Reno, Baby!

We just got back from Reno, where we hung out with the Long family and celebrated the graduation of neice and cousin Rachel Carter. Parker was a great kid all weekend until about an hour before we left and the girls, even though they didn't sleep well, were pretty well behaved themselves. Here are some highlights...

The day of the trip, we had to pack and pack the car. Not a small feat when you have two babies and a toddler. Booster seats, pac n plays, toys, books, clothes and swim stuff all had to be loaded up. We plopped all the kids in front of Baby Einstein so keep them out of our hair as we loaded up.



The car ride was fine and we enjoyed a nice stop on the grass in the parking lot at In and Out where we ate protein style burgers and the kids enjoyed some fruit and vegies and "snacks". We arrived around 1:30 and almost everyone was there to greet us. Here is aunt Monica with Eli.



Uncle David and Aunt Betsy (Elizabeth Ann) have a huge house with very high ceilings. Parker discovered the stairway to the second story immediately and spent a good amount of time going up and down them.



Uncle David had apparently not heard about the "no ball in the house" rule and he and Parker enjoyed a good game of fetch. Dad joined in too.





Aunt Kathleen kept an eye on the action.


Grammie got Parker a Thomas Train and track. The train was automatic so it would go around in circles on the track by itself. It was all great fun until the train got caught in Parker's hair and had to be cut out while he screamed bloody murder. I checked the box the next day for the age minimum and there in great big letters was the warning about hair entanglement. Ah well.



Cousin Jeremy played with Parker for a bit and then played with Odin (Amber's dog that lives with Jeremy...don't ask).



Jade, Betsy's youngest, spent a lot of time with Parker, which I appreciated. She is a total sweetie.



On Saturday we went to the Nugget (where Grammie, Ginny and Lori were staying) coincidentally located on Nugget Ave and went swimming in the pool. Eli, Miranda and Parker all loved it. Afterwards we had poolside room service.



Cousin Cory did not like the wait.



Eli didn't seem to mind and tried to NOT look cute. She failed, of course.



Saturday night was the big party. Monica got some, um, big sandwiches.



Parker enjoyed some grapes and chips with Ginny.



Cousin Amber let Miranda try a pickle. She loved it.



A big group picture of all the grandkids almost didn't happen due to baby crankiness and Cousin Jennifer lateness. But it did and this is my favorite shot.



Cousins, aunts, uncles and everyone else played washers and other enjoyed some good food, drink and cake.



Both Saturday and Sunday morning, we took the kids to a local park. Since we were the only crazy people up at 6am, we wanted to keep the house quiet so others could sleep. These pics are from Sunday when I left Michael at home to sleep and took the kids out myself. Everyone loved the swings.





On the way home, after a stop in Vacaville for some bottles, green beans and pears, Parker enjoyed a lollipop. Eli tried to grab it many times and was even successful once.



It was a good trip, albeit tiring. The next Long get together will be when someone gets married or when Cory graduates high school. Anyone want to place a wager which (or shall I say who)comes first?