RyRyelsuperguy: Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins

O CANADA!

What a week for Ryan Charles Puyleart! Year 1 started out with a bang!! His cousins from Green Bay came to visit after not traveling to the SE for 10 years. Then Ryan's mommy returned to Quebec after 10 years for her father's memorial service & to introduce Dave and Ryan to her family there.

Earlier in the week, Ry Ry got to hang a bit with his Uncle Paul, Aunt Katherine, and cousins - Daniel, Stacie, and Nathan. They brought Ryan a cool, wooden bunny bench. We call it the bunny pulpit because Ryan likes to stand on it from time to time and talk. For a fun activity, the Puyleart brothers traveled with their wives and children to Zoo Atlanta. Later on that evening, the guys and kids played some video games while I tried chatting with Katherine but spent most of the time trying to get Ryan to sleep after his exciting zoo trip. On Monday, we were able to hang out a little more before the Puylearts left for a return trip to Green Bay. Ryan thought his cousins were very nice to him.

With a two-day break, we readied ourselves for a trip to Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Ryan was a very good boy on the plane trip to Burlington, VT. My Uncle Frank drove about 2 hours to pick us up, and we crossed the border with a sleeping baby in the truck.

Normand Gratton, my birth father, passed away in December, and we went to Canada for a memorial mass. Ryan was pretty good at the beginning of the mass but once we started moving-standing, kneeling and sitting - he got antsy. I think he made it to the Gospel before having to be escorted to the back of the church. Well, I think, actually, the basement. A good place to be to celebrate Norm since I later learned my father spent a lot of his childhood getting dressed for hockey games in that basement!

We had a really nice time hanging with Uncle Frank, Aunt Josee and meeting Cousin Julie-Maude (finally...she is 9 now) - they were wonderful hosts & they have a beautiful home in Candiac. We felt very welcome & enjoyed our many delicious meals. The room we stayed in was great. It was like our own hotel. I cannot thank Uncle Frank & Aunt Josee enough. Ry was noisy and out of his element, and they were very kind.

We enjoyed seeing Uncle Gilles, and we were happy to spend 3 good days chatting with him. Uncle Gilles' wife, Anne, is as sweet as ever, and Cousins - William and Charlotte have grown up to be such nice kids. They were babies when I last saw them. Charlotte is very sweet and loving. I appreciated her attention to Ry and teaching me some French. We also saw Aunt Claudine and Uncle Donald & a brief visit with Cousin Gabriel too. Sorry to have missed them on Sat. night. Cannot forget: Mr. and Mrs. Labelle - Josee's parents were great!

Of course, Ryan got to meet his Uncle Joe (Jonathan) too. Uncle Joe was so happy to have a little nephew, and we hope he comes to visit us next year. In addition to Ry Ry meeting his great-aunts, uncles, and 2nd cousins - I saw family that had not seen me in 30 years too. My grandmother had 10 brothers and sisters, so there were many people to see.

The trip home was a very long one. It was really nice seeing everyone, and I hope it is not another 10 years before we repeat these events. With that said, Ryan is off the road for a while, a long while. He has been on 8 trips in 12 months.

Thus, the Tour de Ryan has ended for now. The little man needs his rest, as does his travel director and promoter. With that said, he has been an AMAZING little traveler. We have been spoiled & loved sharing time with everyone.

xo,
CP and family

PICTURE REVIEW OF THE PUYLEART & GRATTON VISITS: