Big Celebrations

We returned from DC on Memorial Day and on Thursday Kristin, Dan and Liz flew in to stay with us for a week and a half (yeah!).  While they were here we managed to squeeze in as many parties as possible.  We had the Swiderski Birthday Bash (i.e. family reunion), Ellen and Mark's 35th wedding anniversary (though some were confused when they thought it was their 30th...) and Claire's baptism. 

The Stelljes crew headed up to the farm on Thursday and Ryan, Claire and I followed on Friday night.  Mary and Dan lent us their GIANT Yukon so we could have a vehicle that 4 adults and 2 babies could all fit in (thanks!!).  It was only the Swiderski family in the Yukon on the way to the farm but we still managed to fill it to the brim with 2 coolers, our bags game, suitcases, computers, baby necessities, food and beer :)

Saturday was the first of the big parties, the Swiderski Bash.  We celebrated the following birthdays: Grandma Ilene 80, Jim and Ron 60, Molly and Ryan 30, Liz .75 and Claire .25 (seriously, it was on the invitation like that!).  Patti (and Grandma) cooked for 2 weeks preceding the party and made everything from cabbage rolls to hotdish (yes, Ryan did manage to take some back with us...that is whatever Paige left in the pan). 

Claire and I had the important job of helping with balloons. 

Claire is thinking Aaron, I don't think those are 2 inch ribbon curls!

 Cousins

Overflow parking

The whole family

Claire started a new trick, constant cooing,  Patti said she was signing and started to harmonize with her.  Too cute.

It got a bit confusing to some of the long lost relatives because Claire and Liz wore the same outfit.  They also took shifts attending the party and napping and Kristin and I would go in with one and come out with another.  I needed to have a sign on me saying either "this is my child" or "this is my niece".  This would have been the "niece" sign.   

Claire was getting tired of the rain (also, if you have missed it this is a great picture of her pre-cry lower lip)

One more family picture before bedtime.

This was also the first night (ever!) that Claire slept in the same room as us.  We awoke at 2am to her blowing out her diaper.  What joy.