Last weekend continued our busy weekend streak with Best Manufacturing’s Open House. Aunt Janice invited us to an Open House celebrating Best’s new office building where she also received a huge honor as she’s been with the company for 45 years! What an amazing accomplishment. It’s sort of weird seeing a family member in a situation like this. I’ve always thought of my Aunt Janice as…well…Aunt Janice. I guess when you’re growing up, you don’t imagine your family members being anything other than what they’re like when you’re around them (which isn’t usually in the workplace). Aunt Janice is clearly loved and appreciated. When she was presented with the Career Pride Award there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Even those of us who have never known her as a supervisor or co-worker had tears streaming down our faces. We were so proud! When Aunt Janice gave her acceptance speech she talked about how much she and the people she works with had gone through together over the years. She said that there’s hardly a group of people that she loves more…but she finished it with, “except my Brittain.” 
Aunt Janice’s favorite great neice was one of the guests of honor. She even got her own corsage, which absolutely thrilled her:
Before the presentation, I glanced over at Aunt Janice and she had “that look” on her face. If you don’t know what look I’m talking about, it’s the one she gets where she looks nervous and like she’s trying to control a crying outburst at the same time. Poor thing. I felt so sorry her. She obviously knew something was coming. Fortunately, Brittain ran over to her during all of this and Aunt Janice immediately picked her up. Who knows if she even remembers doing this now, but I bet it was a relief to be able to have something to hang onto.
After the Open House, we ran home for a quick nap before heading over to Pappy’s house to celebrate his 78th birthday. Although another low-key, family get-together, Brittain enjoyed it just as much as if it had been a huge celebration.
The day before, we decided to make birthday cupcakes to have at the party. Brittain was thrilled to do the honors of placing the candles on them.
While Aunt SuSu was taking these pictures, Brittain suddenly placed her hand on my face and started squeezing very hard. I didn’t know what the heck she was doing, but when I asked her she said, “Mommy…I was just trying to give you a big hug.”
The ring leader of a “parade” with Aunt SuSu and Doot:
