Tour de Offerdahl - Ava's Big Day (Part 2)

With preparations at the house complete, it was time to get everyone ready to go to church. Both girls had a nap after lunch, and Addie in particular slept longer than usual. Tanya and I kept looking at the clock...still sleeping. But the trade off with more sleep was hopefully going to be less cranky kids later, so we let them sleep as long as possible. That meant by the time we needed to leave, no one but the adults was dressed for church! So we loaded kids and clothes in the car and headed to Our Lady of the Lakes in Lake Oswego.

Ava cried in the car the entire way there. Now, riding in the car is not really her favorite thing anyway, but Tanya and I were joking it was her baby-talk way of saying "I don't wanna be Catholic!" Poor Jerry just drove and shook his head.

She liked it better when the car stopped and we were able to take her out, but she stayed in the car seat as long as possible while we got Addie dressed in the parking lot.



Then it was time to get Ava baptism-ready. Aunt Jodi, who is also one of Ava's godparents, was a huge help on that front.







She cleans up pretty well! And the dress is the same one Addie wore at her christening, since it's made out of the lace from Grandma Linda's wedding dress.



Addie actually had a great time during the ceremony. With so many people there, she was running back and forth between both sets of grandparents, depending on who was the most interesting at the moment. Of course, no one cuddles quite like Momma!



But in the end, Addie is Daddy's girl all the way!



Then it was time for Ava's big moment. Unfortunately I wasn't in the best position for pictures of the actual baptism, but Tanya had loads of people armed with cameras and video sitting in different spots so the event got captured.



I did get some good photos of everyone after. This one is Ava with Tanya and Jerry and all the godparents.



And we can't forget the proud grandparents! Jerry and Sharon, Jerry's parents, are on the left, and Bob and Linda are on the right.



And Addie was a very good big sister on Ava's big day!



After church, we headed back to the house for a big party.



Tanya's best friends Ruth and Sharon had graciously gone back to the house ahead of us to help set everything up, and they did an amazing job. That also meant everyone could get some food sooner...and we were hungry!



It was also time to get Ava into some more comfy clothes to make it easier for everyone to hold her, which is her favorite thing in the world. One of her presents was a penguin suit for Halloween, because Mammie (grandma Offerdahl) LOVES penguins! I'm not so sure Ava is sold on them though...



She did like this ensemble her godmom Michelle put together a little better, which made Tanya laugh. No one can say she doesn't know how to accessorize!



A little later on, she was able to get really comfortable! That also involved a wardrobe change for Mommy...



Meanwhile, Addie was working the room getting hugs from everyone, include a special one from her cousin Taylor.



It was a long day, but a happy one, and everyone in Ava's extended circle of friends and family had a great time celebrating our beautiful little girl.



Congratulations Ava!