Michigan Bound...

What do grandparents do when they have a new great grandmonster? Well, they make a road trip to see that bundle of joy.

Friday, May 10th I spent the morning visiting Papa. Then I hurried home and we filled the car with all the things that needed to go to Michigan. We were out on the road before noon. The goal was to be to Chelsea, Michigan by 5:30pm to pick up Jake after he got off work. We got to Chelsea a bit before that and Jake joined us as soon as he was home from work.

I had a nice moment at Jake's apartment. His apartment is a portion of an older home. One of his neighbors is Max. Jake has often spoken about her but we have never seen or met her. This time Max was on her little porch. Jake emptied the birdbath and then returned it to it's stand for her. I went over to meet her. She said to me about Jake, "You are fortunate. He is one of the good ones." I had to agree with her. Jake is one of the good ones. Jake may be 44 years old but it still feels good to a mother to have someone say nice things about her kid.

We got on the road as quickly as possible. We were driving through to Holton where we would stay with Nissa and Todd for the next two nights. We did stop along the way for dinner.

Saturday morning the kids were to arrive about 10am. Here the goal was to take family pictures. First, a few pictures of the family just enjoying themselves. We'll start with Nissa being a Gramma. This is so fun to watch. In the first picture Nissa is holding Nelson. In the second she has Nelson and Raelyn on her lap...sort of!

Nelson was just too cute. He was smitten with the blue plastic bucket. Reminded us of the movie "Parenthood".

And one picture of Nelson just being sweet. He has to be one of the happiest little ones I have ever come across.

Raelyn is just on the move CONSTANTLY!! She loved trying her hand a T-ball. The thing she loves the most is her little sister, Emelia. She would come up to whoever was holding Emelia and say she wanted to hold her little sister. She would have her pillow in hand for Emelia to lay on while she held her. Raelyn's attention span is very short so she never held her but a few minutes. Then she would let us know she was finished and off she would go till the next time. She is very gentle with Emelia and very tender.

Todd has purchased a new zero-turn mower to cut their grass. He took his two grandmonsters for a short ride.

Of course we all took turns snuggling little Emelia. She is a really good baby. Only cries when hungry or when you are changing her. At least for now that is how it is. Here is Jake, Claude and me holding our newest family member. I believe Emelia and Claude are kindred spirits as they each enjoy a nice nap.

One final picture of Nissa and I having a camera face off.

Now, a few pictures of the family. First, Nissa with her progeny. From left to right we have Drew holding Raelyn, Katelyn holding Emelia, Paul, Nissa, Todd holding Nelson and Aubrey. We even managed to get a picture of Nissa and Todd together.

Now, in birth order we begin with Nissa and Katelyn's family. Todd, Nissa, Katelyn holding Raelyn and Drew holding Emelia. Then just Katelyn and Nissa.

Then Paul with Nissa and Todd followed by Nissa and Paul.

And Aubrey was born last. The first picture is Todd, Nissa holding Nelson and Aubrey. The second picture is Aubrey and Nissa.

Back to the Roper family. Drew holding Emelia and Katelyn holding Raelyn. Then Drew and Katelyn.

Paul was born second. 

And, it appears I didn't get one of Aubrey by herself. We really must make a list and check it off next time we do this kind of thing. Invariably we miss something we wanted to take a picture of. 

Time for Claude and me. First Nissa was born. Then Andie (who was in Kentucky during all this picture taking). Then Jake.

It is pretty easy now to take a picture of us with the grandmonsters. Paul, Aubrey, Sandi, Claude and Katelyn. But trying to get one with great grandmonsters included becomes a bit more tricky. We have Raelyn who is very tired of picture taking and we have Nelson who is always watching to see what wonderful thing Raelyn will do next and then quiet little Emelia. (Sandi holding Emelia, Paul, Claude holding Nelson, Katelyn wrangling Raelyn and Aubrey.

Lastly we have Jake who assures us he knows of now progeny he has fathered at this time!

Great set of pictures. Whew!! Next time we make a list.

Sunday was Mother's Day. This is not my favorite holiday. But this year was a really good Mother's Day. I was with my daughter and all of her family. Claude would give a name and a blessing to Little Miss Emelia. It was all about family and that makes it a really, really good day. 

When we arrived at the church, we paused to take a 4-generation picture. Sandi, Claude, Katelyn holding Emelia and Nissa. 

After the sacrament meeting, Drew's mother, Denise was holding Emelia so I was able to get this picture of our little one in her precious outfit. So sweet. Claude was very happy, when he gave her the blessing she didn't cry once. Unlike dear little Raelyn who screamed all the way through her blessing. 

This is a very happy great grampa with his little Emelia. Love the little grin on Claude's face. He might be holding back a tear. 

Then Drew asked for a 3-generation picture with his mother. Drew, Emelia and Denise. 

We all went back to the Tyler's for the rest of the afternoon. 

After a nice afternoon, Claude, Jake and I piled into the Buick and headed for Chelsea.  We would have dinner together and then visit a bit in our hotel room before Jake would head home. We slept in Monday till Claude was ready to drive again. Then we made our way back to Kentucky, arriving in time for me to make a quick visit to Papa.

When Raelyn was born there was no doubt at all who her father was. She was facially Drew, no doubt about that. But Emelia did not resemble Drew as strongly. We were talking about who she looked like and Nissa had Katelyn get a photo album. There we found a picture of newborn Katelyn and put it up against a newborn picture of Emelia. Now we knew. Katelyn was ecstatic. This little one was really her replica.

Whew, that was a full but very quick trip. Always great to have family time.