Home Sweet Home...

This past weekend, we went to Springfield, MO, my hometown, to visit my family.  Here are some of the highlights from the weekend:

- Gianna met several of her relatives from my dad's side for the first time at one of our classic Kelly weenie roasts, as they are popularly known.  She fared well...although she broke out into tears a few times due to unfamiliar faces.

- Speaking of tears, Gianna seems to be a little scared right now of my brother, J.B.  We think it is because of our close resemblance...the beard, the hair and eye color, the sound of voice.  She may be thinking "Hey, this isn't dad?  What's up with him looking like dad?  Where's my real dad!?!"  Anyway, J.B. has decided that if he doesn't talk to her but only look, they are good to go.  Let's hope Gianna gets past this shy stage soon...

- J.B. and his wife, Emily, had a housewarming party on Saturday evening.  It was a good way to end the day considering we had to be inside most of the day due to the rain remnants of Isaac.  Gianna had a ball walking over to their house (they only live a few hundred feet away): the misty rain and breeze brought her to shouts of joy and dancing while I held her in her daddy-carrier.  We had a fun time eating a home-cooked meal, watching a few old home movies (we almost died laughing), and playing a few rounds of Bananagrams.
 
- Gianna saw my parents' next-door neighbor, Mrs. F., today for the first time.  She is the sweetest neighbor and she has always been so good to us: giving us leftovers, letting us come over to see her dog, paying us to do random jobs around her place...she has a very charitable heart.  Gianna was very well behaved!  We hope to stop by to see Mrs. F. again next time we come down.

- This is the first time in a while that Lauren and I went to different weekend Masses.  I rode with my parents to Saturday evening Mass and Lauren went with my brother, Joe, to Mass Sunday morning.  It just worked out this time without having to get Gianna ready to go...and we were both able to focus a little more in prayer, even if we were disappointed with the opening song choices (send me an email if you want to know what they were).

- When we returned to St. Louis this evening, we were invited over to dinner by Lauren's parents.  We didn't need to worry about going out to get some food to eat!  What a blessing to have them so close!  Guess what Gianna did upon arrival: yep, she bawled at the sight of her grandparents.  It didn't last too long.  She soon warmed up to them both.  We had a pleasant evening as we enjoyed the mini cookout as well as the finishing touches of the painting that went on today in their living room.

May you all have a grace-filled week...happy feast of St. Gregory the Great!