A Visit to Central Illinois

The weekend before St. Patrick's Day we packed up Claire and the million and one things it seems necessary to travel with when you have a 15 month old. We headed back to our old stomping ground: central Illinois. We drove through Champaign, but didn't stop, and finished our journey in Springfield. My friend Jenn was coming home from Australia (just for a visit) and I wasn't about to miss it. Since we would be near where Ari and I both did undergrad and where we went to med school, we called every friend we could think of in about a 100 mile radius to get in as many visits as we could. We arrived late Friday night, I have to admit it was a brilliant idea to start our drive after Claire's bedtime. The timing was perfect because we arrived at Jenn's mom's house just a few minutes before Jenn arrived home. We stayed up too late chatting and it was great.

Now traveling from Eastern time to Central time is NOT good for mommies and daddies because babies don't realized they are supposed to sleep in to make up for the time difference. Needless to say, I was up with Claire and 5 am! Not only did the time difference hurt us, but Claire decided to get up an hour early! Once it was a more reasonable time, Jenn's sister Missy, her husband Brett, and their two cuties Emma and Nolan came over for breakfast before we all headed to the St. Patrick's Day parade. Claire had never been to a parade before. She seemed to enjoy the marching bands and all the excitement. What she really enjoyed, though, was holding daddy's pretty green beer bottle once it was empty. We couldn't get her to let go! After the parade we headed back to Brett and Missy's house to meet my sorority sister Emily and her three girls. If you are keeping track, you are realizing that we now have six kids running around (all under 6)! It was a blast, the little girls played dress up and tea party and enjoyed acting like little mommies to Claire. At one point we had them all distracted with a movie so us big girls could chat and catch up. It was super. Saturday night, we had the not so bright idea to go to Darcy's Pint for a horseshoe. It was difficult for the two one year olds to wait! We did finally get through dinner though and headed back for a good night's sleep.

Sunday wasn't any easier for us time wise because it was daylight savings time! I was nearly as confused about the time as poor Jenn with her jet lag. We enjoyed breakfast from Panera and then sadly left Jenn and her mom to make our next stop at Josh and Bridgette's (Ari's friends from elementary school). There we met up with their family (Josh, Bridgette, Reagan, and Brooklyn) and Timmy and Michelle and their three girls Elizabeth, Lauren, and Emma. Again six under six!! I cannot believe that I did not witness a single melt down all weekend. Must be good parenting... just kidding! I know it was dumb luck! We had a great afternoon, grilling out and playing with all the girls. It was finally time then to head home. I feel like we fit a week of visiting into one short weekend!