Happy Birthday, Pappy!

Stan's birthday was July 3rd and what better way to celebrate than take my kids to Kings Island? Ok, maybe there are better ways but I know they had a blast :) Laney was a bit under the weather so I stayed home with her but Matthew and Ella were ready to go.

Ella rode the Vortex a few weeks ago with some friends and vowed to never do that ride again. Although she has wanted to ride the Diamondback for over a year, now she is nervous about it. We have heard that Diamondback is much smoother and no upside downs but she has started to be unsure about it. I personally am OK with that because seeing my girl on these huge attractions makes me nervous. But Ella did get in line for Diamondback but as she was close to the front, decided not to do it. Obviously, this is ok with me :) I am happy when all kids feet are firmly on the ground!

Memories!

Riding the Log Flume.......Ella was still soaked when she got home. 

Now that is a sign of a good and wet time.

Hope you had a wonderful birthday, Pappy Stan!

Happy 13th Anniversary!

Pretty sure every year I say the same thing about our anniversary but I can't believe it was 13 years again when we said, "I do." We had no idea what our life together would exactly look like but we did know there would be kids, a house, possibly a dog, lots of laughs, ups and downs but that would go through it all together.

I had no idea the exact details....now we have 3 wonderful kids, we bought the house I grew up in (and absolutely love!), have jobs we both love and feel very blessed to see our parents so often. We are very lucky!

Happy 13 year anniversary, J! We did not have a road map for our life but I surely love where we have been and where we are going...but most importantly, I don't want anybody else by my side for the journey.

Thank you so much, Stan and Bettye, for watching the kids so we could have a night out.

We went downtown, which we decided we needed to do more often, and had a wonderful dinner at McCormicks & Schmick's...mmmmm.

Throw in some Aglamesis and it was a fabulous night of eating.

Love that they personalized the menus for our anniversary.

So special!

Curious George Train

This is one of those trips where things don't always go as planned and with kids, you need to be flexible.

The night before the train ride Matthew wasn't feeling great. He had gotten sick, had a fever, and just wanted to lay around (for a 4 year old boy, you know they have to be sick if they aren't running around, kicking things). He woke up the morning of the train ride and felt great, said he wanted to go, so we thought we would try it. Again, things don't go as planned :)

But while everybody was feeling good, we got some great pictures.

Best photo bomb!

Then we were off! We took a 30 minute train ride to go see Curious George and the Man in the Yellow hat.

Great shot, Ella!

It was a fun train ride until about 20 minutes into it, there was a tree on the train track. The crew got out and probably spent 15 minutes trying to remove it. In those 15 minutes, Matthew went downhill. His fever was back, he started having the chills and said his stomach hurt. All I kept thinking is please don't throw up on the train!

We got to the place to visit and play games. The girls were excited to play the ring toss, matching games, color and earn prizes. Matthew and Jason cuddled on a bench for about 30 minutes :(

We did this train ride for our little man (although we knew the girls would love it too!) so when he didn't get to fully enjoy it, it was a bummer.

So how did Matthew get home? 

Yes, I was way too worried to have him take the train ride home with an upset belly, but luckily the activities took place near a golf course. Matthew and I walked to the pro shop and sat on a bench and rested until Jason and the girls rode the train back and then drove to get us. It was a 30 minute train ride but only about a 10 minute drive. Matthew fell asleep and cuddled on me on the bench. The breeze was so nice, pretty sure I got a few winks as well :)

Summer Picnic

St. Thomas had a wonderful family picnic at one of their members' home. It was a great house with land that seemed to go on forever. It was a beautiful place for a gathering.

After we ate, there were games that Pastor Mary ran. Although we don't go to St. Thomas, we always seem to know more people there than at our church :) It was a great time.

Time for games? 

Nah, time for braiding hair.

Or just time to smile....love my happy little lady

While Ella was all about winning. Although she had the young kids (Cassia and Matthew) she always had some bigger boys to speed them up. She was very serious.

Run, Ella!

Matthew and Ella squeezing the water out.

Look at him go..such speed!

Did we win?

She melts my heart!

Then on to the sac races. Our girls have such different demeanors (call it birth order or just their personalities) but these 2 pictures show that. Ella, serious, all about winning while Laney is just there to have fun and smiled the whole time :) 

Bouncing away!

Matthew's 4 year old interview

Interview with our 4 year old:

Are you happy with the name Mom and Dad gave you? Yes
What do you love about each person in our family?

Mom: She gave me this birthday.

Dad: I love him because he plays with me, especially bayblades.

Laney: Because she plays bayblades

Ella: Because she helped me with my presents

What do you want to be when you grow up?

An adult.....I will get money and put it in the bank.

Favorite Saying:
Last morning.....he says last morning about anything...last morning I went to the beach, last morning I was born, last morning I hurt myself.

How many kids do you want to have when you grow up? 4

What is your favorite thing to do at home? Play with my family...especially bayblades

Favorite Color? Orange and red

What was your favorite thing about school? Playing with my friends

What is your favorite:

Book: Thomas
Restaurant: McDonalds
Animal: Horse
Toy: Transformer
Vegetable: Grapes...yeah, not much on veggies
TV show: Jake and the Neverland Pirates
Holiday: Easter
Fruit: Watermelon (as a note, he doesnt' really like this)
Treat: Popsicles
Breakfast Food: Toast with peanut butter
Lunch: PB & J

What are you most excited about now that you are 4?

Playing and talking (apparently he couldn't do that when he was 3)

Favorite place in the whole world?

Disney world (yep never been there)

Favorite activity (dance, gymnastics, etc)?

Dancing and using pretend swards 

Favorite thing to do (in general)?

Play with beyblades, play soccer, jump, squirt water guns

I can't believe our little man is 4!! He has certainly added even more fun to this family and we can't imagine life without him. Now if he would only be potty trained...that would be even better :)

We love you, Matthew!!

Matthew's 4th Birthday

Matthew's 4th birthday....how can that be? I can't believe my baby boy is 4!! He woke up to a house decorated by his sisters the night before and all day long we made it about him. The girls made sure he used his Happy Birthday Plate for his meals and we had his friend, Cassia, over for a water playdate. And of course we can't do a birthday without dinner to celebrate.

Sorry to do this but found this picture from the morning he woke up :)

It's my birthday!

The girls asked him to open his gifts right when he got up...7:15 :)

Ella used her own money to buy him a puzzle.

He got shrinky dinks!

Transformers!

Aunt Cindy got him an airplane he could use his own tools to build and a book about airplanes.

He asked to do this first...it is such a cute airplane!

Ella worked on this sign for our birthday boy.

Nana and Pappy came over for some birthday fun.

A dream light...he has been begging for one since the girls got one.

A top that spins and plays music....it is a huge hit!

Thanks Nana and Pappy

Out to dinner.

Thanks for the magna tiles Nana and Grandpa!

Matthew will spend hours building tours :)

Happy 4th birthday, Matthew!! We love you and can't imagine our life with you. Your bring so much joy, so much laughter and so much energy to our family. I love how you say "last morning" and how you always want to be near your sisters. You are a very special little boy and I thank God everyday that I get to hug you whenever I want!

Ahoy Matey

Earlier this year there was a groupon for BB Riverboats. This groupon included unlimited Pirate Cruises and Sight Seeing cruises on the river. We thought Matthew's 4th birthday was cause for a celebration with a good ol' Pirate Cruise!

I did not have high expectations for this cruise because it seems so many kids things are just cheesy. I gotta say though, this was a lot of fun! There were so many kids activities (such as face painting, sword fights, treasure hunts, water fights, tattoos, walking the plank). It was a really hot day but luckily many of the events took place in the a/c and something to consider in the future, there is a bar there :) They know how to keep the parents happy!

My parents and Jason's mom joined us on the cruise. It was a really special day all in celebration of our buddy. Happy Birthday, Matthew!

Our little captain

Nana Dean and her grandkids

Grandpa Mike

Laney enjoyed getting a tattoo with a pirate

....and her face painted

Uncle Mike got into the fun and earned himself a scar

Happy Birthday Buddy!

It was a fun ride on the Ohio River

Matthew and the Nanas had a fun time waving to the other boats

A sword fight

Matthew was all over this! Ella thought it was hysterical. I love that Laney is in a fancy dress for the sword fight.

Limbo!

The reenacted cannon balls with water balls and the kids squeezed the water out of them.

Look at my pretty mama

Not a bad pic taken by Ella

After the water, then they got to mop

Nana and our little man

Matthew right before they all sang him Happy Birthday

Walking the plank

After the treasure hunt, they went to the captain to get their prize.

It's amazing how much kids love plastic toys

We are looking forward to more Pirate Cruises this summer!