For most people, these activities are no big deal. You attend baptisms, family barbecues, and T-ball games all the time, especially if you have a big family or live in the same city as your loved ones. But for Benny and I, these standard family affairs are the activities that we read about on Facebook status updates or the recaps on Skype phone dates. Attendance usually isn't possible.
But the Volkmanns worked really hard to make our short time very special and I was so happy, grateful and in the moment, that I forget to take photos of the great things we did together.
The family
First on Friday, we had lunch with Benny's aunt and godmother, Margaret for her birthday. This wonderful lady turned 85 years old and we were happy to eat Mexican food with her, husband, and son on her special day. (I neglected to take a photo. Bad blogger.)
On Saturday, Benny's brother Jon and his wife, Kelly hosted a family barbecue at their house for the entire Volkmann clan. Olivia was terrified of these adults who knew her name, but was happy to play with the little people (her 7 cousins.) Benny and I are constantly amazed by how much Scott, Luke, Wyatt, Grace, Ava, and Sam have grown and changed since the last time we saw them.
Another attempt to take a photo of all the grandchildren. We are missing Luke in this picture, but as a bonus we have Jon and Grandma Marie.
On Sunday, we attended Hanna's baptism. Hanna, Benny's niece was born in February, and we were excited to meet her for the first time. What a sweetie. Olivia was happy to help with Hanna by rocking her in her car seat or patting her head. We often had to remind Olivia to be gentle with the baby.
Monday was a relaxing day, spent with Benny's parents. Olivia was showered with attention from Grandma Marie and she soaked it up. Grandma Marie
always had fresh fruit cut and ready for Olivia. And Olivia ate so many strawberries at one point I thought her skin was turning a shade of red.
As an added bonus, Grandma has a swing set and a park near her house, so we played outside as often as we could. Aunt Patti took the day off of work to push Olivia in the swing.
Tuesday was Grace's first T-ball game of the season. The weather turned cold and stayed cold for the rest of our trip. Apparently it was sunny and warm in April. We come from a sunny and warm climate and are treated to temps in the 50s, chilly winds and threats of snow flurries.
Grace's game face
On Wednesday we went to a Minnesota Twins game in their new(!) outdoor stadium. I'll give a full and separate report on that daylong event, including how many hot dogs I ate, later.
It was also Cinco de Mayo, so while Olivia slept and Aunt Patti babysat, Benny and I embraced our Yuma, Arizona past with margaritas. We had a date night! When Patti offered to watch Olivia for us, we practically ran out the door. We saw a movie in a movie theater. We haven't done that since before Olivia was born.
Thursday meant shopping at the one-day sale at Kohls (the girl needs 24 month clothes for this winter) while Olivia played with her male cousins at Grandma's house. And the day ended with one last meal together with Benny's siblings, parents and their children. The house was never quiet. The playing never stopped. Yet it was calm. It was a 6-day vacation that gave us a glimpse of what our life would be like if Benny wasn't in the Navy and we lived in Minnesota instead of Okinawa.
Olivia wasn't happy to leave on Friday morning.
It was time to head south and attend 2 graduations. The hustle and bustle of 7 cousins would definitely slow down in Iowa since Olivia is in the only grandchild on my side of the family. She had finally warmed up to the adults and even gave Aunt Patti a high five. She was determined to stay and play. She was determined she wouldn't have any fun at Grandma Donna's house. Until she crawled toward the toys and looked around waiting for a 2 year old Wyatt to rip it out of her hands. When that didn't happen, she giggled. Maybe being an only grandchild isn't so bad afterall.
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