Cincinnati!

Growing up, we used to take loooong road trips every summer to visit relatives in South Dakota, Texas, etc. My parents would pack the 3 of us kids into the car, with the luggage carrier roped to the roof, and the tv/vcr wired through the cigarette lighter, and we'd be off for 3 days of nonstop driving, bickering, threatening to pull the car over, etc.

After this weekend, I seriously don't know how they did that.

My big sister, Julie, is getting married this July. Since she lives in Texas, it was going to be difficult to make it to her bridal shower.  But luckily her fiance's family is from Cincinnati-which is a little bit closer to Philadelphia... So off we went, my Mom, Dad, sister Laura and me. 10 hours of forced family togetherness. Sigh. And that was only one way!

We had a great weekend in Cincinnati/the surrounding suburbs. Julie's new family is incredibly awesome. And extremely Irish. I mean, with a last name like Flynn you'd think we'd get the clue. But it wasn't until I walked into the house full of 30 people to bagpipes playing and children Irish dancing, and met the dogs named Guinness and Jameson, that it really began to sink in.

We also ate some incredibly DELICIOUS (and high calorie) foods. Thank goodness the hotel had a little gym. We got to try Skyline Chili and Graeters Ice Cream. O.M.G.

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

Skyline Chili. And for the record, this was my Dad's meal!

Mini Ice Cream cones at Graeters, Hawkette sized! ;)

Bridal Shower time!

Favors (Note the familiar initials!)

Beautiful Bride to be!

It was a lot of driving, but it was great to spend time with the family,
and to meet new family!

Cheers to Julie and Shea!

~SG