Welcome to Ohio

We just spent the last 5 days back in Ohio. 

School days will be here before we know it, and I wanted to get some time 

in Kalida before school starts.  

 My mom is currently building a house in town.  

It is a way to simplify and she won't have to worry about the pond in the backyard, 

and a older house which needs some upkeep.  

 The last time I had been home the house was just a hole in the ground. 

Now it actually has walls, and doors, and a ROOF. 

The house is coming along very nicely and I am in love with her big laundry room and 

her lovely bright sun room.  

 On Monday night, we had the boys over.  

My kids have such a blast when Lincoln and Mason are over. 

My son and the boys had a slumber party all in one bed and when I sent 

them in there to get changed into their pjs there was 20 minutes of giggling, 

before mommy had to go check what was taking so long. 

They were a bundle of laughs and were having a ball being boys. 

 {popcorn and movie} 

 The next morning we were outside playing on the driveway by 8 am. 

I am surprised there are permanent ruts on the driveway from the circles they drove 

round and round.  

Even Baby Reed was enjoying all the commotion the kids were making.  

In the afternoon, the kids put on their swimsuits to jump through the sprinkler. 

It was a perfect day!   

{a bunch of lions roaring at me}

The big girls fought over holding Baby Reed.  

Not all the time did he want to be held though. 

He is getting to the stage where he wants to move. 

I took some time to shoot a few pictures of this monkey. 

Before I know it, he will be ONE. 

How fast does a year go? 

Surprise, Surprise, Aunt Kathy showed up to eat hotdogs and marshmallows with us too! 

 

Rosetta spent the night over Grandma Pam's two night, and Glorianna with her the second night. 

The girl's love staying up late and learning new things with their Grandma. 

They learned how to hand crochet and make pretty bracelets.  

And then in a blink of an eye, it was time to go. 

Gigi was pressuring me to stay just one more day, but it wouldn't make the goodbyes 

any less painful.  We packed up the van (somehow we accumulated more stuff!) and 

headed on our way.  The drive from Ohio I can almost do with my eyes closed... almost. 

Baby Briggs

While in Ohio over Easter, I was able to 

snuggle with our friends new little bundle and snap a few photos. 

This family is just adorable. 

   Baby Briggs Leo

 A little Easter Bunny

 Brigg's Momma is a Optometrist, so its only fitting that 

this little boy have his own line of glasses already. 

 Is there anything sweeter?  

They are so tiny at 1 1/2 weeks.

 Briggs looks alot like his daddy.

This is one cool babe. 

Hey you, you're a child in my head

You haven't walked yet

Your first words have yet to be said

But I swear you'll be blessed

--Elton John "Blessed"

Congratulations Ann Rea and Keith! 

Briggs is a cutie. 

Nothing like that new baby smell

...until there is a poopy! 

Getting Ready for Baby

Here's the baby bump pictures I promised. 

Seriously Ann Rea is a poster mommy for pregnancy. 

Beautiful and full of pregnancy glow at 8 months.  

Can I also say that this woman just started her own optometry practice a month ago.  

Yes, starts her own practice and has a baby within months time.  

Amazing!   

At this point in my pregnancy with Lil Miss I was 

wearing stretch pants and Nate's baggy sweatshirts.  

Seriously Adorable!  

So happy to take pictures of these two amazing people and their soon to be addition.  

This little boy or girl is going to be blessed in the parent department.  

I'm crossing my fingers for a girl.

Feeling Lucky

It's so sad that the weekend is over. 

Daddy's left for work.

The kids have left for school.

It's now just me and Lil Miss hanging out doing our thing on this Monday morning.

So, I am reliving my weekend in a blog post.  My favorite thing to do!

 

If you didn't know, Nate and I got away to Chicago for two nights in a row this St Patty's Day weekend with our friends Kara and Scott.  Thanks to our awesome babysitter who masterfully watched the kids back in October and handled it with awesomeness, we were able to leave for two nights this time and feel perfectly content that the kids were being well taken care of.  

Seriously a shoutout to Annie, you rock!!!

Getting texts if it was okay to bring St Patty's Day cards and cupcakes to our neighbors is purely amazing. 

They had lots of fun!

 

Yes, we knew it was St Patty's weekend in Chicago when we booked the trip.  That's why we picked this weekend.  Before kids, we partied in Chicago for 4 years in a row on this particlar weekend. 

But then we had kids and things changed. 

So this was our first time back in Chicago on the weekend of green beer and the green river since having 4 children.

We could tell we were much older and wiser this time around. 

The drinking started much later and was much more controlled than in years past.  

We stayed outside the city and took the train in.   

These two boys were ready for some beer!

{his and her beers -- first ones for the day!}

We had no plans or expectations, which was nice, and enjoyed our day away from anyone

asking for "mommy!".   I missed the kids alot, but texting and facebook kept me abreast of what they were doing and I talked about them alot.  I like the look I get when I tell people I have 4 children. 

There is usually a look of shock on their face, but then I say I only gave birth once. 

(I love when they look confused!)

It's a great conversation starter.  LOL

{Kara and Me}

{The Infamous Green Beer}

You can't go to Chicago and not have their deep dish pizza. 

It was delicious!!!

I apparently took a hiatus from my diet this weekend.  Today it is back to grilled chicken and salads.

I told myself all the walking in the city wore off those bazillion calories from the pizza.

I was fooling myself.

 

When we got to Harry Carey's and were enjoying live music and beer, I checked facebook and discovered that Nate's cousin was in Chicago too.  I quickly texted her and found out they were downstairs in the same bar.  Small World! 

 {Nicky, Jen, Ben, Nate and I -- ignore guys photobombing us}

It was at this bar we added a little spontaneity into our trip.

Some guys (Michigan fans) approached Jen and Ben with tickets to Sunday's championship game, Ohio State vs. Wisconsin.

Now this is where all the stars align. 

We are avid Buckeye fans and Kara and Scott just happen to be Badger fans. 

Planets align, stars collide... BOOM.

The boys had tickets to the Big Ten Championship game, a rental car to get home, big smiles on their faces, and two wives who were awesome for letting it all happen.

Yesterday morning, Kara and I headed back to our kids to be the responsible parents and the boys headed back into the city to the United Center. 

It wasn't possible for both of us to go because of the kids, so I am glad Nate got to enjoy it and have some fun.  He will remember this when I want do something this spectacular though!  LOL 

The kids and I watched the game from our couch, well most of us did, the girls were off playing barbies.  Bubba after half time was glued to the TV watching the score ever so closely.

It was a nail biter of a game and the kids had their fingers and toes crossed that the buckeyes would come out on top.  And they did!

Big Ten Champs!!

The boys had great seats and I am pretty sure they enjoyed their time. 

It was a great weekend with friends.

Now back to reality and the real world.