Moving In & New Jersey Welcome

We decided it would be best to leave Mr. Destructo at Mimi and Pappy's house for a few days while we moved in and unpacked.  If we learned anything during this process its that moving with a toddler and an infant is NO JOKE!  We were thankful to have Mimi and Pappy lend us a hand in the process. 

  

While the kids and I were at Mimi's house she helped us to furnish our new (much larger) home.  We went to a model home store where we were able to get many new pieces.  Daddy also found a gorgeous dining room table and chairs through a family on Craigslist along with several other items.  With all of this extra "stuff" we had to rent a U-Haul to move ourselves.  Since we were going to have a U-Haul anyways, Mommy figured it was the perfect time to get a piano too!  Nana and Grandpa met us in York to assess the piano. After Nana's A-OK we went ahead and loaded it into the U-Haul before finishing our trek to New Jersey. Once we got to our new home, a team of guys from Daddy's work showed up at the house to help unload the U-Haul.  The next day the movers arrived and all the work of unpacking began...

Mommy wasn't too big of a help since she was busy cuddling with this sweet little one:

 

We recognized pretty early on that there was no way we were going to be able to unpack the whole house all by ourselves.  We decided to get to know our neighbors very quickly by hiring two different babysitters to help us out.  It wasn't long before the empty boxes began piling up....

We were determined to have Colin's room finished before he arrived and were happy to say we did it!

We were also determined to have our kitchen in full working order as well since we decided to host a "Welcome Party" at our house for Daddy's side of the family just three days after moving in! The Hantz Family was in town (from France!) and we knew they wouldn't have the opportunity to see our house for a long time so we wanted to make it happen.

One of the first things everyone did was load up the strollers and head down to the park in our neighborhood.  This gave Mommy a chance to continue getting organized at the house.

Liam, Pierre, and Augustin

Run, Colin!

After heading back to the house, everyone enjoyed a yummy lunch in the backyard.  We are so in love with our patio and can't wait for lots of entertaining in this space.

The party also gave everyone some more time to spend with the newest member of the family, our sweet Genevieve!

We got to take advantage of our giant finished basement with the kids.  Sarah enjoyed playing on the chalkboard and making plans with Aunt Jackie about how she could organize a daycare in the basement.

Aunt Jen came by to help out and got right down to business feeding Miss G.

With every bite she takes, a fist full of fingers comes after...

As the sun began to set, everyone was back outside enjoying the yard...

and more cuddles with Genevieve...

We were so thankful to have our family celebrate our new home with us. It was the first of many memories to come.

The next day it was just the four of us. We enjoyed spending time together both inside and outside our new home.

Waiting to Move

While Daddy headed back to New Jersey to start our move, the kids and I hung back at Mimi and Pappy's house. 

Mommy got a chance to take some sweet photos of little Genevieve:

Getting ready to crawl!

"You, right there, you're under arrest!"

On the day we were packing up to officially move, Colin decided to be Mr. Destructo...

We found this concoction in Aunt Jen's room

This mess in the kitchen.

Sadie's food scattered about under the kitchen table.

And this disaster happening as well:
 (I have a photo of a plate smashed all over the kitchen floor that I need to find and add here :) )

Mommy decided to take a break from packing the car and snapped a shot with the menace:

It only made sense to keep Colin with Mimi and Pappy for a few days while we moved into our house in New Jersey. I'm not sure we could take that much destruction so soon!  Genevieve missed her brother so much she had to video chat him as soon as we got to our new house.

Genevieve's Baptism

We had a beautiful Baptism ceremony for our Genevieve Rose in the middle of our move.  We were so thankful to have almost our entire family in attendance (we missed you Uncle Hunter!).  

Genevieve wore the same Baptismal gown that Mimi wore when she was a baby.  

Just before the ceremony began, Genevieve received a very special addition to her outfit from her godparents, Aunt Jen and Uncle Anthony, a beautiful cross to clip on her gown which she can one day clip to her wedding dress.

Genevieve passed the time before the ceremony began greeting all of her guests.

Genevieve was baptized at St. Patrick's in York, which is the same church where Mommy and Daddy officially met and then eventually got married.  We congregated in the back of the church to begin as is tradition in Catholic Baptisms.

Genevieve received her first blessing from Father Hauser...

...and then walked around the room to be blessed by all of our family and friends...

Cousin Liam

Colin

Miss Sally Beck (I love Colin's leg hanging off Mommy in this shot)

The blessings were probably my favorite part of the ceremony. It was very intimate and you could really feel the presence of God in the room. Following the blessings, we processed to the front of the church for the remainder of the ceremony.

We were blessed by how special Father Hauser made Genevieve's Baptism. He made it personal and had many of Genevieve's cousins help throughout the ceremony.  Genevieve was as sweet as can be the whole time.

Genevieve with her godparents, Aunt Jen and Uncle Anthony

As Genevieve's godmother captioned this photo, "Hey, I just got Baptized!"

Following the church service we continued the celebration with a big party at Nana and Grandpa's house.  They made it really special setting up a giant tent and preparing lots of food.

How gorgeous is this spread??

We were lucky enough to have Mommy and Daddy's godparents in attendance and snagged a photo of Genevieve with each one...

Daddy's godmother, cousin Anne

Mommy's godmother, Great Aunt Grace

Mommy's godfather, Great Uncle Ron (taken at Mimi's house the next day)

We had many other special guests. Unfortunately, we couldn't get photos of everyone but we did our best...

Aunt Erin, Uncle Thomas, and their whole gang!

 

Aunt Veronica 

cousin Anne's daughter, Sarah

Mimi's friends, Sally and Steve, Ann, and Terri

Mommy's friends, Kate and Tess

Aunt Ellen

GG who, as always, got to spend a lot of time cuddling with our little Genevieve...

Colin did a great job the whole day...

hanging out with Mimi

lounging around with Uncle Connor

Mommy was thankful Nana and Grandpa were hosting because it allowed me to lounge around too, and enjoy these special moments with our previous baby girl!

Along with the pin from Aunt Jen and Uncle Anthony, Genevieve also received this precious bracelet to wear from Margie and Gary Liss since they weren't able to attend on the day of her Baptism.

After rolling around in the grass.....

the kids retreated inside from the heat to...

Watch tv...

Play some video games...

And....

Do Uncle Connor's hair....?!?

stay still...

The finished product.

As the party started to die down, the after-party began.  Grandpa lit up the tarte flambe oven and it was game on.

Liam showing off the finished product.

We ended the evening opening the many Baptism gifts from all our family and friends. There were so many special gifts but the most special of all had to be the prayer shawl from Ann Flynn.  She had just received the shawl a few weeks earlier with the passing over her mom, Cass McNulty, who was dear to my heart growing up.  Miss Ann felt it fitting to pass the shawl on to a new generation in giving it to Genevieve.  We will always cherish it.

Mommy and Daddy couldn't have been more blessed to share this special day with all of those closest to us.  I think by the look of joy on Genevieve's face, she agrees.