August 26, 2013

Let's Take it Back a Few

 

I swear I'm going to get back into posting on the regular, and I'm gonna start now!  I'm not too, too far behind, but there are a few things that I don't want to miss out on posting about, so I have to rewind a little bit today.  I know I've been doing this a lot lately and I'll try harder from now on, promise! 

 

A few weekends ago, we went on a pretty eventful bike ride on Saturday morning.  Creag had to run quite a distance, so we decided to put the kids bikes in the car & go to Lunken Airport to hang out for a bit while he ran.  Skylar ended up taking her bike and riding along w/ Creag while he ran and I took the boys on what I thought was going to be just about a mile and a half ride.

 

 

Wrong!  The ride, I swear ended up being about 6 miles!  We took a wrong turn & I got us lost which is why I usually never venture off anywhere by myself.  The boys did great though & really never complained.  There were a few pee breaks along the way and we saw a few deer which was really cool!  It turned into a fun morning with the boys!  Afterwards, we headed to Mellow Mushroom for lunch to load back up on our carbs, then after lunch, we headed back home to get ready for the Reds Game that we were going to that evening.  We had a sitter coming over from Silverlake to watch the kids which was a first & ended up going really well.

 

 

This was our second time in a Suite for a game this season, the first being Opening Day which was our Anniversary.  We had 6 tickets so we took two couples on our street.  Phil & Becky & Mike & Tami.  We had a BLAST!  All you can eat & drink is never a bad thing.  All of the ladies, including myself about died when they brought in the dessert cart.  Killer Brownies from Dorothy Lane Market...the best chocolate covered strawberries I've ever had...shots of Godiva Liquor in souvenir shot glasses, OMG it was amazing!  We went by The Yard House which is a new restaurant at The Banks after the game & then took a cab home for a little late night swimming at Phil & Becky's.  Creag actually threw me in the pool fully clothed when I wasn't expecting it.  Swimming fully clothed is definitely a first for me!  It was definitely a great night!





August 23, 2013

A life without Love...

 

 

Is like a year without Summer.

 

Even though Summer is unfortunately coming to an end, I wanted to share this little addition to our kitchen décor.  I got this cute idea & printable off a blog, Landee See, Landee Do & I absolutely loved it so I had to do it in our house.  The glass vase & picture frame is actually sitting on a round Lazy Susan on our kitchen table & I can't wait to change it out with the seasons!  This was pretty easy to replicate, I already had the vase, so I just bought 2 packs of Styrofoam Balls, a few cans of spray paint & (1) 5x7 picture frame from the Dollar Store.  I sprayed the balls & the frame & viola!   



August 16, 2013

It's Been Awhile

 

We have lots of stuff going on.  I feel like it's been forever since I've blogged, but really it's only been 10 days!  I have several things that I could jam into one long post, but I won't do that.  Today, I'll just give a little update on Football.  We're in week 5.  Hank's had 2 scrimmages so far & Sunday is his first regular season game against the Spartans.

 

He's been practicing 3 times/week & he's slowly catching on.  Practices are a little intense & they don't really mess around.  They have several hitting drills/games that they play.  He's not a great/aggressive hitter as of now & he doesn't really like that aspect of the game but we're hoping the longer he plays, the more he'll catch on.  They also run a lot in practice, as in run up hills!  The coaches definitely don't mess around.  I can quote them saying to the boys, "You guys are getting tired, you're breathing hard & you're not in good enough shape!  If you're not in good enough shape, we're gonna run that hill like the big boys!"  And they did, they ran up that hill 5 times one night & 7 the next!  What's surprising is that they all did great!

 

 

 

Their first scrimmage was called the Jamboree.  It was also a weigh in for the entire league.  It was awesome to watch my boy from the sideline!  The whole team played both offense & defense and they played really well together.

 



 

He plays Sunday @ 11:00 & I'll have my Dixie shirt on, rooting for #56!

 

 

 

 



 

 

August 5, 2013

Hank is 8!

 

We did a lot of celebrating over the weekend for Hank's 8th Birthday!  Before I get in to the party details, let me just say I cannot believe he is 8 years old!  

 

Friday:  After my Uncles Funeral Service, we dropped the kids off to their Dad & he had his party with that side of the family.

 

Saturday:  I picked them up around 1 and we headed home to get ready for his party with his friends.  Creag had been working on installing his Basketball Hoop since Wednesday night, so we were both ecstatic to finally be able to show him!  I sent Creag a quick text when we pulled into the neighborhood & he had his basketball wrapped in the driveway with a little note that he came up with on his own.  It said..."To Hank, Kentucky is known for it's Horse Racing & Basketball.  Come to the back yard to see which one you got!" 

 

 

 

He quickly walked with us behind him, and when he saw the hoop, he smiled so big that I could see his grin from behind him!  He was so excited.  He also had Jordan's in the driveway that he tried on & then shot a few hoops.  He hasn't really quit playing since.  We had his friends coming over at 4, so I had him change & he got a look at his cake & all of the goodies that I had for everyone.  This years theme was a "Take me out to the Ballgame."  I had Popcorn & Cracker Jacks and we ordered Pizza! 

 

After dinner, we rounded everyone up to sing Happy Birthday, but before we could even sing, Hank put his face in his own Cake!!  I seriously could not believe it.  He just gently placed his face on it, like he was making a mold or something.  Lets just say that big spot where his face was, was his piece & he didn't even put a dent in it.  There was a lot of it left!

 

After cake & presents, everyone played outside for a bit until Conner, Mason, & Wyatt's parents started showing up. 

 

 

Sunday:  I got up pretty early to make Hanks requested Chocolate Chip Pancakes & then we got ready for his Football Game at Dixie.  My parents came to watch him & they won 12-6.  We had the rest of the family over for dinner at 6 & more cake & ice cream.  There was no face in the cake this time & the only pictures I got were of Willis being his cute self.

 

 

I really think that he really enjoyed & appreciated everything that we did for him!  Happy Birthday, Buddy, we love you!!

 

 

 

July 29, 2013

Weekend Recap

 

Friday:  We just had Hank on Friday night, and Mica & Tyler babysat for us so Creag & I could go out to dinner before he left for California early Saturday morning.  I was in the mood for Italian, so he took me to Buca di Beppo's.  Dinner was good and it was even better to have a few hours of us time before he left. 

 

Saturday:  I woke up to the horrible news of my Uncle Steve's passing.  As mush as I knew it was coming, this was still a little unexpected because they had just moved him back to Hospice a few days before.  It was hard to tell Hank that morning and we spent the rest of the day trying to have fun & keep our mind off of things.  Hank had his first Exhibition Game that afternoon & I'll talk more about that maybe tomorrow.  I got Skylar & Wyatt back from their Dad at the game & they came home, finally!  I also did a few craft projects Saturday night to keep myself busy.  I may or may not have spray painted everything that we own!

 

Sunday:  The kids & I finally woke up in the same house, so we drove to the River for the day to see my Parents.  We had lunch at McDonalds & then I helped my Mom pick out pictures for Steve's services.  Later on in the afternoon, we took the kids to Rockin' Robins & had Ice Cream on the River. 

 

Let me just say, it feels really good to have the kids back from their Dad & I plan on having them the rest of the Summer.  I wasn't really comfortable with things that were going on, so I had to take charge & get my babies back, where I know they're safe!  They are the most important things to me & I'm definitely glad to have them home!



July 25, 2013

The Rest of Our Weekend; Slacker Style

 

So I had said I'd be back yesterday for the rest of our weekend recap, but I got busy & lazy.  Being a taxi for Football every night this week plus having a job & home duties is wearing me out.  We haven't even eaten dinner before 8PM one night this week if that tells you anything!  So, with that whine session over, let's begin, shall we?

 

Friday:  We grilled out & actually had dinner on the deck as a family of 6!  Man how this felt normal & good.  I really miss having the kids around in the Summer time!  After dinner, we hung out with neighbors & got the finishing touches ready for our Garage Sale on Saturday morning.

 

Saturday:  Skylar was the first kid out of bed, so she set up a Kool-Aid stand & Creag & I worked the Garage Sale.  The sale didn't go well at all, but the kids made enough cash at their stand to buy Dippin' Dots at the pool on Saturday afternoon!  Speaking of the pool, Sammie finally got the courage up to go down the big slide & go off of the diving board!  To bad Creag wasn't there to see it :-(  He had a Fantasy Football Draft & missed it all.  I guess all it took was having Hank there to talk her into it!  After the pool, we met Creag back at home for dinner & then headed to the fair for the evening which you saw in my last post.

 

 

 

Sunday:  We got kind of-sort of caught up around the house and then went to the pool again.  We love our pool days!  We left close to dinner to get Hank to his Equipment Pick Up for Football & had my parents over for dinner.  Of course the chef of the house whipped up an awesome dinner!  We had a large foil pack off of the grill of Smoked Sausage, Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Onion, Squash & Zucchini & it was sooooooo good!!  We're loving foil packs this Summer.  They're so easy & you can have such a good variety.

 

 

After dinner & dessert, my parents took Skylar & Wyatt back home with them for the week & we were sad to see them go!  School starts back up soon & I cannot wait to have them home!  Side note:  Hank was obviously ready for practice on Monday.  He felt like a big guy in his pads & was asking Creag to push him around in his pads to toughen him up!  He obliged & it was hilarious.    





July 23, 2013

Just Outside of the City Limit Sign

 

 

Saturday, we took the kids to the Kenton County Fair.  It'd been a few years since we've taken them & actually this was the first time to Kenton County's Fair.  The weather was good, and the kids had fun.  The girls were their usual fearless selves, and the boys hardly rode a thing.  We rode a ride as a family & then the girls got in line for another ride.  Hank spotted one of his buddies from football in the same line and actually got the courage to ride.  He stood in line, and got on, but then chickened out at the last second.  I don't know if he'll ever be a dare devil or fearless when it comes to rides.  I guess only time will tell & if he's not, that's OK too.  I'm usually not a ride rider either!

 

 

 

 

There was a Horse Show & Truck and Tractor Pulls that we checked out.  Creag & I both enjoyed watching the Pulls because it brought back good memories from both of our childhoods.  Our Dad's took us when we were little and we both loved it!  Wyatt was a little unsure of them at first, but ended up liking them.  He also loved the Horse Show, but the other kids were a little bored by it. 

 

 

While the girls were riding rides, Creag took the boys over to a game where he won them a little something to keep them occupied.  Guns!  Put your hands up!!  The Start Ship was another ride that caused some fear.  Sky & Sam stood in line, walked on & then walked right back off!  They were unsure of getting stuck to the wall & then moving up & down.  The thing also spun in circles the whole time, fast, so I don't blame them!

 

 

 

 

Besides all of the fun above & the Lemon Shake Up that we had to drink there was also A LOT of pickle sightings.  Because I have Dill kids, that's a pretty big deal and I had to get some pictures!  Creag actually won the pickle that Skylar's holding for her so that's now apart of her bedroom décor.  We headed home before the fair closed down, worn out from all of the fun!  I'll have other snippets from our weekend tomorrow!