Vic and Ali's wedding!

On Sunday, we celebrated with my family as my cousin Vic married Ali! I'm so happy for them! We traveled to Connecticut for the wedding. Abby came with us for the first half of the wedding and when it was time for bed we brought her back to the hotel where she stayed with a babysitter. It was a lot of fun.

sleeping on the hotel bed while Mommy gets ready for the wedding

getting ready...

"My Papa! I love your mustache, but only when I can play with it. Ummm, otherwise I'm not so sure."

during the ceremony

Vic waiting for his beautiful bride

meeting Evelyn for the first time. Evelyn is my first cousin and she was born exactly one month before Abby. SO...as Joe informed me Evelyn is Abby's first cousin once removed! I hope they grow up as great friends.

my mom and dad

three generations

hanging with Uncle Cory

first dance

dancing together

first dance with her dad at a wedding

loved having a date night at the wedding with my hubs after Abby went to bed

First trip to Lake Bluff

We were blessed with a few days off that we were able to spend at Lake Bluff with the Cassel family last week. As always, it was a fun week, but having Abby there for the first time made it even better! The weather was beautiful. We had a few hot days with just enough beautiful breezy days and nights to go with them. Perfect!

Trips to Lake Bluff always include spending great time with lots of family.

Abby & Rebekkah

Meeting Simon and Dori for the first time. Dori even named her new dolly, Abby!

Simon teaching Abby how to play "This Little Piggy"

Meeting Ethan and Caleb

Spending time with Mary

Laughing with Uncle Tommy

Lounging with Uncle Brad

Nana feeding Abby her string beans

rocking and singing songs with Nana

brothers and their ladies + Rebekkah

We celebrated Tommy and Alex's birthday!

We spent lots of quality time with Grammy and Granddaddy (who as of this trip has become known as G-diddy...you know...like P-diddy, but with a G!).

watching Elmo with G-diddy

playing with Grammy

Mornings at the Bluff are so enjoyable. It's always peaceful and the water is still. The air is often chilly and perfect for lounging around in a warm sweatshirt while reading a good book. For Joe, he does all of this while enjoying his cup of coffee. This year, Abby didn't want to miss out on that fun...

Abby is in love with Greeley. Every morning she would play with him or just watch him. We would all tell Greeley to back up and leave her alone and just as he would listen, Abby would reach out to touch him. What a tease! One morning, she was laughing so hard as Greeley sniffed her. It was the best!


We spent afternoons down at the dock enjoying the sunshine and the lake. Abby went in the lake with Daddy and enjoyed it just like it was the pool.

getting ready to head down to the dock

Grammy, Abby and me

sitting on the dock

After being down by the water, we'd come head back to the cottage and relax before dinner.

loving the front porch swing

family time on the swing

While sitting on the front porch, we spotted an eagle on the Becker's cottage!

Mommy & baby

beauty!

And every night we hope to see a beautiful sunset over the lake...


One afternoon, we went over the Rochester to have lunch with some of our favorite friends!

the ladies...

and the guys!

We had a great time and are looking forward to our next visit Columbus Day weekend.