Cheese and Da Bears

This past week, Avery and I flew to meet Nate's parents in Chicago, only to rent a car and drive to Wisconsin to spend some time with Grandma Noyce. 

It was the first time she had met Avery and we spent a lot of time just sitting around and talking. 

Avery even got to go to Cracker Barrel on the way back to Chicago!

On Friday we made the drive back down to Chicago to pick up Nate and his brother Kyle and girlfriend Jill. That night we met up with the entire family at Giordino's to have some pizza. 

After dinner that night, we got some fantastic news, that Kyle had proposed to Jill!!! Avery is very excited to be getting a new Aunt!

It was really nice to catch up with some family that we don't get to see nearly enough. The next morning, a really good friend of mine from college, Jill, drove out to meet us for breakfast. 

After breakfast we made the drive out to the Lithuanian National Cemetery to have a memorial for Nate's Grandma Rulis. She was an incredible lady and the amount of people that travelled from all over the country to be there is a testament to that. She will be missed dearly.

In Lithuanian tradition, we all went across the street for a shot and a beer, and then it was on to Duke's Grand Restaurant for lunch with the whole family. The food was great, but the company was even better. 

I definitely wouldn't say the weekend was "fun", but it was wonderful to see family and share stories about Grandma Rulis. It was very sad to leave everyone and come back home, but luckily we'll get to see Nana and Papa for Thanksgiving!