A Weekend of Fun

After a very wet start to summer, it was nice to have some sunshiny days last week.  We've been trying to take advantage of it and spend some time outdoors.  

We've had our usual visits to the park and long walks around the neighborhood.   Just being able to be outside and really have it feel like summer was wonderful!  On Friday, Evie went to Grandma Rita’s house for a day of adventure.  She got to go to the History Museum and see some really cool stuff.  She learned a lot and had a lot to tell me when she got home that day about why animals are extinct.  She got to try on lots of Grandma Rita’s fancy jewelry, have lunch at Daddy’s restaurant and get a yummy treat from the Fudge Haus.  She was worn out by the time she got home!

Friday evening Pat and I decided to take the kids down to campus and go to Friday Night Lights at Ohio Stadium.  It ended up being a really perfect evening.  Pat got experience Ohio Stadium with his kids for the first time and it was kind of awesome.  Both kids seemed a little awed by the sheer size of the stadium.  They absolutely loved getting to explore a little and Evie was even semi-interested in what was going on down on the field.  We even made a stop to Buckeye Grove before heading home.

Saturday I took the kids to the Powell Splash Pad at Village Park.  I’d heard about it, but this was the first time I've even taken the kids.  It was so cool!  There were water fountains, a water tunnel and tons contraptions that sprayed water.  Evie and Mitch had a lot of fun.  Especially Evie.  I don’t think she stopped moving for at least an hour straight!  I cannot wait to take the kids back.  It’s so convenient and not overly big so it was easy for me to keep an eye on Evie while chasing after Mitch. 

On Sunday, we met up with Rita and her brother Stephen who is in town visiting.  After dinner at The Mohawk, Grandma Rita, Uncle Stephen and Evie all tired their hands at hula hooping.  Grandma Rita is definitely a pro and I think Evie was both impressed and jealous.  Evie also got to try using a 'singing bowl'.  Fun times!

We had a great weekend.  Fingers crossed that the weather is great again this week so we can have some more adventures!

Family and Festival Fun!

We've had a lot of fun with our families recently.  The kids have enjoyed spending time with all of their grandparents..we are so blessed to have them in our lives!

Sibling Resemblence

I rarely think that they look that much alike, but you can see that they are siblings in these pictures.

Evie gets her sense of style from me. J

And look at Mitch’s eyes!  Are they gray?  Green?  Hazel?  I still think they’ll be brown eventually.

I mean what are the chances that two left-handed people, neither of which have green eyes, would have two right-handed, green-eyed kids?  We’re not 100% sure if Mitch will be right-handed, but it’s kind of looking that way.  Pat is somewhat ambidextrous so maybe he will be like his daddy.

Left-handed people make up 10% of the population.

Only about 2% of the world’s population has green eyes.

4th of July Weekend was a blast

Evie started off her weekend early – with a slumber party at Grandma Rita’s house!  It was the first time she’d ever slept over there so it was big deal.  For all of us.  I’m not ashamed to admit that I had little bit of a teary-eyed moment as I watched them drive away from our house on Thursday evening.  My baby girl is big enough to go on sleepovers!  When did this happen?!  I’m sure some people would think I’m ridiculous to feel emotional about it.  I know plenty of parents with kids Evie’s age that have been sleeping over their grandparents’ houses for ages and would tell me it’s no big deal.  I’m sure eventually we will get to that point.  But this was only the 2^nd time I’ve ever spent a night away from Evie (well, 3^rd if you count the nights that I was in the hospital after having Mitch) so I was a little bit apprehensive.  Evie, however, didn’t show the slightest bit of apprehension.  She had an awesome time.  She called me before bed to tell me about her adventures - dinner at the Mohawk, followed by a cookie from the Fudge House and wine (and water) on the porch with Grandma Rita and her friends.  The next day they had Evie’s favorite breakfast (bacon and eggs), went on a nature walk, went shopping and had lunch at Daddy’s restaurant, Barcelona.  Evie was on cloud 9 by the time she got home on Friday afternoon.  I took advantage of an Evie-free (and work-free) day to spend some one-on-one time with our resident boy wonder, Mitchell.  I don’t get to do that often and I enjoyed every second.  He is such a loveable, good little boy.  He’s your stereotypical wild child at times, running into things, body slamming the dog and doing his best to completely destroy a room.  But mixed into the chaos are moments of complete sweetness.  He can be so affectionate at times. He’ll be playing like crazy and then suddenly come over and plop down on your lap and want to snuggle.  We spent our day rolling around in our pajamas, playing with blocks, books and trucks.  It was wonderful and the perfect way to start the weekend.

The good time didn’t end there.  My parents came up on Friday night and got a hotel room.  We had pool and pizza party on Friday evening and then Evie got to have another sleepover with Kiki and Pops!  We picked them all up on Saturday morning and headed to Dublin 4^th of July parade.  This was the first time we’ve ever taken the kids to a parade and they loved it.  Evie got lots of candy and loved watching all of the cars, floats horses and dancers go by.  We had a prime seat, ride on the curb.  Then about halfway through, Evie decided she had enough candy and she wanted to stand back where Pops, Daddy and Mitchell.  

After the parade, we headed back to the hotel and continued our pool party.  Aunt Sha-Sha drove up and Grandma Rita came by too!  It was an absolutely gorgeous day outside and Evie and Mitch really loved the water.   

After a day of swimming, we had dinner and headed to the Worthington Fireworks with Grandpa Tim, Grandma Katherine and the rest of the family.  Mitch so unimpressed that he slept through the entire fireworks show, but Evie had a blast. She was so excited she could hardly sit still!  

The night ended with a third sleepover for Evie. When I went to the hotel to pick her up the next morning, Evie excited to tell me that Pops had “found” a bed in the couch in the hotel room and she was slept there with Aunt Sha-Sha. If only it was that easy to make everyone happy!

Our weekend ended with a quiet Sunday at home.  Evie and I snuggled on the couch and watched a movie, Pat spent some quality time with Mitchell and then we all took a walk and went to the park.  Pretty perfect!

Prayers for Avi

Prayers for my sweet nephew!

Sweet Avi is having surgery today.  He’s at the best hospital and I trust that everything will be fine.  But it’s still a nerve-wracking time for our family – especially his parents.  Hopefully by this time tomorrow, he will be recovering in the comfort of his own home.  I cannot wait to see him this weekend and kiss his sweet face!

 Whenever I’m faced with a situation that is out of my control, I pray.  So today I’m praying that Avram’s guardian angels are with him, his parents and all of the medical professionals that will care for him today.

For Avi…

Angel of God,

My guardian dear,

To whom God’s love, commits me here,

Ever this day be at my side,

To light and guard and rule and guide.

Amen.

UPDATE:  Avi is out of surgery.  He did great and is with his mommy and daddy now!