Ohio 2013

We made our 2nd annual Ohio trip a few days after New Years this year. We always have such a blast and this year was no different. One of the days while we are there we usually go skiing at Paoli Peaks. This year I opted to stay at home with Jen and go shopping with her and Cristin. I honestly think I'm still traumatized a little by the fall I had on the last run last year. I hit a huge patch of ice and knew I was going down. Down I went and hit my head on another patch of ice. I had a headache for almost 2 days! Although, I also told my father in law that I was just giving him a year to warm up (he didn't go with us 2 years ago. This was his first year to go in a couple of years, I think). Next year it is on like Donkey Kong! 

I always fear a little that Corey and Natalie are going to get so bored playing with their little cousin that is half their age, but if they do, they do a very good job at hiding it.  You can tell Connor feels like one of the big kids, because he doesn't want much to do with his ole Mom. And I'm ok with that, because it really does make my heart happy to see him so happy. 

Watching a movie. Corey grows another limb when we are there. It has blonde hair, too :)

 Sweet Nat-Nat. She looks so old with all of those missing teeth! 

 Talk about someone thinking they are big...Cade thought he was big stuff!!

 Early morning TV/cuddles. That is one of the things I love the most about them.. they will all just lay around and cuddle. It is so sweet! 

Corey and Cade at Natalie's basketball game. Cade was mimicking Corey's every move!

Of course, Connor had to get in on the action. Which then led to wrestling. Can't be surprised about that!

Corey making sure Connor got to the car ok. It was FREEZING while we were there, so there was snow/ice pretty much everywhere! 

 Cade ate like a horse while we were there. They had a bowl of fruit out on the table and I'm pretty sure he felt like that meant he should just sit at the table all day and eat. The funniest part about it, though, was that every time Jamie walked towards him he would start yelling, "NO! NO!". He thought Jamie was going to steal his food!!! He has him figured out already ;)

I didn't get a picture of the night everyone was there. There was 26 of us! Perfect chaos if you ask me! So thankful to have family that we can also call friends! 

Par-tay, advice and good news!!

As I mentioned on Friday, this weekend is Cade's first birthday party. I have got all of the major things done and just have a few little things here and there to do. I am determined to have it all done by Saturday, which would only leave me with set up! I know, though, that I will be sitting there Friday night making more stuff as I go along just because I have the time to. At least I know that about myself, right? 

The weather is now saying scattered thunderstorms with only a 40% chance of rain, which means a last minute decision on the location, probably. After Connor's party being in the high 70s in mid-March, I just knew Cade's was going to be scorching hot in mid May. But it is only a high of 69! I really can't believe that we are having such cool weather right now. I told Matt last night that it doesn't really feel like May at all.. more like end of February! 

Hopefully we will have some sunny days thrown in this week. It rained all weekend and all day yesterday. The boys do so much better when we are able to go outside and play. I do better because I live for sunshine AND the house stays clean since they aren't inside to destroy it! 

Speaking of destroying, Connor and I had a rough day yesterday. It all started at school when he paid me no attention when it came to obeying. It was like I was talking to a brick wall! Then when we got home I told him he needed to pick up the toys he had just dumped out of his toy box in his room. Y'all. I wish I would have taken a picture. Not only did he not clean up, but he made a mess twice the size. He kept telling me, "I just want you to help me" or "I just want you to DO it." That, to me, means that he is used to either a) it just being done for him or b) me helping him and doing most of it. Probably both.  So, I put my foot down and told him that I was not going to help him. Is 3 too young to make him clean up his toys by himself? I did end up helping him put all of the books up since he can't seem to figure out how to put them back on the shelf. Other than that, I just sat on his bed and guided him. Baby steps, I suppose. Any advice here would be much appreciated! 

As for the good news, we found out we are getting a new niece or nephew this December. Brent and Rachel are expecting #2!!! I cannot wait to hear if it is a boy or girl!!! They told us by mailing out this card to everyone. It was pretty cute as it was the LAST thing I was expecting to get in the mail! Of course, we called them immediately so I could get more details! 

image taken from Rachel's blog since I am too lazy to take a picture of our card!

Their kids will be almost exactly the age difference between ours. We have had someone in our family pregnant since almost every year since 2009! Me in 2009, Rachel in 2011, Me in 2011 and 2012, and now her again in 2013. Which means when we go out as a family we will have 4 kids 4 and under! With 4 siblings, this is going to end up to be one large family!!! And, I LOVE it!

I'm off to do some puzzles with the big boy while baby brother is napping. Here's to a better day! 

Rowen is ONE!!!

Last weekend we celebrated my nephew, Rowen's first birthday! It was the perfect day for it. We got there at 10:30 and I thought we were 30 minutes late. Come to find out, we were an hour early! HA! That is probably the first and last time I have ever been anywhere that early. Connor was so excited to be there. He knew all about what the word 'party' meant! 

Rachel had everything set up so cute. Here is the area where Rowen opened his presents. I loved the hay bales as seating! 

His banner of monthly pictures. Connor didn't start recognizing him until his 3 month picture and didn't seem to believe me that the 1st two pictures were Rowen, too. Stubborn, much?!

The food table was so cute. Every single detail was thought of, down to the polka dots on the forks! I took this picture before she got all of the food down. She had these adorable little individual sacks full of chips. Great idea!

His little hat was so cute! 

Rachel made everything herself and the pumpkin cupcakes were amazing! Becky also made some little individual pies that were dispersed throughout the table, but I obviously took a picture before that happened, too.

The activity was painting pumpkins. Connor couldn't wait to do this!

I loved all the pumpkins everywhere. That is one of my favorite things about fall. I love to eat anything pumpkin and I love to see them around my house :)

As soon as Rowen got there (we even got there before the birthday boy!), I wanted to get a picture of the cousins since they all matched. This was the best I got.. ha! All I can say is at least Connor stayed still!

While everyone else ate lunch, I went inside to feed Cade. When we got back it was cake time! This is always my favorite part for a baby that hasn't had any sugar before! Connor wasn't sure about his cake at his 1st birthday, and Rowen wasn't either! (and trust me, it's not because it wasn't good!!!) The funniest thing was he kept looking at Brent with this concerned look on his face just babbling away. Precious! 

After the cake, we painted some pumpkins while Rowen ate his lunch. Connor was cracking me up with what he was painting on his pumpkin. It went from giraffe's to Buzz Lightyear to Woody. It all depended on what colors he was using. Matt painted one for Cade :)

Present time! My favorite is the bottom right. He got a cat that you can chase around and it moves. You can tell by the look on his face how much he loves animals! 

We had such a good time. Rachel did a great job and I was so glad we were able to be there to celebrate sweet Rowen! I love that our boys are so close in age. Him and Connor are only 1 1/2 years apart and him and Cade are only 6 months apart and their interaction increases each time we see them. Happy Birthday, Rowen. We love you!!!