shannon's baby shower

now the real highlight of our trip to atlanta was shannon's baby shower!  shannon (and earl) shocked me a few months ago by calling to say they were having a baby!!!  shannon has always said that she was not having kids so it was a major shock.  they are going to be great parents though and earl gets to be a stay at home dad.  he works from home so he will be in the same boat i was with an infant keeping him company all day.  he is going to be great!

now shannon's family can throw a party!  and her sisters did an amazing job.  it was a really fun party.  madelyn was thrilled to be at her first baby shower too.  she loves to look at the pictures of the showers i had with her and mason and was happy to be there in person.

look at this super cute tricycle monkey diaper 'cake'!  one of their friends made it.

madelyn got up front and center for the presents.  shannon's niece played with some of the baby toys and madelyn worked on keeping order.

shannon might be the best gift getter i have ever seen.  this was not a small party and shannon explained each gift and told stories the entire time.  it made the whole experience very entertaining and sweet.

quite by accident, madelyn and i coordinated so i had to snap a quick picture.

i am just thrilled that i was able to be there for the shower.  i can't wait to meet little ollie!  he is one lucky boy.

and then we had to leave as soon as the shower was over.  madelyn and i changed our clothes for the long car ride home and then we were off.  the boys had spent the afternoon at ikea and emory's campus.  mason said, "we went somewhere special too.  only it wasn't special for us and it was just a store." i think they did like seeing where daddy played baseball but the field was all locked up so i don't think they were there very long.

we stopped a little north of knoxville for dinner (elaine, when we realized where we were i almost called you to see if you were free.  next time.)

so happy to see a healthier and happier maddux!

again it was the very last part of our trip that was the 'longest'.  around 2am we got behind a group of at least 15 motorcycles who were intentionally blocking all of the lanes so that no one could pass them.  matt was finally able to pass after at least 20 miles of entrapment.  i told him that i was stressed out by it and i wasn't the one driving.

we were so happy to be home.  whenever we are gone for a period of time the house (any of them) feel much bigger and cleaner than i think of it on a daily basis.  but this time the house smelled like brand new construction!  we couldn't believe how it still smelled like a new house.  crazy.  love.