I was stuck at home- alone- all last week while Brian and the kids were living it up in Delaware. One day, they went canoeing in the pond behind Poppy's house. Olivia told me all about the canoe trip on the phone that night, and it really made me wish that I was in Delaware with them even more so than I already did (if that's even possible). Apparently, everyone had a great outing on the lake. Well, maybe Uncle Dustin not so much- it looks like he had to do most of the rowing. 
Following Gary and Katie's Wedding, Brian and the kids remained in Delaware for a week to visit with Poppy and Nana. I had to go back to work, so I didn't get to stay. From what I hear, though, everyone had a great time. The kids got to play and spend some time with their grandparents. I drove back to Dover on Thursday to pick the kids up, and it was obvious to me that the kids (and the grandparents) were having a ball. Here are some pictures that I took on the kids' last night in Delaware.
Here's what I learned on my recent trip to Delaware: when you rent a car, don't be cheap- get the GPS. Owen, Sarah, and I almost missed the wedding because we couldn't find the church. Fortunately, we made it on time, but we had to sit in the last row. Sitting on the last row was great for monitoring Owen's behavior, but it was also bad because I only saw Olivia when she walked in. The ceremony was just like I like them- short and sweet. Once it was over, we took pictures and then drove to the Dover Downs Hotel for the reception. This time I made sure that I was clear on how to get to the reception. I wouldn't want to get lost and miss that!
When our airplane landed in Baltimore last Friday, we had very little time to kill. We caught a shuttle to the car rental place, got a car, and drove to Dover. We made it in time for Brian to pick up his tux and for the kids to get dressed up for the wedding rehearsal and dinner. Both Brian and Olivia were in the wedding, and since this was Olivia's first go as a flower girl, she really needed the practice. Before leaving the house, I was able to get a picture of all of the Sanders brothers and their dad. This opportunity doesn't present itself often, so I took several pictures of them throughout the weekend.
This weekend was a big one for the Sanders family. Brian's brother, Gary, tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend, Katie. This was truly a happy and long-anticipated occasion. The wedding took place in Dover, Delaware, and both Brian and Olivia were members of the wedding party. Since the rehearsal was taking place Friday afternoon, we flew out of Jacksonville early Friday morning. The flight was kind of a big deal for Owen and Olivia because it was their first trip on a plane. Actually, flying is kind of a big deal for Brian and I too because we don't do it that often. The kids saw a few planes taking off and landing as we approached the airport, and they started to get excited because they knew that they were soon going to be on a plane themselves. Well, Olivia got excited. I don't think that Owen really knew what was going on. When we reached our departure gate, we could see the plane through the window. The excitement continued to build. Finally, we boarded the plane and found our seats. The flight went off without a hitch. The kids were well behaved on the plane, and the time really "flew" by. Both kids got the opportunity to look out of the window, but Olivia was the one who really understood what she was seeing. She was amazed by the view and had lots of fun looking for rivers, forrests, fields, and houses. I was happy with the flight because two hours in a plane beats a 13 hour drive anyday. Maybe we should do this more often.
My little princess is turning 4 next week, and this evening we celebrated her birthday with a small party at her Aunt Hannah's house. The theme of the party was "princesses". Of course this had to be the theme becasue Olivia is obsessed with the Disney Princesses. She talks about them constantly and has even told me that when she grows up, SHE is going to be a princess.
