kern turned 90!  We had two lovely back to back celebrations planned by the family.  It was so great to see everyone on JJ's side of the family and my mom and Aunt Sue stayed with us in Chicago the week in between.  We all had a great time and can't wait to be back for good!

First stop - Grandma Kerns!

This cake tasted as good as it looked!

Pinning the corsage on Grandma for her special celebration

The whole party group at the restaurant 

Grandma Kern and the Wisconsin ladies.  

Grandma Kern and all her grandchildren/great-grandchild

Matt horsing around with Grandma

Thomas the Train roller coaster made an appearance at Grandma's

Tyler loved going to the basement to ride on Thomas

Back in Chicago we rented a great condo on the 47th floor right downtown.  This was the view from our dining room table!  We ended up eating dinner at the condo every night.  You couldn't beat this view!

Aunt Sue and Tyler at Shedd's Aquarium

Kiss break at Shedd's for Tyler and Gigi

Caribbean Reef at Shedd's

Mom and Aunt Sue in front of Shedd's 

Tyler loves reading with Gigi.  He liked to wear his "glasses" when Gigi put on her reading glasses.

After another lovely dinner at the condo everyone was all smiles!

Tyler is obsessed with helicopters and this was a big moment.  A helicopter was right at our same level as the condo and was circling around for at least 20 minutes right by us.  Tyler was so excited he couldn't eat dinner.

We stopped by to see Tara and adorable baby Henry.  Tara's mom was there too - here they are all having tummy time with Henry :)

We met up with Briana and Colin downtown one day.  These boys are only born one day apart and like many of the same things - like music and sunglasses pictured here!

Then we headed up to Minneapolis to celebrate Nana's 99th birthday.  This is such a lovely picture of her!

4 generations!

Nana and Kern grandchildren

The family after Nana's party back at the hotel.  

We put Tyler in a Big Brother t-shirt to tell the family about the new baby in our little family

We are so excited for Matt and Raji - they are expecting their first child!  Due 1 day after our expected due date!  Those cousins are destined to be best friends!!!  Here we are giving a cheers (the preggers have some sparkling juice)

Tyler and Greyson (JJ's cousin's boy) bonding over a fire hydrant

"Uncle Matt, what is this cheesy goodness you are feeding me?  Mom and Dad don't usually give me this type of snack... more?"

Tyler and I had the worst travel experience on the way home.  JJ had to stay in Chicago so we were on our own for the flight back.  We missed the first flight because we were stuck in Minneapolis due to weather.  That night we just stayed with JJ in a hotel in Chicago which wasn't too bad.  We got booked through Newark the next day and sure enough thunderstorms rolled through Chicago at exactly the time we were trying to take off.  We were delayed getting to Newark and had to stay in Newark for the night.  Then we finally got off the next morning.  Tyler did so well after 2 unexpected late nights in a hotel without access to our baggage.  On the second flight the weather was so bad on the runway that the captain invited the whole plane up to the cockpit to look at the weather.  Of course we had to take advantage of that opportunity.  Tyler was amazed.  Now if you ask him about it he just repeats what I told him, "Don't touch anything" as he lunged for all the buttons :)