Holy Toledo!

Two weeks after getting home from San Diego we zoomed off to Toledo, OH for a wedding on Zac's side of the family.

Honestly, I was not looking forward to the trip. At all. Not because of the wedding or anything but the 4 hour direct flight we knew that was ahead of us aka Rose. I think this flight has been in the back of my mind since last fall when we found out the wedding date. I called it "anticipation anxiety".

We flew into Detroit (Toledo is a short drive south from there). The flight there was just fine, Rose surprised us both. She was such a trooper and was in good spirits our entire traveling day. Phew, it was over - we handed landed, we made it! NOOOOOW I was suffering from anticipation anxiety for the flight home, geeeeesh what is wrong with me!! Anyway we had arrived and that was that!

{Driving into Cedar Point}

The moment we landed we hit the ground running. While there we spent a whole day at Cedar Point Amusement Park (Sandusky, OH) - what a looooooooong day but so much fun! The wedding was beautiful and it was so nice to get to know that side of the family. They were gracious and so kind. Rose was a hit with all the younger cousins.

Our trip had come to an end and I was so exhausted and just wanted to get the 4 hour flight home over with. The moment had arrived, the moment I had been fearing for almost a year now......the last 15 minutes of our flight - Rose decided to start screaming (we all think her ears were bothering her - we thiiiiiiiink, wink wink)). Rose screamed from the moment we started to descend and stopped the moment we parked at the gate. Longest and most stressful 15 minutes of my life. I think I remember looking out the window while holding Rose tight as she yanked and jerked while screaming.... fighting to hold in my own tears. Somewhere in the middle of all that I remember offering it up for the poor souls in purgatory..... and asking the Blessed Mother to "help me". As the plane was deboarding someone behind me placed their hand on my shoulder and I turned around to find a women with a sweet smile say to me "we've all been there before, all of us mothers". I fought more tears cause it was so nice for her to say those words to me, I felt a sense of relief. Almost as if my guardian angel or maybe even the Blessed Mother's way of giving me words of encouragement over my shoulder. Literally.

We have been home a couple weeks now and I feel like I have everything back in order (yes, it takes me that long), suitcases are emptied and back in the garage, laundry from what feels like the entire summer has been done, and Rose is feeling right back at home with her crib, her toys and her mom and dad. I have missed my side of the family with all this traveling so I have been catching up with lunches, dinners and swimming!

This post wont have many pictures of our trip to Toledo. Frankly, the whole trip I was too tired. Zac took a few so I have included those. Ha-ha laziness at its finest.

Rose is nearing 19 months. Rose words: yes, no, car, dog, mom and dad. Rose and recent habits that I love: Rose will run up to me and give me a kiss whether I am sitting, standing or walking.... she runs towards me and grabs hold and gives me kisses followed by her saying "awwww". LOVE IT. Her hair is getting longer but she still wont let me do anything with it, darn it.

And lastly but certainly not least...we all found out that we will be welcoming two more nieces/nephews in the coming year! Congratulations to my sister Maisie and John Klocek due in February (this will be #3) and my brother John and Dre Knoell due in March (this will be #5). God's beautiful gifts of LIFE!!!!!

- Clara