happy birthday, gg!

You guys, look how cute my grandma is:

 

...and today she turns 80! We actually celebrated with a surprise party (planned by her four daughters) a few weeks ago. 

Happy Birthday, GG! We love you!

 Here are some of my favorite shots:

hugs after the big surprise

famjam

cousins

nora and some of her fave aunts

whats up just hanging out in a field i don't know

"Excuse me, sir, that's my GG up there!"

jilly just jillin

finn

nora just totaling blue steeling

ugh, c'mon dad

cuties

gg clicked her heels and then...

check this: starting with GG: Bethany Grace >>> Grace Christina (skip the babe for a sec) >>>> Tina Jayne (back to baby) >>>> Eleanor Jayne #namechain

everybody (kind of)

       

eleanor jayne gets baptized

Eleanor Jayne got her first sacrament on April 11, 2015. It was a day filled with family, cake, cookies, and grilled cheese bars.  Nora wore her great-grandma's baptismal dress from India (also worn by her great-great-aunt Margaret and great-aunt Susie). I wish I had gotten more pictures of more family members with her, but the camera got lost in the party shuffle.  She didn't cry at all during the actual baptism, but we had a near-disaster during mass (crisis averted by very creative holding on the way to the changing table) and the dress and baby remained intact. 

Party Time: Grilled Cheese Bar

We had assorted breads, butters, cheeses, and toppings ready for everyone to assemble their own sandwich (with combination suggestions), and 2 griddles ready to go.  It was a hit, regardless of this conversation I had with my dad the day before:

Dad: Are you sure you want to do a grilled cheese bar?

Me: Yes.  Why?

Dad: Because it's weird.

eleanor's hospital visitors

Uncle Travis

Aunt Blythe

Aunt Jackie

Uncle Derek

Amy and an especially chubby looking Nora

Uncle Steve

Traveling Grandparents

Award for longest trek to see her on her first day

All grandparents

Aunt Amy (resting Nora on her almost-here cousin, Mary!)

Nora had many visitors in her first two days (the only two we spent in the hospital), who came bearing gifts of cinnamon rolls, Northstar, beer, slippers, and lots of snuggles.