Hooters!

Shawn chose Hooters for his Ohio Birthday Dinner - he said it would be 'an event', since no one ever goes there with their family!  Leave it to my Delightfully Tacky, Yet Unrefined {the Hooters shirts say this on the back} husband to choose this venue, out of all the restaraunts in Cincinnati, for our Family Dinner!

Shawn's best friend, Rodney & his girlfriend Annie, came to join us!!

This little Angel said, "she has a bootie Daddy!"  Yes, my two year old noticed the awful attire these women were wearing!!

And somehow they thought we were celebrating EA's birthday & brought her this balloon and cake!  It wasn't until they asked her name that we realized!!!  We all had a good laugh on that one & made sure they knew it was Shawn's!!! 

By the end of dinner, Shawn had acquired too much Hooters paraphernalia for my liking!  Somehow they talked me into letting my daughter wear this shirt??!  Don't miss the "boobies coozie" as EA calls it:)

Rain, Rain...

...Go Away, Come Again Another Day Stay as long as you want - we love you!!!  How refreshing this humid rain has been!  A little chill in the air, drizzle falling down... nothing more this Colorado Girl could want!  Elsie Anne had a ball wearing her cousin's Rain Coat & Boots!!

This picture doesn't even need a caption...Green Grass, Mud Puddle, Rain Clothes = Big Smile!!

Elsie Anne & Brady playing on Papa's tractors!

EA not too happy, at first... but she soon warmed up to the tractor's loud noises!!!

She loved this little 'skid-steer' - it was just her size, so she said! :)

We thoroughly enjoyed the rainy weather in Ohio!  EA learned about thunder & lightning, and got to wear her Crocs almost every day!!!  I'm not joking, we LOVED it!

Go Reds!

We flew into Cincinnati on Tuesday afternoon and had a chill evening with the Fam at Casa Fraser!  Wednesday, we were ready to party!!  The Dads (Shawn, Brad, Adam) took the kids to the Reds Game & the Moms (Me, Melissa, Dana) had a well needed primping day!!  We had mani/pedis and a fun Hibatchi lunch:)

Elsie Anne & Shawn at her first Home Reds Game!!!  Us Moms were terrified after finding out they were in prime 'Home-Run Zone'!!

Uncle Adam, groom to be, and Liam!

Uncle Brad, Logan (lft), and Brady all decked out in their Reds gear!!

Once home, they enjoyed the weather - flew kites, and played on the swing set & slide.

Elsie Anne and Liam enjoyed the new doll-house and all its little furniture & characters!

It was a sweet reunion when Dana & I got home - it was a long day without my Princess!! 

Check out my new nail polish & iPhone...yes, it was an expensive day!!  But to my defense, my phone broke & this was the best option!!!  Yay for iPhones, they rock:)

FLA:family!

These are just some of our special moments w/ FAMILY on Elsie Anne & my 10day trip to Tallahassee...

EA & BigDaddy enjoying the fire she helped make!  I just loved how she would always stare @ him:)

Family dinners w/ cousins!  Ashton, Tullen, Thatcher & EA

Quality time w/ Syd & Sara, the soon-to-be NewlyWeds!  The perfect match:)

Graham Girls' Pajama Party!  These were the 'footie jammie' girls - Ashton (who was not happy about putting on 'baby' jammies), Sophie (who was thrilled to have them), & EA (who knows nothing else)!!

Aunt Laura (who EA would always declare: "baby Wyatt in belly") w/ the Princess herself!

GrandDaddy getting the 'awe' stare!!

Our 'hike' to Lake Imonia (in the back yard) w/ Memoo!

The endless hours we played outside - w/ any riding toy she could get her hands on - but this "motorcycle" was definitely EA's favorite!  She's showing GrandMommy how well she 'rides'!!

Sandbox w/ Thatcher!

Tubby Time w/ cousins - its a little jammed pack these days!!

Everytime we visit she has more fun & learns so much!  Until next time, my amazing family, we'll have all these memories!!

FLA:friends!

To start the week off, Jill & Kat planned a Ladies 'Playdate' @ Masa, and ooooh it was so good!  I don't often get to eat sushi, so it was a real treat!!  (l-r: Carrie, Kat, Jill, Erin, Cheney, bottom: Me, Laura, Caroline, Kimberly)

Winthrop Park Playdate on Tuesday turned into a Weiss Playroom Date because of the rain!  Kat, Eva & Carrie, Baylinn met us there to play!

Eva, Carson, Elsie Anne & Alden loved the chalk board:)  Caroline was busy keeping the chalk out of the boys' mouths!

This was the best I did getting a shot of all of them!

Wednesday afternoon we headed over to the Pope house...

...along w/ a few other Mothers!  SIXTEEN kids in all!  We had such a blast:)

Thursday we got to play on the swing set @ the Weiss house!

Then headed to Georgia to play w/ the Strickland cousins... EA & Thatcher jumped for a solid hour before coming inside because it got dark:)

Thanks to all who fit us into their schedules!  We SOOO enjoyed the good times:)

Ohio Visit!!

This post is WAY over-due.  Sorry to keep you all waiting...been super busy since returning home from our awesome 10day vaca!!!

I'm sorry to say that I'm having problems uploading multiple pics?!  I can't tell you how frustrated I am right now, wanting to blog + not being able to!!  I'll only be able to post a few pics, as I have to do it one @ a time, aaaaahh!!

We had such a blast just hanging out at Casa Fraser!  They have so much to do for the little ones... swingset w/ climbing wall, club house, stearing wheel (EA's pirate ship), slide + sand box!  There was a mini-tractor, bouncy house, paddle boat for the pond + perfectly warmed hot tub for the kids:)  Needless to say, some of my favorite days on vacation were just playing at the house!!

I'm really not believing this...blogspot is cramping my blogging style!!!  Now that I've uploaded this ONE picture, it won't let me upload any more.........WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON??!

Okay, I'm trying this again... Yay, I got a few more to upload!!

Liam + Elsie Anne enjoying their tubby-time!!

All the 'big cousins' playing @ the Mall! 

Logan + EA dancing to the live music outside of the Aquarium!!

Our happy family hanging out @ the River!

My fav pic of the whole trip... the Fraser's:)

Can't wait for our next trip to Somerville, OH + Fraser Park!  It was a wonderful visit w/ family + friends... Elsie Anne is still talking about it:)

'Big City Life'

Warning: Longest Post I've Ever Made!!!

Wednesday

After work, we headed down to Denver for Elsie Anne's first baseball game ever... Cincinnati Reds vs Colorado Rockies!  The game started @ 6pm, so we knew we'd be pushing her bedtime.  Sure enough, EA was a trooper... she made no complaints + loved every minute of it!

Shawn's cousin Jenn lives in Denver + Aunt Alexis flew in for the game, so they both met us there!  Its always comforting to be around family, even if its just a short visit!

When you're @ the game w/ a toddler, you end up cheering for the HOME team, since she claps anytime the crowd does!  She was such a ham... "GO,GO,GO eeeds!" is what she would say!

Even on the walk home she stayed awake... too much going on for her to miss!  This pic is fuzzy, but a keeper none the less:)

That's right, you read correctly, we got to WALK HOME from the game!  Everyone knows how much I love my job w/out any perks, but this just couldn't get any better!  The Dudick's (Henry's family) were so generous to let us use their Downtown Condo for the Reds games + our 4th Anniversary!  So, we were cheesin' even after the Reds lost...

Thursday: Sept 9,2010... Happy 4th Anniversary to us!!

We were shocked that after EA went to bed @ 10:30pm, she still woke up @ 6:30am?!  So, we started our day a little groggy, but nothing a nice walk through the "big city" couldn't cure!  We ate breakfast + had some coffee @ a little hole-in-the-wall, then enjoyed all the new scenery through Elsie Anne's eyes!

EA loved going over all the "bigdes"!  There were bridges for cars, some for trains, + some for people!  She was captivated w/ everything we explained to her!

One of her favorites... this heart that lit up @ night, outside the Museum of Modern Art!  We walked by it almost everytime we came back to the "condo"!  The Dudick's condo is right behind it.  Also, check out the funny 'artwork' in the bottom left corner.  EA would say "uh,oh!" everytime she saw the car standing on it's hood!

Time for game #2... Aunt "Lex" got EA a treat... shaved ice!  She used the spoon for a bit, then discovered she'd get more of the juice if she used the straw!!  I never got a good shot of EA's Red's jersey that Alexis gave her, along w/ many other Cincinnati goodies, but you can see bits of it in this pic!

Well, Red's lost again, but we all had a great time anyway:)  EA watching the cars from the 'people bridge'!!

Enjoying the Condo balcony w/ beers + pizza!  Jenn + Alexis came back + hung-out for the evening!

Looking to the right from the balcony...

Looking to the left from the balcony... the train track, river, Speer Blvd, then Elitch Gardens w/ the Ferris Wheel!

Momma + EA got clean + cozy in jammies, watched the Ferris Wheel, read some books, and got EA to bed @ a reasonable time:)

Friday

We strolled around until we found the perfect brunch spot @ Mona's.  It was delicious + we loved our entertainment... EA's new 'silly face'!  She had sweet potato fries for the first time!

After our bellies were full + we had plenty of energy, we continued our walk along the river until we got to the Children's Museum!  Elsie Anne was in awe!  She picked carrots in the garden...

cooked lunch in the kitchen...

drove the firetruck w/ a fireman helmet...

got stuck in a HUGE bubble w/ Daddy...

...and so much more!  We will definitely be going back to the Museum, we didn't have time to do the dress-up or art areas!

Once EA had a nice nap, we headed back out for a stroll + dinner... We found this herd of buffalo stampeding along 16th Street Mall!

We listened + danced to this violinist...he was practicing + making a few bucks for the Children's Orchestra concert!!  What a sweet family... his Dad is hanging out by the light pole + got to watch my little ballerina enjoy the music!!

As we headed home, we stopped off @ the park right near the Condo!  EA happily spent the rest of her energy sliding, running, bouncing, climbing, etc!

Looking @ the opposite side of the Condo, from the park!  Everything we needed was right @ our fingertips! 

Back @ the Condo, we rested our tired legs!

Saturday

We slept in, packed up, cleaned up + went for our last walk in the Big City!  We found 'The Market', a wonderful breakfast + coffee shop that Anna had recommended, and it was DELISH!  I'm bummed we didn't have the camera b/c it had the best atmosphere, like an old time market!!

This was one of our favorite 'Family Getaways' to date!  Thank you so much Dudick's for making our 4th Anniversary so memorable!!!