Road Trips are Awesome: Roan's First Time in the UP!

Roan went to the UP for the first time! And it won't be his last. 

My cousin got married in Marquette and I was a bridesmaid. I bought a shirt for him that says “Road trips are awesome”. I thought it would be appropriate! He can wear it again for my friend’s wedding in September (that one is in Indianapolis).

We left at 8ish Thursday morning and arrived in Marquette at around 6pm. Which is really good time considering stopping for feedings! Each time we stopped, we pulled out the picnic blanket and let Roan crawl (or walk with our help) around. That really, really helped. He got to stretch his legs and wasn’t as bored in the car. He loved watching the trucks at the first stop!

I passed the camera on to Sean and had him take pictures to show that I was there, too! So often I’m behind the camera and I always end up wanting more pictures of Roan and I. Turns out my hubs has a pretty good eye!

Roan traveled wonderfully! Unfortunately, this meant he did not sleep well Thursday night. We were hoping he’d go right down so we could relax in the hot tub for our anniversary, but Roan had other plans. I think he 1) slept in the car so much it threw him off and 2) he was in a new place and wanted to explore.

The next day, we went to the reception location (ski lodge) and helped decorate and set up. Plus, Roan needed to nap. So we went back to the room and all 3 of us took a glorious nap! It felt amazing!

After we woke up, we took Roan to the pool for the very first time! He was a little unsure of what to think at first, but after a while, he was smiling and loving it. 

Another baby came in to the pool, too. Turns out the grandparents are friends of my aunt & uncle and were in town for the wedding! Their granddaughter, Anya, is a month older than Roan. He was smiling at her like none other! Her mom & I were talking and she had a c-section, too. She wanted a home birth, but Anya was transverse and could not be flipped.  Anyway, it was her first time swimming, too, and she also enjoyed it.

Then my uncle Jaa and aunt Jody (and their 3 kiddos) arrived, so they hung out at the pool for a little. It was so nice to see them! They live in Fort Wayne, so we don’t see them much.

The rehearsal was at 6pm and dinner followed.

Then…the wedding day!

Our hair appointments were at 9am. It took longer than we thought, but everyone’s hair turned out wonderfully! After that, we went to my aunts to grab a quick bite. A friend of the family had brought stuff for mimosas, two quiches, chocolate covered strawberries, breakfast potatoes, chocolate scones, and…I think that’s it. What an awesome, perfect wedding day breakfast! I pigged out! I didn’t want to be starving later.

After that, it was on to the church to get ready! Again, I’m so glad I ate a lot at my aunt’s house because the wedding started at 3pm and it wasn’t until the reception that I ate again (well, I brought snacks with me).

The ceremony was gorgeous! Lots of burlap, baby’s breath, and tule. Simply elegant. And most of the music for the ceremony was from Pride and Prejudice (with Kiera Knightly)! Chels…I must say I was envious of how gorgeous it all was! If I could do my wedding over, decoration-wise, I would have done that.

The weather in Marquette is more bipolar than Lansing! It was reasonably warm the morning of the wedding, but by the time we were doing pictures after the ceremony, it was freezing cold! The photographer was taking a picture of all of us holding our bouquets in a circle and we were all quivering from the cold!

The reception was a blast! I think it’s best to show that in pictures:

I took a lot of pictures of my mom and Roan. Two of my most favoritest people.

We left a little early from the reception, hoping we could get Roan down so we could get our hot tub time in, but again, the stinker had other plants. So that was a bust. He didn’t go to bed until 11ish!

The next morning, the family all got together for breakfast at 9am. We woke up at 8:15 (didn’t set an alarm), so Sean fed Roan while I began to pack. Miraculously, we got everything packed, kid fed and changed, and checked out by 9am! The restaurant was literally 2 minutes away. Again, I ate more than I should, but the diet starts over strictly on Tuesday! I have another bridesmaid dress to fit into!

Roan was pretty sleepy towards the end of breakfast, so we took him back to my parents’ room to nap. I worked on pictures, though, since I wasn’t that tired.

When he woke up, we went to my aunt & uncle’s to watch Richard and Chelsea open up gifts and hang out with family before we had to leave. We were on the road by 3:15ish.

I drove the first leg…from Marquette to the bridge…then Sean finished the rest. Roan actually slept the whole way once we crossed the bridge! We made it home about 15 minutes after midnight.

What a perfect weekend!